Friday, March 11, 2016

Cream Cheesed-Filled Banana Bread

Cream Cheesed-Filled Banana Bread

A few months ago, I put several packs of cream cheese, actually thinking I would have the time to bake while being at home with my then-newborn. And boy, was I wrong. To be honest, my first few months at home were filled with changing a newborn, feeding a newborn, and sleeping with a newborn because we would be up for some part of the night. Ya. Let me rethink that baking thing.

Forward to 4+ months post-partum, those packs of cream cheese are just weeks away from going bad, so my oh-so smart husband suggested I make cheesecakes or cream cheese-filled banana bread. Added bonus: Since Lukey and I have finally started getting into the groove of a more established routine, and he is more independent, I have more time to pick up baking and other hobbies I enjoy doing. So I got to experiment, and the results were delish!

I realize it's not the HEALTHIEST recipe out there, but who doesn't enjoy something sweet stuffed with something else? Oh, and if you don't want your banana bread looking like mine, make sure to follow my instructions below and LET IT COOL DOWN before you cut it. :)

Give it a try, I promise it will not disappoint!


Cream Cheese-Filled Banana Bread

Ingredients
For banana bread:
  • 3-4 very ripe bananas, mashed;
  • ⅓ cup butter, melted;
  • ¾ cup brown sugar;
  • 1 egg, beaten;
  • 1½ cups flour;
  • 1 tsp vanilla extract;
  • 1 tsp baking soda;
  • pinch of salt;
  • ½ tsp cinnamon (or to taste); and
  • rolled oats (for decoration at the end).
For cream cheese filling:
  • 1 pack of cream cheese (regular or light) at room temperature; and
  • ¾ cup powdered sugar.
Instructions:
  1. Preheat oven to 350°F (or 175°C) and butter a 4"x8" loaf pan.
  2. Place bananas in medium-sized bowl and mash them as well as you can.
  3. Start adding all other ingredients for the banana bread to this bowl. Mix well.
  4. For the cream cheese filling, combine both ingredients and blend.
  5. Pour half of the banana bread batter into greased pan, then pour all of the cream cheese filling, followed by the rest of the banana bread mix
  6. Sprinkle some oats on top for decoration.
  7. Place in the oven for 53 minutes. My oven is strong, so 53 minutes is all I need, but depending on the strength of your oven, you may want to use a cake tester, such as a fork, knife or toothpick, to make sure your loaf is done.
  8. Remove your yummy treat from the pan, let it cool in the fridge for 30 minutes (this allows the cheese cheese filling to firm up a bit), then cut and serve!
Until the next post!

-Alesia D.



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Wednesday, March 9, 2016

Yummy Hummus

Last weekend, I had a girls' night with my mother-in-law and sister"(s)"-in-law, and we made some yummy, and mostly healthy snacks and desserts. One thing that brings me back to my roots AND always bring back positive feedback is my homemade hummus. (So naturally, this is my go-to when I get invited to a potluck.) It is a big hit every single time I make it, and I always have people asking me for the recipe.

Well friends, the time has finally come.

It's good with pita, with meats like kafta or simply with carrots or other vegetables. Hummus is very versatile, as it can be eaten as a snack or as a side in a Middle-Eastern bbq. Another plus is that if you make it yourself instead of buying from a store, you avoid all the unnecessary extra ingredients + preservatives and get to eat a fresh product.

I'm lucky that my dad passed down his recipe to me, because it has the perfect amount of everything.

Now without further ado, I present my recipe!

Disclaimer: When eating hummus, make sure to bring a pack of mint gum with you. You will thank me for this.



Lebanese Hummus


Ingredients:
  • 2 plump garlic cloves;
  • 1⁄2 tsp salt;
  • 11⁄2 lemons juiced with pulp;
  • 1 can crushed chickpeas; and
  • 1 cup tahini (or how ever much you like).
Directions:
  1. Place garlic cloves and salt in bowl and crush using a mortar.
  2. Add lemon juice and pulp into the bowl. Mix ingredients together.
  3. Open the can of crushed chickpeas and empty contents into the same bowl. Mix.
  4. Pour tahini in, a bit at a time, and mix each time. Give it a taste once the consistency gets thicker. When the hummus becomes pleasing to your palate, you know it is ready.

ENJOY!!

-Alesia D.
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Friday, March 4, 2016

Baby Lukas is Four Months Old!

Today, we are celebrating baby Lukey's 4-month old birthday. I can't believe it has already been four whole months since he has been in this world and that I have been a mommy.

I. Have. Learned. A. Lot. And something tells me I will only be learning more and more and more. He has also changed a lot and learned tons in these few, short month. It is really a beautiful thing to watch your child grow right in front of you.

He now:
  • laughs and giggles;
  • pays more attention to his surroundings;
  • presses buttons on his bouncer and toys;
  • reacts to and loves nursery rhymes;
  • babbles and coos a lot more;
  • tries to copy sounds mommy and daddy make;
  • likes to touch e v e r y t h i n g;
  • is very active;
  • reacts to his reflection in the mirror;
  • loves sitting up (assisted);
  • is extremely curious about the things we eat and drink;
  • has gone up another diaper size; 
  • tries to turn around onto his back from his belly; and
  • wears 9-month old clothing.
A few weeks ago, my baby caught his first cold, so it was my first time dealing with a stuffy nose, fever, and occasionally, a cranky baby. Poor little guy woke up congested every morning, so I quickly became good friends with his nasal aspirator and humidifier. His paediatrician recommended feeding him in small quantities (I still breastfeed) more often, as he vomited after each feeding. And he finally got better a week later.

I have also noticed him drooling more often. And over the past two weeks, he has been biting on his fingers as a way to perhaps soothe his irritated gums, so I finally bough him soothing teethers.

The month of February also gave baby Lukas the chance to have his very first Valentine (me!). I did a little DIY Valentine's shoot with him, and the pictures were a hit. (You can see them below.)

My hubby and I also discovered he has a thing for selfies. Every time he sees a phone, he stares into the lens and starts acting funny. He alternates between, laughing, acting tough, smiling, and posing. It's the cutest thing ever. And so far, it seems that we have a very social baby. As long as mommy and daddy approve, Lukas enjoys playing with others and is comfortable enough to be left without us. Thankfully, he enjoys playing with the caregivers at my gym daycare while I work out, and he always likes being with his grandparents, aunts and uncles.

I can't wait to see what else he will learn and do in his fourth month of being!

Thanks for reading!

-Alesia D.




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