Best Banana Bread

This is a recipe I've used for years and it is still posted on the internet. You can find it at http://www.virtualcities.com/ons/mt/gov/mtgov91.htm.

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups sifted flour
1 teaspoon soda
1-1/4 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup bananas (approx. 3)
1 cup finely chopped nuts

DIRECTIONS
Cream butter and sugar thoroughly. Add eggs one at a time and beat well. Sift flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with bananas. Fold in nuts. Pour into greased bread pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. Cool thoroughly before slicing.

Yield: 1 loaf

Pea Soup

So, I had leftover cooked green split peas and I made pea soup out of them. Here is how I did it. So simple and quite delicious!

INGREDIENTS
1/2 lb. yellow or green split peas
1 onion, chopped
3 cloves garlic, smashed
1 cup free range chicken broth
salt and pepper to taste
pinch of paprika

DIRECTIONS

Cook the split peas according to the package, but add a little salt to the water. When cooked, the peas should settle on the bottom of the pot. Skim off excess water, leaving 1 inch above peas. In a separate pan, saute onion and garlic until cooked. Add to split pea pot. Add the chicken broth, some salt and bring to a boil. Boil for 5 minutes. With hand mixer or blender, puree the ingredients until smooth. Add paprika and salt and pepper to taste. Serve with pepper or dollop of sour cream if desired. Enjoy!

VARIATIONS

Many people like to cook the peas with ham bones or chopped bacon. If you do, either cook with the peas or if using bacon, saute with the onions. Reserve a little of the cooked, chopped bacon for garnish.

NUTRITION NOTES

1/2 cup of split peas have 16% of daily value of protein. Source:http://www.hsph.harvard.edu/nutritionsource/protein.html

Split Pea Curry (Daal)

I tried a new curry recipe for the first time today. I had a package green split peas and figured a curry would be a great way to enjoy them. I hope you like this!

INGREDIENTS

1/2 package (1/2 lb) green split peas
1 medium onion, chopped
4 cloves garlic, minced
1 potato, cubed
1 to 2 carrots, chopped
1 can diced tomatoes
2 bay leaves
1 tsp mustard seeds, spluttered
1 1/2 tbsp curry powder
1 tsp ginger powder
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1/2 tsp dried cilantro
salt and pepper to taste
olive oil
cooked rice

DIRECTIONS

Cook split peas according to package directions. Do not drain. Saute onions and garlic until translucent. Add tomatoes, potato and carrot. Using a ladle, spoon 1 cup of water from the split peas. Add spices. Let simmer for about 30 minutes. Serve over rice with Kadhi or other curries.

VARIATIONS
Obviously, any of the dry ingredients above can be substituted for fresh ingredients, such as the cilantro, or ginger.