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Banana-Graham Bread

Tonight I had the pleasure of visiting Randy & Robin Graham.ย  They served me up a Guinness & we shared a few stories of days gone by, then Randy shared his new cookbook with me, which looks fantastic!

I brought them by some of my fresh Banana Bread, which I’ll call Banana-Graham Bread, because they recently shucked pecans from their tree, then candied them.ย  I put the pecans in the bread, hence the name-
This Banana Bread is my best-ever- the candied pecans make it so tasty!

Banana-Graham Bread
preheat oven to 350

In a medium bowl thoroughly mix:
4 VERY ripe bananas (so ripe that your Dad says ‘shouldn’t you toss those‘?)

Mash the bananas with a fork, then add:
3 eggs (mix with a fork before adding)
1 c. buttermilk
1 T. vanilla extract
Melt 2 cubes of salted butter & let cool before adding to the above mixture.

In another medium-size bowl thoroughly mix:
2 c. rolled oats
1 c. ‘Swans Down’ Cake Flour
1 1/2 t. baking soda
1/2 t. baking powder
1 c. brown sugar
1 c. candied pecans (broken up a little bit)
1 1/2 T. ground cinnamon

Mix the wet ingredients with the dry, then set aside.
Spray ‘Pam’ into baking dishes & fill with mixture.

Bake for about 35 minutes- although it totally depends on what size loaves you make- I tend to make varied sized, so I can freeze some, as well as have little loaves to give to friends.
Your toothpick should come out clean- don’t overcook this bread, as it’s a lovely bread when moist.
I tend to pay close attention to the amazing smells wafting throughout my home, so I don’t over cook it.

enjoy!

note: I’m a bit of aย  ‘press and seal‘ addict… just ask my daughter.ย  I love making lots of tasty treats so I can seal
and freeze them, for when I’m too busy to cook, or just not in the mood to cook, or I just want to press and seal…
I’ve included a photo of my all-time favorite bread making pan from France- it makes multiple loaves so easy to handle.

 

 

 

 

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Celtic Tart

Prep time: about 15 minutes
Cooking time: 50-60 minutes
Oven temperature: 325ยบ

2 1/4 cups Swans Down Cake Flour (because I don’t like to sift)
1/2 cup sugar
3 eggs- separated
3 Tablespoons Dark Rum
2/3 cup butter, salted @ room temperature -cut into small bits

I like to use my big roast turkey cutting board because it’s concave & easy to clean-
Place the flour in the center of the board & form a well. Crack one egg & place the yolk in the center of the well-
be
sure to reserve the whites for later. Introduce the sugar & the rum to the well, then add the other 2 egg yolks.
Using your fingertips (or a fork), work the outer edges of the flour toward the center of the well. Integrate the ingredients until they become somewhat consistent & resemble cornmeal. Knead in the bits of butter & the dough will get much easier to manage- Roll into a ball & place in a lightly buttered baking tin, 8″ in diameter. Flatten out the dough with the palm of your hand to meet the edges of the tin.ย  I bake this treat in a decorative earthenware dish that embosses it with hearts. With a fork make some squiggles on the tart in each direction, then paint on a small amount of the reserved egg white & bake.

Great on a cold, rainy day with a hot cuppa-

enjoy!

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Ojai Jalapeรฑo Brioche with Ojai Jalapeรฑo Jelly

Preheat oven to 350.

2 packets active dry yeast
ยผ c. warm water
1 ยผ c. buttermilk
ยพ c. salted butter (softened)
ยผ c. sugar
2 eggs
5-7 Jalapeรฑo Peppers โ€“ washed & stemmed- chopped in a mini Cuisinart
(I donโ€™t remove the seeds- only remove them IF you want to control the heat/wear gloves)
5-5 ยฝ c. โ€˜self risingโ€™ flour
pinch of salt

Ojai Jalapeรฑo Jelly

Butter -salt free @ room temperature

Grease bread pans & set aside

In a large bowl:

Sprinkle the yeast on top of the warm water.  Let mixture rest until itโ€™s frothy looking, then add buttermilk, butter, sugar, eggs, & 1 c. flour.  Mix lightly & add the Jalapeรฑos.  Keep adding flour until 5-5 ยฝ c. are reached.  Knead well.  Place in pans & cover loosely with plastic wrap & a light towel.  Let rise until doubled in size (about 45 minutes).  Bake @ 350 oven for 25-30 minutes.  Remove from pans & brush with butter.  Serve brioche fresh from the oven with a side of Ojai Jalapeรฑo Jelly & butter.

enjoy!