Macaroons

Awhile ago my youngest sister came to visit (really to do some laundry ;) ). But she was in a baking mood so she decided since she had never made Macaroons she needed to make some! They turned out delicious! She made the cookies and I drizzled the chocolate over them, have I ever mentioned I'm a choco-holic? ;) We found this recipe off a bag of coconut.

Macaroons

1/4 cup Flour
2/3 cup Granulated Sugar
1/4 tsp. Salt
2 2/3 cup Flaked Coconut
4 Egg Whites
1 tsp Almond Extract
1 cup chopped Almonds (optional)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Combine flour, sugar, salt and coconut in mixing bowl. Stir in egg whites and almond extract. Stir in chopped almonds (optional); Mix well. Drop teaspoon fulls onto greased cookie sheet. Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown. Remove from cookie sheet, cool on racks. Makes 2 1/2 dozen soft cookies.

Drizzle chocolate over them. (optional)

Banana Bread

I found this recipe years ago and it quickly became a favorite around our house. The bread comes out so soft and moist. Enjoy!

Banana Bread

5 Tbs. butter
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 cups mashed, very ripe bananas
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. backing soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup heavy cream
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray bottom only of 9x5x3 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Beat butter in large bowl with an electric mixer set at medium speed until light and fluffy. Add granulated sugar and brown sugar; beat well. Add egg, egg whites & vanilla; beat until well blended. Add mashed banana, and beat on high speed 30 seconds.
3. Combine flour, baking soda, salt & baking powder in medium bowl. Add flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with cream, ending with flour mixture. Add walnuts to batter; mix well.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared loaf pan. Bake until browned and toothpick inserted near center comes out clean, about 1 hour 15 minutes.
5. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan; cool completely on wire rack. Slice and serve with butter and jam.