Mardi Gras’ Banana Foster

“Mardi Gras. Because drinking hurricanes is better than running from them.”

Yes folks, today is Fat Tuesday. The day where everyone drinks, eats, and parties. Parades, beads, music, king cakes…all to celebrate the day before lent.

Unfortunatly, unless I am in New Orleans myself…I won’t be celebrating Mardi Gras to the full extent as some people are. No drinking or partying for me.

But I do like how many Mardi Gras recipes show up when you google search “recipes”. I found recipes for King Cake and Gumbo and Hush Puppies. But I thought that everyone and their mother would be sharing those recipes or making them…so I found a less common Mardi Gras dish.

Bananas Foster.

Bananas warmed in buttery rum sauce over vanilla ice cream. Yum.

Ingredients:

1/4 cup butter

2/3 cup dark brown sugar

3 1/2 tablespoons rum (you can use the flavored fake stuff)

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

3 bananas, peeled and sliced lengthwise and crosswise

1/4 cup coarsely chopped walnuts

1 pint vanilla ice cream

Directions:

-In a large, deep skillet over medium heat, melt butter.  Stir in sugar, rum, vanilla and cinnamon.  When mixture begins to bubble, place bananas and walnuts in pan.  Cook until bananas are hot, 1 to 2 minutes.  Serve at once over vanilla ice cream.

*Easy, right?

So whatever your plans are for tonight, make sure to stay safe and try not to binge on all the delicious treats.

Happy Mardi Gras!

Spring Treats for Springy People

Yesterday, if you didn’t hear, was National Chocolate Mint Day.

And apparently, almost everyday is some kind of celebratory, national day. Like Create a Vacume Day…or Be Humble Day.

Sort of silly. Right?

Well. You won’t be able to guess what day it is today (and no…we are not talking about President’s Day).

Today is Hoodie-Hoo Day (and I would like to point out that it is a copywrited “holiday”, so it is official).

I know what you’re thinking, heck I thought the same exact thing. What in the world is Hoodie-Hoo Day?

Hoodie-Hoo Day is a day to chase out winter and bring in spring. People who live in the northern hemisphere are sick of being stuck in the house with no warmth and good sunshine…so they go outside around noon, wave their hands over their heads…and say Hoodie-Hoo multiple times.

I don’t know about you guys but my first thought was “What kind of crazy birds do this?”

Google image search “Hoodie Hoo Day”.

And just to ease everyone’s mind, I do not believe this was made up by some magic witch cult. Apparently a few people created a lot of “National” holidays including Hoodie Hoo Day and even No Housework Day (which is in April, if you’re curious).

So instead of my neighbors calling the looney bin because someone (me) has been running around the street singing “Hoodie-Hoo”…I’m going to make a sweet spring treat to “show” winter that I am ready for spring.

Bird’s Nest Spring Treat

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, cubed
• 4-1/2 cups miniature marshmallows
• 1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
• 1/4 cup semisweet chocolate chips
• 4 cups chow mein noodles
• 1 cup jelly beans or candy eggs

Directions:

• In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter and marshmallows until smooth, stirring occasionally. Add the peanut butter and chocolate chips; heat and stir for 2 minutes or until smooth. Remove from the heat; stir in chow mein noodles until well coated.
•    Divide into 12 mounds on a waxed paper-lined baking sheet. Using fingers, shape each into a nest; press an indentation in the center of nest. Fill each nest with three or four jelly beans or candy eggs. Cool and serve.

*If you want to go all out, make the nests a little bigger…and add a marshmallow peep. Voila. Completes the spring look.

Have a Hoodie-Hoo day!

Post Valentine’s Diet

What is the worst thing about Valentine’s Day?

The candy hangover.

I bet most of you, woke up super tired..and maybe with a headache. Obviously, candy isn’t so great for you.

So what can you do to make your body go back in tune?

That’s right, eat super healthy all day long (and don’t forget to do a little excersise).

Now what could you possibly eat for lunch or dinner tonight that deems healthy? (and no, pizza with veggies on it, doesn’t count).

How about Eggplant and Goat Cheese Bake?

Ingredients:

2 medium eggplants (about 1½ pounds)

Salt

1⅓ pounds tomatoes

3 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil, plus extra for frying

¼ cup whole almonds, finely chopped

14 whole basil leaves

¾ cup unbleached all-purpose flour

¾ pound semi-firm goat cheese

Directions:

1. Line a baking pan with parchment paper. Cut eggplant into ¼-inch-thick rounds and arrange in 1 layer on prepared pan. Lightly salt rounds, cover with a second sheet of parchment paper, and top with heavy pots to weigh down. Let sit at room temperature until liquid is released, about 30 minutes.

2. Meanwhile, bring a medium pot of water to boil. Add tomatoes and cook for 20 seconds. Drain and immediately run under cold water for 5 seconds. Peel, seed and dice tomatoes; place in a medium bowl.

3. Heat oil in a small saucepan over medium heat. Add almonds and cook, stirring occasionally, until lightly golden, about 3 minutes. Pour mixture over tomatoes. Tear 2 basil leaves, add to tomato mixture and stir to combine; set aside.

4. Heat oven to 350°.

5. Remove parchment paper from eggplant rounds and pat rounds dry with paper towels. Place flour in a shallow bowl. Fill a large skillet with ½ inch oil. Heat over medium-high heat. Working in batches, lightly coat both sides of eggplant with flour. Fry until golden on both sides, 2 to 3 minutes per side. Drain on paper towels.

6. In an 8-x-12-inch baking dish, layer eggplant, tomato mixture and cheese, stacking layers until all ingredients are used, finishing with a layer of cheese. Bake until heated through, about 25 minutes. Serve hot, garnished with remaining basil leaves.

 

Unbaked, Eggplant and Goat Cheese Bake

Yummy. Right?

So how healthy is it?

172 calories, 10 g fat, 284 mg potassium, 12% vitamin A

Now I know the eggplant is fried a bit, but you can grill it instead…it’ll just have a different flavor.

Enjoy :)