Banana Bread

Modified from a recipe found on Food.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup splenda
• 2 eggs
• 3 bananas, overripe
• 1 1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract

Instructions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a baking dish or loaf pan with PAM
2. Cream together butter, sugar and splenda
3. In separate bowl, mash bananas and beat in eggs.
4. Add banana mixture to creamed butter. Mix.
5. Add in dry ingredients and vanilla, mixing until combined.
6. Pour into prepared baking dish and bake 45-60 minutes until inserted toothpick comes out clean.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

• 2 cups crushed pretzels
• 1/4 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 sticks butter
• 2 packages strawberry jello (3 oz)
• 2 cups pineapple juice
• 20 ounces frozen strawberries
• 8 ounces cream cheese
• 1 cup of sugar
• 2 cups cool whip

Instructions:

1. Blend first 3 ingredients, press into greased 9X13 inch pan and bake at 350 degrees for 10 minutes. Cool.
2. Dissolve jello in heated pineapple juice, add frozen strawberries with juice and allow to partially set.
3. Mix together cream cheese, sugar and cool whip.  Spread cream cheese mixture on top of pretzels.  Top with strawberry jello mix.

Sweet Potato Casserole

• 3 cups mashed sweet potatoes
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 stick butter
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 2 eggs, well beaten
• 1 cup light brown sugar
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1/2 cup flour
• 1 cup chopped pecans

Instructions:

1. Mix together first 5 ingredients
2. Put in buttered casserole dish.
3. Combine last 4 ingredients.
4. Sprinkle on top of casserole.
5. Bake at 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Asian Dressing/Marinade

Ingredients:

• 2 T grated ginger
• 2 T minced garlic
• 1/4 t crushed red pepper flakes
• 1/4 c reduced sodium soy sauce
• 2 - 3 T brown sugar
• 1/4 c rice vinegar
• 1/2 t dried shallots or minced dried onions

Instructions:
Mix all ingredients together in a glass jar. Store in the refrigerator.

Note: This is very good on wilted coleslaw mix or broccoli slaw.  To make a complete meal, add some cooked chicken, pork or shrimp.