Baked Bananas with Cinnamon Sugar

This super simple dessert comes together in minutes. Be sure to use bananas that are just ripe and do not have spots. Kids of all ages like bananas, cinnamon and chocolate. Drizzle with a little dark rum for adults!

Baked Bananas with Cinnamon Sugar

4 firm, ripe bananas
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1 tablespoon sugar
½ teaspoon cinnamon

Preheat oven to 375°. Line a small, rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Peel bananas and slice diagonally into 1-inch pieces. Arrange bananas in a single layer on baking sheet. Drizzle melted butter over bananas and toss gently to coat.

Combine cinnamon and sugar in a small bowl and sprinkle evenly over bananas.

Bake, without turning, until tender, 9-10 minutes. Serve warm over ice cream and garnish with chocolate shavings. Serves 4.

Ready to bake

 

Cool a few minutes after baking

 

Served over ice cream with chocolate shavings

 

Roasted Purple Asparagus

I stopped downstairs in produce on my way home tonight looking for a vegetable for dinner. The beautiful purple asparagus caught my eye. The stalks are large, 10 stalks weighed 1.06 pounds. Because of the size, I decided to slow-roast them at 350° degrees for about 25 minutes - rather than in a hotter oven for less time as I would thinner asparagus. The result was delicious. The spears were very tender and had a mild asparagus flavor. The vibrant purple color fades slightly with roasting.

Roasted Purple Asparagus
1 1/2 pounds large purple asparagus, about 16 stalks
olive oil
salt and pepper

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Rinse asparagus well and pat dry. Break off woody ends of stalks. Transfer asparagus to prepared baking sheet, drizzle with olive oil, toss to coat lightly and sprinkle with salt and pepper. Arrange asparagus in a single layer. Bake for 20-25 minutes, until asparagus is tender. Serves 4.


Coat asparagus lightly with olive oil; season with salt and pepper

 

A nice punch of color on the plate

 

Cheddar Pecan Wafers

Perfect with a glass of wine, these crumbly, crispy wafers have a bit of heat from the cayenne. Keep rolls in the refrigerator or freezer and be ready to slice and bake.

Cheddar Pecan Wafers

8 ounces shredded sharp or extra sharp cheddar cheese, room temperature
1 stick unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup all-purpose flour
½ cup pecans, toasted and finely chopped
½ teaspoon cayenne pepper
½ teaspoon salt

Place cheese and butter in a medium bowl and beat with an electric mixer until well combined. Add remaining ingredients and beat until well blended.

Divide dough into 2 pieces, roll each piece into a 1-inch diameter log and wrap tightly in wax paper. Refrigerate at least 4 hours. Preheat oven to 350°. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

Slice each log into ¼-inch coins with a sharp knife and arrange 1-inch apart on prepared baking sheets. Bake 12-15 minutes, until golden. Remove from oven and allow to cool on baking sheet 2 minutes before transferring to paper towel lined rack to cool completely. Store wafers in an airtight container up to 4 days. Makes 60 wafers.

Chicken with Prosciutto, Tomatoes and Sage

I like this chicken because it is light and filling at the same time. Fresh sage is important. Use the best tomatoes you can find - if you plan ahead, buy them a few days in advance and let them sit at room temperature to ripen fully. Enjoy!

Chicken with Prosciutto, Tomatoes and Sage

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
salt and pepper
2 tablespoons olive oil
1/2 cup chopped shallots
1 clove garlic, minced
2 Roma tomatoes, diced
3/4 cup dry white wine
1/2 cup prosciutto, cut into thin strips
2 tablespoons chopped fresh sage

Season chicken with salt and pepper. Heat olive oil in a skillet over medium heat. Add chicken and sauté until well browned and just cooked through, about 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to a plate and cover with foil to keep warm. Add shallots and garlic to the skillet; sauté 2-3 minutes, until softened. Add tomatoes, wine, prosciutto and sage to the skillet; stir well and bring to a boil. Return chicken to the skillet, reduce heat and simmer until sauce has thickened and chicken is heated through, about 5 minutes. Serves 4.

Ingredients for two servings

 

Chicken is well browned

 

Sauce is thickening while ingredients simmer

 

Served with roasted green beans and brown rice with wheat berries

 

Vanilla Cream Pound Cake

Recipe of the Week, this pound cake is rich and delicious. The Jungle Jim's taste testers couldn't agree if the cake is better for breakfast, a snack or as dessert.

Vanilla Cream Pound Cake

2 sticks unsalted butter
3 cups sugar
6 large eggs
3 cups all-purpose flour
8 ounces heavy whipping cream
1 tablespoon pure vanilla

Preheat oven to 325°. Grease a 12 cup tube or bundt pan. Remove butter, eggs and cream from refrigerator 45 minutes before mixing batter.

Combine butter and sugar in a large bowl and beat with an electric mixer until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating thoroughly and scraping down sides of bowl after each addition. Add flour alternately with whipping cream, mixing well. Beat until batter is very smooth, about 2 minutes. Add vanilla, mix well. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1¼-1½ hours, until a toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes in pan and transfer cake to a cooling rack to cool completely. Serves 12.

Batter will be very thick and heavy


Cool 10 minutes in pan


Serve sprinkled with powdered sugar (also good with fresh berries)

Old-Fashioned Meatloaf

This meatloaf is moist and flavorful with simple ingredients. A delicious weeknight dinner - freeze the second loaf after baking for a future dinner. Adapted from "Angie's Grandma's Meatloaf", a recipe from Angie Curtis, a Personal/Private Chef in Michigan.

Meatloaf:
2 pounds ground chuck
2 eggs, slightly beaten
2/3 cup finely minced onion
5 ounces (small can) evaporated milk
2/3 cup ketchup
3/4 cup oatmeal
1 1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper

Topping:
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup ketchup
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
1 teaspoon dry mustard

Preheat oven to 350°. Line a rimmed baking sheet with foil.

Mix meatloaf ingredients together well and shape into 2 freeform loaves on prepared baking sheet. Combine sauce ingredients in a small bowl and cover loaves evenly. Bake for 45-55 minutes, until cooked through (160°). Let rest 10 minutes before slicing. Serves 4-6.

Tropical Baked Chicken

Perfect for spring and summer, this easy dish combines the tropical flavors of pineapple, lime, rum and coconut. Look for the small cans of pineapple and limeade - no measuring required.

Tropical Baked Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts - about 1 1/2 pounds
8 ounces crushed pineapple with juice
6 ounces frozen limeade, thawed
1/4 cup dark rum
1/8 teaspoon 5-spice powder
1/4 cup flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon pepper
1 tablespoon butter
2 tablespoons flaked coconut

Preheat oven to 375°. Grease an 8 x 11-inch baking dish.

Combine pineapple with juice, limeade, rum and 5-spice powder in a medium bowl.

Combine flour, salt and pepper in a shallow dish and mix well. Dip chicken breasts in flour mixture, coating well.

Heat butter in a large skillet over medium heat, add chicken and saute until well browned and just cooked through, 4-5 minutes per side. Transfer chicken to prepared baking dish, spoon pineaple mixture evenly over chicken and top with coconut. Bake, uncovered, for 25-35 minutes, until hot throughout and sauce is bubbling and has thickened. Serve chicken over rice, topped with sauce. Serves 4.

Chicken coated with flour

 

Well browned after 5 minutes in the skillet

 

Ready to bake

 

Sauce has thickened, coconut is toasted

 

Served over brown rice