Spiced Banana Bread

Chilly fall mornings call for tea and warm banana bread.

In my opinion, Banana Bread is one of the most comforting foods ever.  It's warm and sweet and this version is full of spices that will just wrap you up on a cold day.

Plus, this bread is super easy and made with natural ingredients which will keep you feeling good all day.  Dig in!

Spiced Banana Bread

• 2 cups oat flour (packed)
• 1 tbsp ground flax
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp ginger
• 1/4 tsp salt
• pinch nutmeg
• 3 large bananas, mashed (about 1 1/4 cups)
• 1/2 cup date paste
• 1/2 cup milk
• 1 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 350F.  Grease a loaf pan.  In a large bowl, mix together all dry ingredients.  Set aside.  In another bowl, mix together mashed banana, date paste, milk, and vanilla.  Add wet ingredients to dry and mix until a smooth batter forms.  Pour into loaf pan and spread into an even later.  Bake in preheated oven for 30-35 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.  Slice and serve.  Store in fridge.

Easy Homemade Pumpkin Butter

So, yeah, more pumpkin.

What can I say?  I think I'm in love...

Just kidding.  I'm not that crazy.  I just happen to rarely use up the whole can of pumpkin in one recipe, causing me to make something different, causing me to eat it and, causing me to remember how amazing pumpkin is, causing me to open another can, causing the cycle to repeat itself.

Oh, wow.  It's only my second pumpkin post of the season and I'm already ranting like crazy.

That's probably because the two recipes that have been posted are just a few tiny little fraction of everything I've made.  Let's just say that the before mentioned cycle has been repeated, oh, I'd say around 4 times.  Perhaps that gives you a better idea of the amount of pumpkin dishes I've prepared.

You'd think I'd be tired of pumpkin by now, wouldn't you?

Definitely not the case.  I'm still going strong, and will probably get even stronger as soon as the really chilly weather rolls in.  In fact, I do believe that on the first truly fall morning, I'll be sure to spread some of this delicious pumpkin butter on my toast, and enjoy it with a big cup of steaming tea.  And then I'll probably make a good 12 more pumpkin desserts.

Mmmmm.  That day will certainly be a delicious one.

Super Easy Pumpkin Butter
(makes around 1 small jar, depending on how much you let the butter thicken)

• 1 cup pumpkin puree
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1/4 tsp allspice
• 1/4 tsp ginger
• pinch cloves
• 1-2 tbsp maple syrup (if you want a sweeter butter, use more)
• 3 tbsp apple cider vinegar

Mix all ingredients together in a small bowl.  Then, pour mixture into a small saucepan and bring to a boil over medium heat.  Reduce heat and simmer for 15-20 minutes, stirring often and scraping down sides to prevent sticking, until mixture has thickened into desired consistency.  I wanted my butter pretty thick so I let it simmer for a long time.  Remove from heat and allow to cool.  Store in an airtight container, or jar, in the fridge.  Some ideas on using your pumpkin butter include spreading it on toast, topping pancakes with it, stirring it into oatmeal, or just eating off a spoon.

The proof of how tasty this stuff is, is right in the pictures.  It tasted sooo amazing, that by the time I even got around to getting my camera out, the jar was more than half empty.  Yes, it's that yummy.  So good that even my shouts of "Don't eat that yet, I haven't taken pictures!" were ignored by my family members, as they dunked in their spoons.

Oh, well.  At least it proves that the recipe was a success.  A big success.  Try making it and I guarantee you, and your family members, won't be able to resist, either.

Revisited Recipe of the Day: 

Lemony Pound Cake

Spiced Oatmeal Cookies

What if I told you that you could satisfy your cookie craving with just rolled oats, a banana, and some spices?

You'd probably roll your eyes and call me crazy.

But, if you did that, you would be wrong.  Prepare to be amazed.

Introducing. . .

The Spiced Oatmeal Cookie!


A delicious, chewy, and truly healthy treat.

Sound too good to be true?

Here's the recipe, so you can try it yourself.

Spiced Oatmeal Cookies
(makes 6-12 cookies)

• 1  ripe banana , mashed
• 1/2 cup rolled oats (you can adjust the amount; more oats will result in crispier cookies and for softer cookies use less)
• 1 cardamom pod, or 1/4 tsp ground cardamom
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp cinnamon
• pinch of nutmeg
• pinch of cloves
• 1/4 tsp ground ginger
• 1/4 tsp vanilla extract
• Optional:  If your banana isn't very sweet, or if you just have a major sweet tooth, add in some sugar

Preheat oven to 350F.  Mash the banana in a bowl and add in vanilla extract.  Sprinkle spices over mixture and mix until well combined.  Gently mix in the oats until just combined.  Don't over mix.  Scoop dough, in small balls, onto a lined baking sheet and bake for 20-30 minutes or until the cookies reach their desired texture.

So there you have it.  A healthy cookie with no added sugar.  You didn't think it existed, did you?

Go thank this recipe.  It's the original one!