Chocolate Chunky Banana Bread

Tired of the old-traditional bread in the mornings? Try this delicious Chocolate Chunky Banana Bread! Fill with chunks of chocolate and chewy dates, this banana bread recipe will bright any morning! Recipe for breakfast and kids school snack.

Yield: 10 to 12 servings

Ingredients
Butter and flour, as needed for greasing the loaf pan
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
Pinch salt
Pinch nutmeg, freshly grated
1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup regular granulated sugar
1 egg
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas, (about 3 medium)
1 tsp. vanilla or almond extract
1/2 cup finely chopped dates
About 3/4 cup chopped dark chocolate

Preparation
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

2. Butter and flour an 8-inch x 4-inch loaf pan or line with parchment paper. Set aside.

3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt and nutmeg. Set aside.

4. Cream butter and sugar with electric mixture until light and fluffy. Beat in egg until smooth and incorporated. Beat in mashed banana and vanilla until smooth. Stir in flour mixture, just until blended, it’s okay if some flour remains. Fold in dates and chocolate.

5. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in centre of bread, come out clean, about 1 hour. Let cool completely. Slice and serve.
















[recipe & photo credit belongs to: Chef Stefano Faita]

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Broccoli Caesar Salad

Eating healthy is always good, but even better if it is a Caesar salad with grilled steak or chicken. This delicious Broccoli Caesar Salad is perfect for lunch, school lunch for kids, dinner, picnic or side dish. Serve salad warm or cold. Enjoy!

Ingredients
1 large head broccoli, cut into florets, blanched or steamed, drained well
3 tbsp. mayonnaise
Juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
3 tbsp. olive oil
1 tbsp. Dijon mustard
1 tsp. Worcestershire sauce
2 garlic cloves, minced
Salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
2 slices pancetta or bacon, cooked and chopped
Parmesan cheese, for garnishing

Directions

1. Combine mayonnaise, lemon juice, Parmesan, olive oil, Dijon mustard, Worcestershire sauce, garlic, and salt and pepper. Add broccoli and toss to combine. Finish pancetta and freshly grated Parmesan or use a vegetable peeler to garnish with shards of Parmesan cheese.

[recipe & photo credit belongs to: cbc.ca]

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Fudgy Brownie Bites

Chocolate lovers have never been more happy, know why? This Fudgy Brownie Bites will make anyone happy! perfect for kids, family and friends. Good for Sunday snacks, appetizers, dessert, or just for fun!

Ingredients

8 ounces (2 sticks) unsalted butter, chopped

2 cups sugar

1 cup unsweetened cocoa powder

4 ounces 70% cocoa chocolate bar, chopped

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

3 large eggs, cold

3/4 cup cake flour

Directions

1. Butter a mini muffin pan (with 36 muffin cups); preheat an oven to 325°F with a rack in the bottom third of the oven.

2.  Place the butter in a large bowl over a pot of simmering water (bain marie). When it begins to melt, add the sugar, cocoa powder and chocolate bar. Stir occasionally until the butter and chocolate have completely melted and mixture is completely mixed together–it may still appear a bit grainy.

3. Remove the bowl from the bain marie and allow the temperature of the mixture to cool slightly.

4. Add the vanilla and stir. Then add each egg, one at a time, mixing well after each to completely incorporate it.

5. Add the cake flour and mix the flour in until it is completely dispersed. Continue to mix for another minute to ensure the mixture is smooth. The batter will be very thick.

6. Spoon the batter evenly into the mini-cupcake pan. Place in the preheated oven and cook for 15 to 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out covered in crumbs and a paste-like substance, but not a liquidy looking substance (it should stick to the toothpick and not run or fall off). Baked for 18 minutes.

7. Allow the brownies to cool to room temperature then place the pans in the freeze for 20 minutes–this will help the brownies come out of the pan easier. Remove from the freezer, run a knife along the outside of each brownie and pop the brownie bite out.

[recipe as seen in: chasingdelicious.com]

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Chicken and Bacon Roll-Ups (Wraps)

Everyone loves wraps, is like eating a sandwich all wrap up! and this Chicken and Bacon Roll-Ups are healthy and delicious for your family or friends. This recipe is perfect for lunch, picnics and work / school lunch.

Serves: 4 people

Ingredients
1/2 cup reduced-fat mayonnaise
1 teaspoon minced fresh tarragon
2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice
4 (2.8-ounce) whole wheat flat-breads
2 cups shredded romaine lettuce
2 cups chopped tomato (about 2 medium)
4 center-cut bacon slices, cooked and drained
2 cups shredded skinless, boneless rotisserie chicken breast

Directions
1. Combine reduced-fat mayonnaise, minced tarragon, and fresh lemon juice in a small bowl. Spread 2 tablespoons mayonnaise mixture over each flatbread. Top each with 1/2 cup shredded romaine lettuce, 1/2 cup chopped tomato, 1 bacon slice, crumbled, and 1/2 cup chicken. Roll up.

[recipe courtesy of: MyRecipes.com]

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Bacon-and-Escarole Grilled Cheese

Sandwiches are one of the best meals for lunch or dinner, best part? You can easy make a delicious sandwich from leftovers. For the Bacon-and-Escarole Grilled Cheese you only need six ingredients. Perfect for lunch, school, work or kids snacks.

Preparation time: 30 minutes
Servings: 4 people

Ingredients
12 slices bacon (12 ounces)
3 tablespoons Dijon mustard
1 tablespoon honey
8 slices sourdough bread

6 ounces sharp cheddar, sliced 

1/2 small head escarole, trimmed and torn into bite-size pieces

Directions

1. In a large skillet, cook bacon over medium-high until fat is rendered and bacon is crisp, about 7 minutes. Transfer to paper towels to drain. Pour off and reserve all but 1 tablespoon fat. In a small bowl, combine mustard and honey and spread on bread. Divide cheese and bacon among bread to make 4 sandwiches.

2. Place skillet over medium; in batches, add sandwiches and cook until bread is golden and crisp and cheese is melted, 6 to 8 minutes, flipping halfway through and adding more bacon fat as needed. Open sandwiches, add escarole, close, and serve immediately.

[recipe & photo courtesy of Martha Stewart]

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Salami and Cream Cheese Sandwich

Looking for a easy-yet delicious recipe for your work lunch, or kids snack time? Well i found the perfect (and super easy to make!) recipe that will help make you say "oh la la" in less than 30 minutes. Kids can help you make this recipe also!

Preparation Time: 30 minutes
Serves: 4 sandwiches

Ingredients
1 teaspoon grainy mustard
2 slices rye bread
2 ounces salami (about 6 slices), thinly sliced
1/2 small bunch arugula, trimmed and washed
1 tablespoon cream cheese

Directions

1. Spread mustard on one slice of bread; top with salami and arugula. Spread cream cheese on the other slice of bread; close sandwich. Serve, or refrigerate, wrapped tightly in wax paper or plastic, up to overnight. Cut in half.

[recipe & photo courtesy of: Martha Stewart]

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Ricotta and grilled tandoori chicken sandwich

This delicious sandwich is the perfect lunch everyone, specially kids. Is healthy, full of proteins and it taste wonderful! Quick and easy to make, in no time your lunch will look chef book recipe. Try it out! 

Makes: 4 servings
Preparation Time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
2 chicken breasts, halved lengthwise
1 tbsp  (15 mL) tandoori curry paste
2/3 cup (160 mL) Ricotta
1 tsp  (5 mL) honey
1/2 zest and juice lime
salt
freshly ground pepper
4 small multi-grain buns
4 lettuce leaves

Directions
1. Coat chicken with tandoori curry paste and set aside for at least 15 minutes.
2. Preheat grill to medium heat.
3. Mix Ricotta with honey and lime zest and juice. Season with salt and pepper.
4. Grill chicken 5–7 minutes per side or until chicken is thoroughly cooked.
5. Meanwhile, heat buns on the grill.
6. Spread buns generously with Ricotta mixture, and add tandoori chicken and lettuce to the bun.












[recipe as seen in: dairygoodness.ca]

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Easy Snack Wraps

Easy Snack Wraps are the best lunch (and easy!) you could possible do. This delicious Snack Wraps are healthy and quick to make. The wraps are perfect for kids lunch or work snack. 

Makes 4 servings
Preparation time: 15 minutes
Total time: 15 minutes

Ingredients
4 whole-wheat tortillas (can buy the package of 4)
1 package light cream cheese
1 head lettuce
1 package sliced deli-style turkey
3 tablespoons of shredded carrots
3 tablespoons minced tomato

Directions

1. Spread the light cream cheese evenly over the tortillas. Add the lettuce leaves and Turkey slices. Sprinkle the carrots and tomatoes over the Turkey slices. Now Roll the tortilla into wraps and cut diagonally (into bite sized pieces). You an secure the wraps with toothpicks so it doesn't open. Pack in your lunch bag or kids bag and ready to go! Delicious, healthy and quick lunch.

[photo credit: missionfoods.com]

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