Glazed Stuffed Pork Chops

Glazed Stuffed Pork Chops
4 VERY thick pork chops
8 slices oatnut bread
butter
1/2 teaspoon thyme
1/2 teaspoon garlic salt
1/2 teaspoon white pepper
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/4 teaspoon red pepper flakes
1/2 cup apricot pineapple jam, room temperature**
1 tablespoon peach schnapps
1 large lemon, juiced

• Preheat oven to 350°.
• Slit each pork chop along 2 sides to create a large pocket.
• *Toast each slice of bread well and then lightly butter.
• Cut each piece into small squares.
• Toss with thyme, garlic salt and pepper.
• Stuff each pork chop with 1/3 cup of mixture.
• Whisk together the jam, peach schnapps, red pepper flakes, ginger and lemon juice.
• Place chops in a square greased baking dish.
• Arrange remaining stuffing around the edges.
• Glaze chops and stuffing tops.
• Bake uncovered 30 minutes.
• Turn chops, glaze chops and stuffing again. Bake another 30 minutes.

*If you prefer, prepare 1 box of stove top stuffing instead.
**Tonight I used Lemon Curd and had a distinctively fresh flavor with the same consistency.  Use whatever flavor speaks to you.

CHICKEN CHILE CORN CUSTARDS

CHICKEN CHILE CORN CUSTARDS
2 medium fresh poblano or Anaheim chile peppers, roasted
1 small sweet red pepper, roasted
2 cups rotisserie chicken pieces
5 eggs, lightly beaten
3/4 cup whipping cream
1 1/2 cups Green Giant white corn niblets, drained
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese
1 can green chiles, drained well
1/2 cup soft bread crumbs
2 tablespoons fresh chopped chives
1/2 teaspoon chili powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper

• Preheat oven to 425˚.
• Grease 6 six ounce ramekins.
• Place ramekins in a 13x9 baking dish.
• In a large bowl combine eggs and cream.
• Fold in peppers, corn, chicken, cheese, bread crumbs, chives, chili powder, salt and pepper.
• Pour mixture evenly into ramekins.
• Place baking dish on center rack in the middle of the oven.
• Add 1 inch of boiling water to the baking dish.
• Bake for 30-35 minutes or until a knife inserted comes out clean.
• Remove ramekins from water and serve on plates.

BAKED OMELETS a.k.a. CRUSTLESS QUICHE

The beauty of making individual omelets is that you can truly have what you want.  Hubs hates mushrooms and I love them.  He likes his with more salt and I like more pepper.  You see where I'm going with this?  It's all about what YOU want.  They also take half as much time to bake as a whole casserole would.

The one on the left is rotisserie chicken, mushroom, onion, fresh ground pepper and nacho cheese.  The one on the right is pot roast, onion, green Tabasco, salt and pepper with sharp cheddar cheese. These are a good place to use up some leftovers!

BAKED OMELETES aka CRUSTLESS QUICHE
BASIC EGG MIXTURE - per person
2 eggs
1/8 cup whole milk
1/8 cup sour cream
salt and pepper to taste
Fillings to taste

• Preheat oven to 350 ˚.
• Spray ramekins with cooking spray,
• Fill bottom with your favorites.
• Whisk together the eggs, sour cream and milk.
• Pour over fillings.
• Bake 30 minutes or until cooked through.
• Let sit 5 minutes.
• Invert onto plate and enjoy.

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BAKE

I cannot remember where I found this recipe originally, but it was a good fall/winter night type dish so I filed it and finally tried it with a few modifications.  Hubs loved it and I will be making it again!

BRUSCHETTA CHICKEN BAKE

1 1/2 pounds chicken breasts, cut into bite sized pieces

1 can diced tomatoes with garlic & herbs, undrained

1 package Chicken Stove Top Stuffing

1 KNORR chicken bouillon gel tub

1 cup hot water

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 tablespoon Gourmet Garden Basil paste

4 slices or 1 cup grated  mozzarella cheese

• Preheat oven to 375°.
• Whisk together hot water, bouillon tub, garlic and basil paste until well blended.
• In a mixing bowl mix together the stuffing mix, tomatoes and bouillon mixture until stuffing is moistened.
• In a 9x9 baking dish sprayed with PAM, layer evenly first the chicken, then the cheese and topped with the stuffing mixture.
• Bake 45 minutes - chicken will be cooked through and stuffing will be beginning to crust.
• Cut it like a lasagna and serve with salad.

CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS

This makes 12 or so meatballs

CHICKEN PARMESAN MEATBALLS
1 1/4 pounds ground chicken

1/2 cup breadcrumbs

2 tablespoons chopped onion

1 tablespoon chopped parsley

1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese
salt to taste
pepper to taste

1 clove garlic, minced

1 egg, whisked

zest of half a lemon

3 tablespoons sesame oil
Marinara pasta sauce
3-4 slices mozzarella

• Preheat oven to 400°F, setting rack to upper third part of oven.
• In a large bowl, using your hands, gently mix together first 10 ingredients. 
• Shape into golf-ball size balls and place a few inches from each other on a foil-lined baking sheet. 
• In a small bowl, mix one spoonful of your pizza sauce with olive oil. 
• Brush this mixture on top of each meatball. 
• Bake for 15 minutes.
• Remove meatballs from oven, spoon some sauce on top of each meatball, and cover each with a slice of cheese. 
• Broil another 3 to 5 minutes until cheese is bubbly and golden.  
• Heat remaining sauce in a small saucepan. 
• Serve meatballs with pasta and a dollop of sauce.

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE CUPS

Every recipe we tried recently was excellent, but this dessert was melt-in-your-mouth decadently good!  It was also rich so I'm very glad I made it in these small ramekins for individual servings!

SALTED CARAMEL CHEESECAKE CUPS

CHEESECAKE

1/2 pound softened cream cheese

1/2 cup sugar

2 JUMBO eggs at room temperature

1/2 cup sour cream

CARAMEL

6 tablespoons light corn syrup

1/2 cup + 2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons unsalted butter, cubed

1/2 cup heavy cream

1/2 teaspoon sea salt

• Preheat oven to 325°.
• In a large mixing bowl beat the cream cheese and sugar at medium speed until smooth.
• Add eggs, beating until incorporated after each egg.
• Beat in sour cream.
• Pour into ramekins.
• Set ramekins in a baking dish and add water to midway up the ramekins.
• Place in the center of the oven and bake 15-20 minutes until the edges are set, but the centers are still jiggly.
• Turn off oven and leave cheesecakes undisturbed for 1 hour.
•  After 1 hour transfer ramekins to cooling rack and cool completely before covering.
• Cover and chill cheesecakes in the refrigerator at least several hours, preferably overnight.

• Meanwhile make the caramel.

• In a heavy saucepan heat the corn syrup.
• Stir in the sugar until well incorporated and cook over a moderately high heat, undisturbed until a deep amber caramel forms.
• Turn off heat and carefully stir in butter with a long spoon.  Careful, it will spit.
• Add the heavy cream in a thin stream, stirring constantly until smooth.
• Add salt and blend well.
• Transfer the caramel to a heatproof container and allow to cool.

To serve:

• Heat caramel in small increments until desired temperature.
• Pour a spoonful over each cheesecake and serve.

LEMON CREAM CHICKEN

When I first started blogging it was about home renovations that were forced on us when we bought some investment property.  Soon after though I realized that my favorite blogs to read and the women I met were those of the foodie genre.  Since then I have made more recipes from the scraps of paper I collected over the years.  Some were real duds, but some shone brightly.

Tonight the Lemon Cream Chicken shined the brightest of all recent recipes I've tried. So, I'm going to share it with you and hope you enjoy it as much as we did!

LEMON CREAM CHICKEN
1/3 cup WONDRA flour
salt and pepper to taste
4 skinless, boneless chicken breast halves**
3 tablespoons butter
1 KNORR chicken homestyle stock tub
3/4 cup hot water
1 cup whipping cream
Juice of 1 large lemon
1/4 pound fresh mushrooms, sliced

• Wash and dry chicken pieces.
• Generously salt and pepper each side.
• Dredge in the flour, pressing to coat well.
• In a large skillet, melt butter.
• Add chicken pieces and brown on each side.  Remove chicken and keep warm.
• Add KNORR stock and hot water, whisking into drippings until well blended.  Bring to a boil over medium high heat and simmer about 10 minutes until reduced by half.
• Whisk in the lemon juice and whipping cream until well blended.  
• Reduce heat and add mushrooms cooking about 5 minutes until mushrooms are tender.
• Simmer to desired consistency.
• Pour over chicken and mashed potatoes.

**I use thinly sliced chicken steaks which are basically chicken breasts that are sliced at least once and many times 3 times.  This helps for portion control and works wonders!  Since my last surgery and for medical reasons I'm supposed to eat less each meal and eat more meals.  This it happens allows me to try even more recipes as long as I adjust them to feed 2.

BBQ HERBED CHICKEN

It was another scorcher here today of 112 degrees and monsoony humid so we stayed inside and painted the bathroom and a bedroom.  I'm exhausted though so decided to make this simple recipe for the grill.  It was made even simpler by having the lime juice in the freezer.  I buy the fruit and then squeeze it all at once making it into cubes for future recipes. And then even simpler yet by converting the fresh herbs into dry measurements and using a mortar & pestle to revive them.  This was a substitute for tonight, but I highly recommend using the fresh when you can.

HERBED BBQ CHICKEN
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup lime juice
2 tablespoons fresh chopped basil
2 tablespoons fresh chopped oregano
1 teaspoon onion powder
1/4 teaspoon lemon pepper
4 chicken thighs, about 1 pound*
4 chicken drumsticks, about 1 pound*

• In a small food processor mix together everything except the chicken.
• Wash and dry the chicken pieces.
• Pour herb mixture into a large ziploc bag and add chicken pieces.  Marinate chciken for 30 minutes to 24 hours.

• Heat grill and spray with PAM for grilling especially if using skin free pieces.
• Place chicken pieces on grill, reserving the marinade.
• Cook on one side and then turning to other side.  Time will vary drastically based on type of chicken pieces you are using.

• Pour reserved marinade into a small saucepan.
• Bring to a boil over a medium-high heat and then remove from heat.
• Brush over chicken pieces.

*I use whatever I have on hand - breasts, tenders, etc....

UPSIDE DOWN APPLE PIE

UPSIDE DOWN APPLE PIE  Yield: 8 servings.
original recipe from Taste of Home

CRUST:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
6 tablespoons shortening (Crisco stick)
2 tablespoons cold butter
5 to 7 tablespoons orange juice

FILLING:
6 tablespoons butter, melted, divided
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans (or walnuts)
1 cup Imperial Sugar
1/3 cup all-purpose flour (sifted)
1/2 teaspoon rum extract (optional)
1/2 teaspoon maple extract (optional)
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
8 cups thinly sliced peeled tart apples (I like honey crisp or Granny Smith) (about 1/8-inch thick)

GLAZE:
1/2 cup confectioners' sugar
2 to 3 teaspoons orange juice

• In a large bowl, combine flour and salt; cut in shortening and butter until crumbly.
• Gradually add orange juice, tossing with a fork until dough forms a ball.
• Divide dough into two balls. Wrap in plastic wrap; refrigerate for at least 30 minutes.
• Line a 9-in. deep-dish pie plate with heavy-duty foil, leaving 1-1/2 in. beyond edge; coat the foil with cooking spray.
• Combine 4 tablespoons butter, brown sugar and nuts; spoon into prepared pie plate.
• In a large bowl, combine the apples, sugar, flour, cinnamon, nutmeg and remaining butter; toss gently.
• On waxed paper, roll out one ball of pastry to fit pie plate.
• Place pastry over nut mixture, pressing firmly against mixture and sides of plate; trim to 1 in. beyond plate edge.
• Fill with apple mixture.
• Roll out remaining pastry to fit top of pie; place over filling. Trim to 1/4 in. beyond plate edge.
• Fold bottom pastry over top pastry; seal and flute edges. Cut four 1-in. slits in top pastry.
• Bake at 375° for 50-55 minutes or until apples are tender and crust is golden brown (cover edges with foil during the last 20 minutes to prevent over browning).
• Cool for 15 minutes on a wire rack. Invert onto a serving platter; carefully remove foil. Combine glaze ingredients; drizzle over pie. 

French Toast Casserole

We love French toast, but I hate having to make recipes that require one of us to eat while it's hot and the next batch is on the griddle. This recipe makes us both happy at the same time and is a time saver because I throw it together the night before AND it uses what might otherwise be wasted. We love sourdough bread, but the heels are sometimes a little tough. I save the heels from each loaf in the freezer and when I have enough I make this casserole. It's absolutely perfect for Thanksgiving or Christmas morning. The smell of the cinnamon baking is one of the best smiles you can give your family. 

FRENCH TOAST CASSEROLE

CASSEROLE

8-10 sourdough heels (or regular slices work too)

8 eggs

3 cups milk

4 teaspoons sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 teaspoon sea salt

TOPPING

3 tablespoons butter, cubed or sliced thin

3 tablespoons sugar

3 teaspoons cinnamon

maple syrup - OPTIONAL - it really is great without it

• In a large mixing bowl whisk together the eggs, milk, 4 teaspoons sugar, vanilla extract and sea salt.
• Cube bread.
• Add bread to the egg mixture and toss to coat well.
• Grease a 13x9 baking dish.
• Pour bread mixture into baking dish, cover and refrigerate overnight.
• Remove casserole from refrigerator 30 minutes before baking.
• Preheat oven to 350˚.
• Dot casserole with butter pieces.
• Combine topping sugar and cinnamon - sprinkle over top.
• Cover** and bake 45-50 minutes, or until toothpick comes out of center clean.
• Let stand 5 minutes before serving.

**If you want a crispy top, uncover 10 minutes before it's through.

APRICOT CHERRY GALETTE

All of Min's recent activities with canning cherries and apricots reminded me of this recipe which is one of my favorites!

Pie Dough Ingredients*

For a 9-inch crust

• 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/4 cup granulated sugar
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) of butter, cold and cubed
• 1/4 cup ice water

Filling Ingredients**

For one 9-inch galette

• 3/4 pound fresh apricots, pitted and chopped
  
• 1/2 pound fresh cherries, pitted
• 2 tablespoon cornstarch
• 1/4 cup sugar + more for sprinkling
• Juice of half a lemon

Ingredients for Assembly

• 1 egg, beaten

ASSEMBLY

• Cut butter into small cubes and place in the freezer for 15 minutes.
• Preheat your oven to 400 degrees.
• Pulse flour, sugar and salt in a food processor. 
• Add butter and pulse until it resembles a coarse meal. 
• Gradually add ice water and pulse until the dough forms a coarse meal. 
• Turn the dough out onto a work surface and very lightly and sparingly, knead just to incorporate dry ingredients. 
• Flatten into a circle; wrap individually in plastic. 
• Refrigerate dough for at least an hour. 
• Remove dough from refrigerator; place on floured work surface. 
• Using a rolling pin, roll out the dough into a rough 11-inch circle. 
• Trim the edges to a clean circle with a pairing knife. 
• Transfer the circle to a baking sheet or pizza pan lined with parchment paper. 
• Mix 1/2 teaspoon cornstarch and 2 tablespoons of sugar in a bowl and spread on the bottom of the dough. 
• Toss apricots and cherries with the rest of the cornstarch, sugar and lemon juice. 
• Arrange the fruit on the bottom of the dough, leaving 2 inches of dough left outside. 
• Fold up and pleat the dough over the top of the fruit, leaving the center uncovered. 
• Lightly brush the top of the pastry with the beaten egg and sprinkle both the dough and the fruit with 1/4 - 1/3 cup sugar. 
• Place the Galette in the oven and cook for 40-45 minutes until golden brown and bubbly. 
• Remove from oven and transfer to a cooling rack immediately. 
• Serve warm or at room temperature with a scoop of vanilla ice cream.

*If you are in a huge hurry, Pillsbury from the dairy case can be substituted.

**1 can Comstock cherries can be substituted.  Just add apricots!

Saucy Spicy Grilled BBQ Chicken

SAUCY SPICY GRILLED BBQ CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken wings
salt & pepper
1/4 cup ketchup
2 tablespoons soy sauce
2 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon garlic rice wine vinegar
1 teaspoon crushed red pepper flakes
2 green onions, minced

• Heat gas grill to medium high or a charcoal grill to medium hot fire.
• Wash and dry chicken wings.
• Generously salt and pepper the wings.
• When grill is hot rub the grate with oil and grill chicken 20 minutes or so, turning every few minutes until browned and crisp.

• In a small bowl whisk together the ketchup, soy sauce, vinegar, sugar, pepper flakes and half of the onions.
• When wings are done either brush them with the sauce or transfer the wings to a large bowl and toss with sauce.
• Sprinkle with remaining onions.

EASY BEEF TENDERLOIN

Christmas Eve dinner was just the two of us this year so I made a beef tenderloin with sauteed mushrooms and twice baked potatoes. Tonight that left over tenderloin will make some great hot beef sandwiches. YUMMY!

BEEF TENDERLOIN
1 (3 pound) beef tenderloin roast 
1/2 cup soy sauce
1/4 cup Worcestershire sauce

2 cloves garlic, minced

1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
4-5 mushrooms, sliced thin
1/2 cup melted butter

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 
  
• Sprinkle garlic on bottom of shallow, glass baking dish and then layer green onions on top. 
• Place roast on top of onions.
• Whisk together soy sauce, Worcestershire sauce and butter.
• Pour over the tenderloin.
• Bake in preheated oven for 10 minutes, then turn the roast over, and continue cooking 35 to 40 minutes, basting occasionally until the internal temperature of the roast is at 140 degrees for medium.
• Let meat rest for 10 to 15 minutes before slicing

CHICKEN ADOBO

When  you look up recipes for Chicken Adobo ou have to choose between either a Phillipino recipe or a Mexican recipe.  I couldn't choose so I decided to combine my favorite ingredients from each of them and make my own recipe.

Chicken Adobo
1 1/2 to 2 pounds boneless, skinless chicken breasts
  3tablespoons butter
1 large onion, chopped
2 cloves garlic, sliced VERY thin
1/4 cup apple cider vinegar
1/4 cup soy sauce
1 cup orange juice
3 tablespoons honey
1/2 tablespoon achiote seeds
1 cup boiling water
1 teaspoon basil
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1/2 teaspoon cayenne
1/2 teaspoon paprika
1/4 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper

• Cover achiote seeds with boiling water. 
• Cover and set aside overnight. 
• Drain seeds discarding water.
• Place seeds, orange juice, soy sauce, vinegar, cayenne, paprika, cinnamon, honey, salt, pepper and garlic in a food processor. Grind until well blended.
• In a large wok or skillet, heat butter over medium-high heat. Sear the chicken on one side until light golden brown, about 5 minutes. Flip the chicken over and sear the other side for another 5 minutes.  
• Add the onions over the chicken.
• Pour the seed mixture over chicken and heat through.
• Serve hot over rice and vegetable sides. 

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS

OVEN BBQ PORK CHOPS
1 1/2 to 2 pounds pork rib chops, trimmed of fat 

1/4 teaspoon sea salt 

1/4 teaspoon  freshly ground pepper
3 teaspoons safflower oil, divided
1 medium onion, sliced thin
1 clove  garlic, minced
1/2 cup  orange juice 

3/4 cup  barbecue sauce
2-3 cups prepared white rice

• Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
• Generously sprinkle pork chops with salt and pepper. 
• Heat 2 teaspoons oil in a large ovenproof skillet over high heat. 
• Add the pork chops and sear to brown, 1 to 2 minutes per side. Transfer to a plate.
• Add the remaining 1 teaspoon oil to the pan. 
• Add onion and cook, stirring, until softened. 
• Stir in garlic and cook, stirring, until fragrant. 
• Add orange juice and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. 
• Stir in barbecue sauce until well blended. 
• Return the pork chops to the pan, turning several times to coat with the sauce.
• In a large baking dish layer the rice on the bottom, smoothing the top.
• Add pork chops to top of rice.
• Pour remaining sauce over the chops and rice.
• Transfer the dish to the oven and bake until the pork chops are barely pink in the middle and an instant-read thermometer registers at least 145 degrees. 10-15 minutes.

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN

GREEN TABASCO CHICKEN
2 pounds chicken tenders
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon freshly ground black pepper
1 orange halved
1 teaspoon Penzey's California crushed jalapenos
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 cup Green Jalapeño Tabasco Sauce
1 bunch green onions, sliced thin
1/4 cup melted butter
1-1/2 chicken broth

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Juice 1/2 of orange.
• Section other half of orange.
• In a small sauce pan whisk together the orange juice and green Tabasco sauce.
• Add the butter, garlic and chicken broth.
• Simmer 10-15 minutes until well blended and slightly reduced.
• Spray a baking pan with pure.
• Toss together the chicken and green onions.  Arrange in baking dish. Add orange sections.
• Pour sauce over top.
• Bake 30 minutes.  Serve with Parmesan Potatoes and tortillas.

TRIPLE DIGIT HEAT & A REFRESHING WATERMELON SALAD

I don't know about you, but these triple digit heatwave numbers have me craving NOT TURNING ON THE OVEN OR STOVE!! That said, this watermelon salad with prosciutto chiffonades really hit the spot tonight.

chiffonade - Literally translated, this French phrase means "made of rags." Culinarily, it refers to thin strips or shreds.  It usually pertains to leafy vegetables, but in this case we are cutting the prosciutto into very thin strips.

watermelon chunks
prosciutto chiffonades
green onions, thinly sliced
1/4 cup red wine or balsamic vinegar
1/3 cup extra light extra virigin olive oil
salt and pepper to taste

• In a small food processor whip together the vinegar, salt and pepper.
• Gradually add the oil until well blended.
• Pour over sald makings and toss gently.
• Serve immediately and enjoy.

SOUR CREAM DUTCH APPLE PIE

I love apples - all apples. There I said it. Who can resist a slice of hot apple pie? Hubby want dutch apple, FIL wanted a turnover and I just wanted apples. So I dug into my files and found 3 recipes from grams, a vintage magazine and an old friend. I had never made any of these. Mainly because alone they weren't all that interesting. They needed some UMPF! so I combined the parts I liked best from all three and came up with my version of Sour Cream Dutch Apple Pie. Together they were awesome.

SOUR CREAM DUTCH APPLE PIE
PIE
3+ cups apples, cored, peeled and chopped
lemon juice
3/4 cup sugar
2 tablespoons flour
pinch of salt
1 tablespoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon maple extract
1 small egg, beaten
1/2 cup sour cream (not light)
9 inch pastry shell, pre-baked and cooled
TOPPING
1/3 cup flour
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
4 tablespoons butter, sliced extremely thin

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Chop the apples and combine with just enough lemon juice to coat and prevent browning in large bowl.
• In a small bowl sift together the flour, sugar, cinnamon and salt.
• Fold in the sour cream, egg, vanilla and maple extract until well blended.
• Fold the sour cream mixture into the apples until well coated.
• Carefully pour into the pie shell, mounding towards the center.
• Toss together the topping ingredients until well blended.
• Sprinkle topping evenly over the apple mound.
• Lay the pieces of butter all over the top.
• Bake 30 minutes or until apples are tender.
• Best served with ice cream or fresh whipped cream. If you want to be really decadent try it with Caramel Sauce.

BANANA JUICE the key to perfect BLACKBERRY BANANA BREAD

Did you know that Banana's have juice? Don't worry, most people don't.  But, they do and the juice is the best part of making a moist banana bread.  The key to banana juice is using a banana that is "JUST RIGHT", one that is heavily speckled, in my opinion, one that is just short of rotting.  I take it one step farther many times and when they are "JUST RIGHT"  remove them from their skins and freeze them in recipe ready proportions.  Freezing them yields the liquid readily without the steps I'm about to tell you about.  I didn't even know I'd been doing  "JUST RIGHT" for years with the freezing process and then I read an article about how to juice a banana.

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
5 large very ripe bananas
1 cup blackberries
1/2 cup golden raisins
1 medium not so ripe banana, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted & cooled
2 JUMBO eggs
3/4+ cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon PURE vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 teaspoons crsytalline sugar

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease your loaf pan with the butter wrapper or spray with non-stick cooking spray.  Dust with flour.
• Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a large mixing bowl.
• Place 5 bananas in a microwave safe bowl and cover with a food cover lid with the vents open.
• Microwave on high for 5 minutes - until the bananas are soft and have released their juice.
  
• Transfer bananas to a sieve and allow them to drain over a small saucepan for about 10-15 minutes.
• Place bananas, raisins and blackberries in a medium mixing bowl.
  

• Cook juice over a medium high heat for about 5 minutes until juice is reduced to 1/4 cup.
• Stir reduced liquid into the banana/blackberry mixture and mash together until well blended.
• Add butter, eggs, vanilla and brown sugar and mix to a smooth consistency.
• Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and with a wooden spoon fold together until just combined.
• Fold in walnuts gently.
• Pour into prepared loaf pan.
• Layer banana slices around the edges.
• Sprinkle with crystalline sugar.
• Bake 50-60 minutes based on loaf pan size.

CHICKEN SALAD STUFFED AVOCADO with LEMON GARLIC VINAIGRETTE

CHICKEN SALAD STUFFED AVOCADO with LEMON GARLIC VINAIGRETTE
2 cups chopped rotisserie chicken
4 green onions, sliced thin
1 stalk celery, minced
2 cloves garlic, minced
Juice of 1 lemon
1 tablespoon blood orange vinegar*
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 tablespoon sugar
salt and pepper to taste
1 avocado or tomato per person

• Combine chicken and celery in mixing bowl.  
• Salt and pepper generously.
• In a small food processor blend garlic, green onions, lemon juice, vinegar, oil and sugar until well mixed.
• Pour vinegar mix into mixing bowl and toss well.
• If using tomatoes carve out centers with sharp knife.  Slice insides onto plate.  Salt and pepper generously.
• If using avocados carefully scoop out of shell with a large spoon and arrange on plate with tomato slices.  Salt and pepper generously.
• Fill centers with chicken salad.
• Serve with garlic toast points.

*or flavor of your choice