Bloomin' Onion Bread

This was so good!!! We had mom and dad down for dinner and I saw this recipe and picture at The Girl Who Ate Everything who got it from The Changable Table {she has step by step pictures on her blog} and I just had to make it! And so glad I did!! Warm, cheesy, and pull apart good!!! You eat it just like the Bloonin' Onion at Outback.....just pull apart and enjoy!!

1 unsliced loaf sourdough bread
1 pound Monterey Jack cheese, thinly sliced
1/2 cup butter, melted ~ I will do 1 c. next time I make this
1/2 cup finely diced green onion
2 teaspoons poppy seeds

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cut the bread lengthwise and width wise without cutting through the bottom crust. This can be a little tricky going the second way but the bread is very forgiving. ~ I had John do this and he used an electric knife and it worked really slick.
Place on a foil-lined baking sheet. Insert cheese slices between cuts. Combine butter, onion, and poppy seeds. Drizzle over bread. Wrap in foil; place on a baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees for 15 minutes.
Unwrap the bread and bake 10 more minutes, or until cheese is melted.

We were talkin' with we were eating this about how many ways you could make this.....add some garlic salt for a garlicy twist or add some oregano and pepperoni slices and olives and dip it in some marinara!!! Here's my picture....as always not as great and I only added onion to half since dad is not an onion lover {unless he's eating chips and french onion dip....how weird is that}!!

Banana Bread

I know there are a TRILLION and one recipes for banana bread out there but I had a HUGE craving for some, had some bananas that were ready to be used, so I googled "banana bread" and found this one at Simply Recipes . It was one of the first ones I looked at, it looked simple enough, so I gave it a try!!! Lo and behold it turned out....moist and yummy!!! I was pretty excited!!! It only make enough for one loaf but I am sure the recipe could easily be doubled!!

3 or 4 ripe bananas, smashed ~ I used 3
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar (can easily reduce to 3/4 cup) ~ I used 3/4 c. and it was plenty sweet
1 egg, beaten
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 teaspoon baking soda
Pinch of salt
1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

No need for a mixer for this recipe. Preheat the oven to 350°F. With a wooden spoon, mix butter into the mashed bananas in a large mixing bowl. Mix in the sugar, egg, and vanilla. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in. Add the flour last, mix. Pour mixture into a buttered 4x8 inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour. Cool on a rack. Remove from pan and slice to serve.

You could add a handful of walnuts or chocolate chips too! Just dust then in a little flour so they won't sink to the bottom of your bread!

I had to leave and the bread still had 10 minutes on the timer but I had to pull it out and hope it continued to cook! It turned out fine pulling it out a little early so I'll try making it again and going the full hour and see what I like best!!! I have another banana recipe to share and it's AMAZINGLY good!!! So good that I know if I make it I'll eat the whole dish!!!

Amish White Bread

This recipe will give you two loaves of plain, sweet white bread that is quick and easy to make.

2 c. warm water
2/3 c. white sugar
1 ½ T. active dry yeast
1½ t. salt
¼ c. vegetable oil
6 c. flour

In a large bowl, dissolve the sugar in the warm water, and then stir in yeast. Allow to proof until yeast resembles a creamy foam.
Mix salt and oil into the yeast in your mixer. Mix in flour, one cup at a time. Knead dough on a lightly floured surface until smooth. Place in a well oiled bowl, and turn dough to coat. Cover with a damp cloth. Allow to rise until doubled, about 1 hour.
Punch dough down. Knead for a few minutes, and divide in half. Shape into loaves, and place into two well oiled 9x5 loaf pans. Allow to raise for 30 minutes, or until dough has risen 1 inch above pans.

Bake @350º for 30 minutes.
Remove from pans and place on cooling rack to cool. Coat top with a little butter while warm to keep crust soft.