Banana Bread not only makes the kitchen smell like heaven when baking, it’s a comfort food to the max!

There is new evidence that bananas that ripen all the way to brown spots have cancer fighting qualities.  Did our Grandmother’s know this when they made this luscious treat?

We use a lot of bananas on The Manor cereal table every day, and frequently they can ripen all at once with no one to eat them.  So we bake this bread! OR simply individually wrap peeled bananas in saran and freeze in freezer bags.  Each batch calls for 4 bananas, so we microwave 4 at a time on a slow defrost setting and they defrost perfectly.

Preheat the oven to 350.

Assemble ingredients: 4 ripe bananas, 1 full stick + 3T unsalted butter, melted, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 beaten egg, 1 teaspoon vanilla, 1 teaspoon baking soda, pinch of salt, 1 1/2 cups flour, 1/4 cup pecans, coarsely chopped, with whole pecans retained for topping.

Mix butter with the smashed bananas in a large mixing bowl.  Add the sugar, egg, vanilla.

Then add the baking soda and salt.  Add the flour last, mix until no flour shows.

Pour mixture into a greased 4X8 inch loaf pan, or try our cute little mini-loaf pans for individual portions.

Be creative with your filling or toppings!  We like dried cranberries too, or walnuts.

Loaf bakes a full hour, mini-loaves for 25-30 minutes.  Cool on rack, then serve!

If you want, these freeze nicely for using later, simply wrap in saran and put in airtight freezer bags. Defrost at room temperature.  Recipe can be doubled, no problem.

YUM, Banana Bread!!!

  The Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast wouldn’t have spring without lots and lots and LOTS of pansies!!!

Mother Nature does the details!

A spring favorite, dazzling in a vase paired with bleeding hearts!

Mini Iris bloom early and today they are open everywhere!  Sweet, only about 6 inches high, very dainty and  detailed.

I am always looking for great snacks to serve at Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast, and this amazing recipe has absolutely BLOWN MY MIND!  It’s SO delicious! And perfect for spring when lighter, greener fare is your craving!

Credit where it’s due, this is lifted from the spring issue of Real Simple!  Though it’s not REAL simple, it’s simple enough.  I used store bought pizza dough, EASY, and made 4 pizzas from two tubes of dough. Assemble all ingredients before putting together and it’s a snap to make.

Ingredients:   1 lb pizza dough, at room temperature, corn meal for dusting the baking sheet,

1 lb asparagus, halved lengthwise and across, 5 ounces baby bella, crimini or button mushrooms,

2 cloves of garlic, minced, 1 1/2 cups ricotta cheese, 3 T olive oil, salt and pepper,2 cups baby arugula, 2 teaspoons fresh lemon juice.

Directions: Heat oven to 400° F.

Shape the dough into 4 rounds and place on 2 cornmeal-dusted baking sheets.

Dividing evenly, top the dough with the asparagus, mushrooms, and garlic, then the ricotta, Parmesan, and 2 tablespoons of the oil. Season with ¾ teaspoon salt and ¼ teaspoon pepper.

Bake, switching the pans halfway through, until the crust is golden brown and crisp, 25 to 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, in a medium bowl, toss the arugula with the lemon juice, the remaining tablespoon of oil, and ¼ teaspoon each salt and pepper. Top the pizzas with the arugula just before serving.

The ricotta cheese is surprisingly light, a nice change from mozzarella on pizza.  The arugula and lemon juice make a spicy tart contrast to the other ingredients.

I guarantee that you will love these!!!!!

Pre-season is recipe testing time at Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast!

Cindi and I have tested 7 new recipes in two days! This one got TWO YUMS UP!

Here are Breakfast Cookies! Just 4 ingredients!

6 ripe bananas, 2 cups unsweetened applesauce (we use our home canned of course), 1 cup dried cranberries and 3 cups oats. Just mix it up.

350 degrees for 35 minutes.

As an extra bonus, these are Vegan and Gluten Free.

We tried 3 methods of storing: room temp, fridge and freezer.  Freezer cookies were best and somehow married the flavors optimally.  Fridge was fine.  But we nixed room temperature.

Yield: 18 cookies

It’s SPRING!!  And all Yelton Manor Bed and Breakfast food cravings are for asparagus!  Here’s a simple but elegant, creamy soup that has a few ingredients that make it extra exciting: paprika for a subtle heat, spinach for a brighter green color, a runny poached egg dropped into it for comfort and some great homegrown herbs for dazzle.  There is no cream in this soup, but it still comes out very rich and creamy.  Serves 6.

Start with a large leek, white and green parts, sliced down the middle then sliced into half moons. Saute in a tablespoon or two of olive oil along with 1 teaspoon of minced garlic.  When they are tender, about 10 minutes, add a teaspoon of Hungarian paprika.

Prepare 1 1/2 lbs of fresh asparagus, simply chop into 1/2 inch pieces. 

Add 3 cups of vegetable stock, preferably homemade, to the pot, along with the asparagus.  Cook until tender, about 15 minutes.

   Now you’re cooking!  When the asparagus is tender, add a cup of fresh spinach.  Stir in and take pot off heat. Place the soup in a blender and whir it up to a creamy consistency.  Return soup to pan to keep warm until serving.

   Time to go raid the spring herb garden!  I love the taste of French tarragon, very licorice. Chives are always great, also fresh parsley.  Chop for topping off the soup bowls.If desired, poach 6 eggs until just perfect, solid whites/runny yolk.  Fill 6 bowls with soup, drop a poached egg into the center of each and top off with your herbs.  Voila!!  Enjoy!