Healthy, Happy Snacking!

So, does this look like it could be even remotely healthy? No you say? How about if you knew it was made with whole wheat flour, applesauce, only 3/4 cup of sugar and NO butter? OK, you're thinking, maybe it's healthy but how does it taste? Well, I put it to the ultimate test, I set it down in front of my kids. They gobbled it down and wanted more, even without the glaze on top! If that doesn't convince you that healthy and delicious can go hand in hand then you'll just have to try it out yourself! The best thing about this bread? When made without the options and cut into 16 servings it's only 2 WW points per serving! Seriously! So what are you waiting for? Ditch the high calorie muffins and breads and give this a try, your waistline will thank you!

Healthy Banana Bread

4-5 Ripe Bananas (mashed)

3/4 cup applesauce

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup whole wheat flour

1 cup white all purpose flour (you can use all whole wheat flour if you'd like, tastes just as good)

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 tsp allspice

1 tsp cinnamon

Options (which obviously raise the calorie content but just by a little)

chocolate chips

chopped walnuts

cinnamon glaze (recipe below)

Heat your oven to 350 and prepare a bundt pan (spay with non-stick spray)

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl and set aside. Mix bananas with applesauce and set aside. Beat sugar and eggs on medium-high with a mixer until creamy then add in banana-applesauce mixture and combine. Turn off mixer and fold in the dry ingredients just until blended. Pour into prepared pan and bake for 35-40 min. Bread will be done when top springs back. Cool in pan on wire rack for 5 min then remove from pan and cool completely.

Cinnamon Glaze (amounts are approximated since I really didn't measure them when I made it)

1 cup of confectioners sugar

2 Tbsp milk (or more for desired consistancy)

1/2 tsp of cinnamon

Bananas at their best

Fall is just around the corner and the mere thought of it gets my baking juices flowing! I love the thought of (hopefully) cooler weather moving in soon, the heat and humidity of Florida are really getting to me lately. Baking is my favorite thing to do when there is a bite in the air. There is something about coming into a warm cozy house that smells sweet with baked goods, it just seems like things are as they should be.

My freezer is always stocked up with overripe bananas and every time my husband opens the door one or two of them inevitably fall out and I'll hear, "Are you saving these for a reason?" Well, here is the reason, absolutely delicious banana bread! With some help from my little assistant, I baked this simply scrumptious quick bread with ingredients I had in my pantry already.

My daughter is a great little helper and enjoys baking and cooking with me. I love that I can create memories with her like this. I still remember helping my grandma in the kitchen when I was little, making her rustic rice pudding (I'm still trying to figure out her recipe for that one.)

The recipe for this bread, however, is simple and you won't have to figure it out on your own. I found it at http://www.simplyrecipes.com/ . I really wanted to test the recipe so I made it exactly as shown and it was delicious. So moist and sweet, I had to try a couple of pieces before I wrapped it up and put it away.....then took it out again and had some more. The addition of nuts, chocolate chips or blueberries would be a nice compliment. Try it out.