Gooey Banana Bread Cake (Low Sugar)

Low-Sugar Gooey Banana Bread Cake

This cake is delicious & quite filling. Makes a wonderful breakfast on the go, served warm with a little butter or cream cheese. When cooked, the bananas in the cake will not set completely, giving you a firm but slightly gooey center.

For even more healthy yumminess, substitute the flour for whole wheat flour, increase applesauce to 1/4 cup, and cut brown sugar out completely.

Cooking spray
1 c. finely chopped / crushed walnuts
2 med. bananas, mashed
1/2 c. canola oil
3 lg. eggs
1 c. applesauce (homestyle/chunky kind works well)
1/2 c. brown sugar
1 1/4 c. flour (or substitute 1/4 c. of flour for 1/4 c. flaxseed)
1/2 old fashioned oats
2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon OR 1 tsp. apple pie spice & 1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. ground ginger
1/4 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 c. raisins (golden raisins, dried berries of any kind or dried apricots can substitute for deeper flavor)

1. Preheat oven to 350. Spray bundt ban with cooking spray. Set aside.

2. Place mashed bananas, applesauce, oil, eggs, sugar, & vanilla in mixing bowl. Mix well.

3. On top of wet ingredients, place flour, flaxseed (if using), oats, baking soda, baking powder, spices & nuts in bowl. Fold over until just incorporated. Pour batter into prepared pan.


4. Bake cake until knife inserted in center comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. Check cake after 20 minutes; if the top is browning quickly, cover with aluminum foil.

5. Let the cake cool slightly in the pan before turning it onto a wire rack to cool completely. Will keep in cake carrier for 3 days or up to 10 days in refrigerator.  Enjoy!

Apple Butter Pork Roast w/ Apples & Sweet Onions

Apple-Butter Pork Roast w/ Apples & Sweet Onions

A sweet & savory recipe that works well in the heart of winter, or any time of the year!

1 small pork roast (approx. 2 lbs)
1 c. apple butter
1 large sweet & semi-tart apple - Honeycrisp or Granny Smith works well
1  Vidalia onion (onion should be of the yellow or sweet variety)
1 tsp. dried rosemary
3 tbs. honey
1 tsp. minced garlic
Spritz of lemon juice
Salt & pepper to taste
Drizzle of good quality olive oil

1. Preheat oven to 375. Spray glass Pyrex with non-stick spray. Rinse pork roast & pat dry. Place in middle of Pyrex dish. Season generously with salt & pepper.

2. Quarter onion & apple. Place onion quarters on one side of roast, apples on the other. Spritz onions, apples & roast with lemon juice. Generously season with minced garlic.

3. On top of roast, cut a long 'x', then place 1/2 c. apple butter over the top so that it drips into the 'x'. Drizzle olive oil over the top of roast, apples & onions. Sprinkle with dried rosemary. Drizzle honey over rosemary.

4. Time roast. Place in hot oven for one hour. Check timer after one hour. When timer goes off, spoon the other half of the apple butter over the top of veggies, roast & fruit. Let bake for additional 15-20 minutes.

5. Remove from oven. Cover with foil & let rest for 10 minutes. Serve with mashed sweet potatoes. Enjoy!