Recipes

Ruth Ann's Pecan "Thingies"

3/4 cup granulated sugar

1 TBSP light brown sugar

1/2 tsp. chopped fresh Rosemary   (must admit to not having used this particular ingredient)*

1 tsp. Kosher Salt

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/2 tsp. ground ginger

1/4 tsp. nutmeg

1/4 tsp. red pepper

* I hate Rosemary.  It gets stuck in your teeth.

Step Two:  In another bowl, beat one egg white with one teaspoon water.  Whisk enthusiastically until foamy.

Step Three:  Throw 4 cups pecans into the egg whites, stirring to coat

Step Four:   Add this whole mess to the above-mentioned sugar mixture, stirring efficiently until all the little nuts are duly coated in the sugar mixture.

Step Five:  Spread pecans on a lightly greased (w/cooking spray) 12x17" cookie sheet.

Step Six:  Bake at 275 degrees for 50 to 55 minutes until sugar hardens and nuts are toasted.  Stir every 15 minutes.

Step Seven:  Spread immediately in one layer on wax paper.

                                        Cool for 30 minutes.

                                        Store in an airtight container

I doubled the recipe and made two batches at the same time.  I elected to do the batches separately so this involved two extra bowls. It really was not any more trouble (except to wash the extra bowls) and I was glad I did it that way.

Note: The Real Recipe~~ It calls for one to: "spread pecans in a single layer on a lightly greased (w/cooking spray) aluminum foil-lined half-sheet pan (about 17x12inches)."

Quite honestly, I felt this was ridiculous.  Why should one spray the pan, then cover it with foil?  Also, what's going to happen when one tries to "stir every 15 minutes?" 

I didn't do that.

Ruthye's Banana Bread

Wet Ingredients:                                         

2 ripe bananas                                             

salt                                                                  

2 eggs                                                            

1/2 cup vegetable oil                                   

large scoop sour cream or yogurt                    

1 tsp vanilla

Dry Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups sugar

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

cinnamon

Optional Ingredients:

Walnuts

Cranberries

Chocolate Chips

Raisins

Instructions:

Preheat oven to 350°.

Mash bananas and sprinkle with salt. Mix well. Add eggs, oil, sour cream, vanilla. Add dry ingredients. Mix well and pour into loaf pan. Top with walnuts, cranberries, raisins or chocolate chips as desired. Sprinkle generously with cinnamon and swirl into the batter with a knife.

Bake 52-55 minutes (convection).