Oatmeal Banana Cookies

I walked/jogged a 5K with my best friend and husband at the first of April (2013- I know, I have been working on posting this for too long) and at the finish line they had some oatmeal banana cookies and they were stunning (they were already out of bananas so I went for the next best thing- banana cookies)!
I decided then and there I needed to find or create a recipe. I don't care for nuts, and I didn't want raisins to detract from the delicious banana flavor, so I came up with my own recipe.
The ones I had after the 5K were a little bit crispier, but most of my friends and family prefer softer cookies, and these deliver. I hope you enjoy!

Oatmeal Banana Cookies
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp soda
1 tsp cinnamon
3/4 cup butter
1 cup brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 cup mashed bananas
1 3/4 cup old fashioned oats

Beat butter and sugar together.
Add vanilla and beat well.
Add flour, salt, nutmeg, soda, cinnamon.
Mix well.
Stir in oats, bananas. Mix well.
Drop by spoonful on ungreased cookie sheet.
Bake 12-15 minutes in 350 degree Fahrenheit oven.
Cool 1 minute on sheet.
Remove to wire rack to cool.
Enjoy!

Nutritional Information:
Serving Size = 24 cookies
Calories = 154

Note: Later I tried this recipe again and have added raisins. They are SO good! Of course with the addition of raisins the calories would be a little more, depending on how much you add.
 

Turkey Burgers

I was given an easy, delicious turkey burger recipe by a co-worker and love it so much I thought I would share it with you.

Turkey Burgers
1 lb ground (organic, grass-fed preferred) turkey
1 cup panko bread crumbs, toasted
1 Tbsp butter
2 Tbsp Grey Poupon mustard
1 Tbsp ground Parmesan cheese
Salt and Pepper to taste

1. Melt butter in a non-stick pan on medium heat and add Panko. Stir and cook until toasted.
2. Add toasted Panko to ground turkey, mustard and Parmesan.
3. Mix with your hands until combined and form into patties.
4. Grill on medium-high for 4 minutes on each side.
5. You can add a slice of provolone or Irish cheese and allow to melt once burgers are done (as I have in the photo below).
6. Add your toppings and bun and enjoy!

*Note: I have started adding more mustard and a little more Parmesan cheese and find it tastes that much better, but if you want to stay on the calories indicated in the Nutrition information, please stick with the recipe allocations or be sure to adjust the per serving calories. 

Nutrition: 
Serving Size = 1 burger
Calories = 262 (without cheese topping or any fixings or buns)

Mango Banana Bread

I have been making the same banana bread recipe of my Grandmothers for some time. I have tried a few alterations since and still love the recipe. This time I opted to use mango and banana and coconut rum...I know, right? Just be sure that your fruit is VERY ripe, where you are thinking of throwing it out because no one would eat that...that kind of ripe. (And no, this is not really one of the lower calorie recipes, but a treat we have once in a while and the remainder goes with me to work for everyone else to eat.)

Mango Banana Bread
 2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup soft shortening
2 eggs
3 Tbsp buttermilk
1 cup mashed fruit (banana and mango)
2 cups sifted flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt

1. Mix together thoroughly the sugar, shortening and eggs.
2. Stir in the buttermilk and fruit.
3. Sift together the dry ingredients- flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt- and add to wet ingredients.
4. Bake at 350 degrees Fahrenheit for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Nutritional Information:
Makes 1 loaf = 10 servings
Calories = 243

What's-on-the-Needles Wednesday

Normally on Wednesday nights after work I go down to my LYS (local yarn shop) and knit till 8pm. I didn't make it tonight- I am very tired. Instead I came home and made dinner and started searching through my yarn stash for the perfect yarn for a project for my mom and dad. 

I want to make mom a scarf and dad some felted slippers. 

I found the perfect yarn for my mom, in fact I was thinking of her when I bought it, but I still need the perfect pattern.  

I have lots of yarn I can felt for my dad, but not sure I have enough to make a good looking pair of slippers so I might have to get yarn for that. If he wanted periwinkle or aqua slippers I'd be covered but I don't think that will work. I already have the perfect pattern for him. 

Before I begin these projects I am making sure I finish my fingerless gloves 

and my hat to go with them 

I have not finished either, but I just started the gloves last week and the hat over last weekend so I don't think I'm doing so bad. 

Once I have finished these I can begin the scarf and slippers! I always enjoy starting a new project. Especially for a new pattern I haven't made before. That's why I am looking for a good scarf pattern that I haven't already made. I have worsted weight yarn but I don't want it to be too bulky. I will be searching Ravelry for the perfect pattern. If you have any suggestions please let me know. 

Tata for now and happy knitting! 

Sweaters

It is the middle of May in Arkansas and it was 49 degrees and SO foggy at 1:30pm on the top of Mt Magazine. It got worse, but there were no pretty trees to photo at that point. 

I know it's almost summer time, but I just got to go to the AR Yarn Extravaganza Spring Retreat in Mt Magazine to listen to Amy Herzog teach us how to knit sweaters to flatter ourselves (or anyone). Up to now I have been very hesitant to try a sweater because I was afraid I would mess it up or it wouldn't fit and that would be too disappointing (not to mention all the time and money that went into knitting it up).

Amy gave us so much ammo to knit up ANY garment to fit us. She told us about her website, Custom Fit, where you plug in your measurements, your swatch info and you can design your own pattern or any pattern you love. I am very excited to get my yarn and swatch it up!
Speaking of swatches, these are typical swatches for Amy- this is going to take foreva!

But, hey, if the swatch makes a difference, I am all for it! I ordered my yarn, then I will knit up a giant swatch (and soak/block it) and get my measurements then I'm off to the races on a basic sweater off of the Custom Fit website. I am going basic for my first one until I get the feel for it. I will keep you updated.