I also love Banana Bread. Any way I can make it.
Which is what drove me to write this entry. But how on earth do these two things correlate? Bear with me.
Cruciferous is the botanical description of a large family of plants. They dominate as a crop, not only that they dominate in health benefits too!
When I think of cruciferous I think heart healthy, high in vitamins, low in calories and loaded with other cancer fighting benefits Nutritionist's, like my self, fawn over. If I could invent a pill that did everything a cup of steamed broccoli could do, I would be a millionaire. Nonetheless, its actually better to eat the greens, than to take the supplement for them. The body is made to break down actual food, not concentrated pills, so remember that when you're taking a handful of vitamins and instead of getting 4 -6 servings of veggies a day, it's just not the same.
You can get them in all shapes, flavors, sizes and colors too.
Kale is a favorite of mine. I like to steam it then add a mix of balsamic vinegar, chili flakes and soy sauce. It is super high in Vitamin K, which is important for blood clotting.
Cauliflower, obviously a personal favorite, is way high in Vitamin C and also slows and prevents the growth tumors of breast and prostate. It also comes in all kinds of fun colors now : purple, orange, light green....
Brussels Sprout's which look like little mini cabbages, cultivated in ancient Rome, always remain on my grocery list this time of year. Don't fear them for their flatulence causing effects! They are so great when roasted in the oven with some sea salt and pepper. Simple, fast, and fat free!
There are so many more too : bok choy, rutabaga, kohlrabi, mustard greens, turnip greens, arugula, daikon, collards and even wasabi. With such a plethora of choices, there is no excuse not to try them.
So today, I salute you Cruciferous Vegetables! Not only do you come in all flavors, grow in hash conditions, have cancer fighting properties up the whaa-zoo, but you are one of my go to vegetable nearly everyday of the week.
So how does Banana Bread come in line with this?
A current Favorite twist with Cruciferous Vegetable mixed into a recipe comes from the aptly titled best seller Deceptively Delicious. Not only has the lovely and talented Mrs. Seinfeld (yes, like the show) found a way to sneak more veggies into her kids mouths, she also has adults swooning over the health benefits of her switch outs.
Try it! You won't believe how easy it is or how amazing some of these sneaky treats and meals taste, in addition to cutting down the total calories. There is also healthful information in the book from a REAL Dietitian! High Five! Check her out here if this kind of cooking tickles your fancy, or just go buy it.
I like her Banana Bread recipe, but I sub out the egg whites, as well as use different sugars. In fact, I find I like to combine ideas from different recipes together. My newest concoction combines the banana bread from Jessica's book and the other from Babycakes NYC's Erin McKenna's new book which I am just obsessed with. Not only was this girl the winner of Martha Stewart's Cupcake contest, but her recipes are mostly gluten free, refined sugar free and all vegan. Plus, she's super cute. Triple threat, really.
Could it get better, or for that matter, better for you than that?! It can, she just opened up another locale in Downtown LA, score! The great thing about new places like this is it not only is a door to what is possible in the world of healthful baking, it is a window to a population of people with Celiac Disease, or those who cannot digest gluten and therefore must avoid so many tasty treats like Banana Bread. Now there are ALL KINDS of alternatives!
"When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present." - www.celiac.org
I think, maybe if these two girls brilliant ideas came together, you could get something like a combination of cataclysmic healthful deliciousness.
Like this! From me, to you!
The "Cauliflower" Lollipop's Celiac Vegans' Dream Banana Bread
This recipe calls for some special, and kinda hard to find if you don't have a health food store near by, ingredients.
So if you need help, ask google, me, or the good people at your local Whole Foods.
By: Joy K Jenkins (The Cauliflower Lollipop)
You will need:
8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 3/4 inch loaf pan - doesn't have to be this specific, this is just what I use normally.
Parchment Paper (to line the bottom and sides of the pan)
Preheated Oven to 325 F
Food Processor or Blender
An open mind and good spirits.
Ingredients:
2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour
(This has a much different texture and weight to it than normal All-Purpose flour does, so I highly recommend sifting it, then measuring.)
2 tsp Baking Powder
2 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Organic Sea Salt
1 tsp Ground Organic Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Fresh Ground Organic Nutmeg (Use a microplane.)
1/3 cup Organic Cauliflower Puree* ( for 1/3 cup, about 4 -5 large cauliflower flowerets)
( *Do this ahead of time. How to : Steam cauliflower until tender, puree in food processor or blender until smooth!! Let cool, then measure. Refrigerate or freeze excess, or eat it like Mashed Potatoes, whenever! It tastes good all by itself. See, easy right?)
2 tbl Organic Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, melted and cooled to room temp. (Totally essential, this adds SO much flavor.)
3/4 - 1 cup cup Organic Agave Nectar (Amount depends on how sweet you want it.)
1/2 cup Organic Almond, Rice or Hemp Milk ( whatever suits your need, you could use soy too)
(* This ingredient is used as a substitute for the gluten, which is missing when using gluten free flours. It is often seen in salad dressings, it has no flavor, it is purely for texture. This well help add to the crumb of the bread and thicken it to a perfect consistency.)
1 tsp Organic Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Organic Mashed Bananas (Use the ripest banana's you have, more flavorful that way.)
Directions:
1) In a medium bowl whisk together the dry ingredients : flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2) In a another medium bowl whisk together the wet ingredients: cauliflower puree, coconut oil, agave and milk. Set Aside.
3) In a separate bowl of an electric mixer blend together flaxseed and water until tick and creamy. About 2 minutes on high. (this will act as the eggs and bind everything together, promise!) Turn mixer off and add in Xanthan gum, mix into flax until well combined and thick.
4) Once the flax-xanthan gum mixture has become thick add in the vanilla and mashed bananas. Blend until well combined, 3 minutes.
5) Alternating between dry and wet ingredients, beginning with dry add them into the bowl of the electric mixer. Scape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. End with wet ingredients.
6) After well incorporated, but not OVER mixed, pour the batter into a prepared LINED with parchment loaf pan.
7) Place pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes. Turn pan 180 inside the oven at about 35 minutes for even browning.
8) Bread should bounce back to the touch when done or a toothpick inserted should come out clean.
9) Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 15 to 20 minutes.
10) Invert pan and bread should come out easily because you lined it with parchment! Remove the paper and let cool for another 10 minutes.
11) Slice, serve and breath in the healthful benefits!
Go get 'em health-nut!
If you'd like to see the whole slideshow go the the picks' flicks and good licks section! Or click the title of the recipe....
Try it out! Let me know what you think!
So today, I salute you Cruciferous Vegetables! Not only do you come in all flavors, grow in hash conditions, have cancer fighting properties up the whaa-zoo, but you are one of my go to vegetable nearly everyday of the week.
So how does Banana Bread come in line with this?
A current Favorite twist with Cruciferous Vegetable mixed into a recipe comes from the aptly titled best seller Deceptively Delicious. Not only has the lovely and talented Mrs. Seinfeld (yes, like the show) found a way to sneak more veggies into her kids mouths, she also has adults swooning over the health benefits of her switch outs.
Try it! You won't believe how easy it is or how amazing some of these sneaky treats and meals taste, in addition to cutting down the total calories. There is also healthful information in the book from a REAL Dietitian! High Five! Check her out here if this kind of cooking tickles your fancy, or just go buy it.
I like her Banana Bread recipe, but I sub out the egg whites, as well as use different sugars. In fact, I find I like to combine ideas from different recipes together. My newest concoction combines the banana bread from Jessica's book and the other from Babycakes NYC's Erin McKenna's new book which I am just obsessed with. Not only was this girl the winner of Martha Stewart's Cupcake contest, but her recipes are mostly gluten free, refined sugar free and all vegan. Plus, she's super cute. Triple threat, really.Could it get better, or for that matter, better for you than that?! It can, she just opened up another locale in Downtown LA, score! The great thing about new places like this is it not only is a door to what is possible in the world of healthful baking, it is a window to a population of people with Celiac Disease, or those who cannot digest gluten and therefore must avoid so many tasty treats like Banana Bread. Now there are ALL KINDS of alternatives!
"When people with CD eat foods that contain gluten, it creates an immune-mediated toxic reaction that causes damage to the small intestine and does not allow food to be properly absorbed. Even small amounts of gluten in foods can affect those with CD and cause health problems. Damage can occur to the small bowel even when there are no symptoms present." - www.celiac.org
I think, maybe if these two girls brilliant ideas came together, you could get something like a combination of cataclysmic healthful deliciousness.
Like this! From me, to you!
The "Cauliflower" Lollipop's Celiac Vegans' Dream Banana Bread
This recipe calls for some special, and kinda hard to find if you don't have a health food store near by, ingredients.
So if you need help, ask google, me, or the good people at your local Whole Foods.
By: Joy K Jenkins (The Cauliflower Lollipop)
You will need:
8 1/2 X 4 1/2 X 2 3/4 inch loaf pan - doesn't have to be this specific, this is just what I use normally.
Parchment Paper (to line the bottom and sides of the pan)
Preheated Oven to 325 F
Food Processor or Blender
An open mind and good spirits.
Ingredients:
2 cups Bob's Red Mill Gluten-Free All-Purpose Baking Flour
(This has a much different texture and weight to it than normal All-Purpose flour does, so I highly recommend sifting it, then measuring.)
2 tsp Baking Soda
3/4 tsp Organic Sea Salt
1 tsp Ground Organic Cinnamon
1/4 tsp Fresh Ground Organic Nutmeg (Use a microplane.)
1/3 cup Organic Cauliflower Puree* ( for 1/3 cup, about 4 -5 large cauliflower flowerets)
( *Do this ahead of time. How to : Steam cauliflower until tender, puree in food processor or blender until smooth!! Let cool, then measure. Refrigerate or freeze excess, or eat it like Mashed Potatoes, whenever! It tastes good all by itself. See, easy right?)
2 tbl Organic Virgin Unrefined Coconut Oil, melted and cooled to room temp. (Totally essential, this adds SO much flavor.)
1/2 cup Organic Almond, Rice or Hemp Milk ( whatever suits your need, you could use soy too)
1 1/2 tbl Organic Ground Flaxseed
1/4 cup Water
1 tsp Xanthan Gum *(* This ingredient is used as a substitute for the gluten, which is missing when using gluten free flours. It is often seen in salad dressings, it has no flavor, it is purely for texture. This well help add to the crumb of the bread and thicken it to a perfect consistency.)
1 tsp Organic Pure Vanilla Extract
1 1/2 cups Organic Mashed Bananas (Use the ripest banana's you have, more flavorful that way.)
Directions:
1) In a medium bowl whisk together the dry ingredients : flour, baking powder, baking soda, sea salt and cinnamon. Set aside.
2) In a another medium bowl whisk together the wet ingredients: cauliflower puree, coconut oil, agave and milk. Set Aside.
3) In a separate bowl of an electric mixer blend together flaxseed and water until tick and creamy. About 2 minutes on high. (this will act as the eggs and bind everything together, promise!) Turn mixer off and add in Xanthan gum, mix into flax until well combined and thick.
4) Once the flax-xanthan gum mixture has become thick add in the vanilla and mashed bananas. Blend until well combined, 3 minutes.
5) Alternating between dry and wet ingredients, beginning with dry add them into the bowl of the electric mixer. Scape down the sides of the bowl after each addition. End with wet ingredients.
6) After well incorporated, but not OVER mixed, pour the batter into a prepared LINED with parchment loaf pan.
7) Place pan in the preheated oven and bake for 55-60 minutes. Turn pan 180 inside the oven at about 35 minutes for even browning.
8) Bread should bounce back to the touch when done or a toothpick inserted should come out clean.
9) Remove from oven and let cool in pan for 15 to 20 minutes.
10) Invert pan and bread should come out easily because you lined it with parchment! Remove the paper and let cool for another 10 minutes.
11) Slice, serve and breath in the healthful benefits!
Go get 'em health-nut!
If you'd like to see the whole slideshow go the the picks' flicks and good licks section! Or click the title of the recipe....
Try it out! Let me know what you think!
6 comments:
I'love the fact that you add vegetables to sweets..Brilliant
Pics are good ..its nice to see the labels of some of these obscure items, then you know what to look for.
This is a funny and oddly normal take on food people. If you have read other blogs of Joy's you will see that the big corps do this to us all of the time, but unfortunately none of the stuff they use is good for you.
Ok so as one who eats Joy's food, I have to say to everyone else, if you never know that these ultra healthy additives are put into your sweets, you would never know by the taste. Joy has been doing this for years, perfected it and I am obsessed with the "hidden" ingredients in Joy's treats.
Thanks!!!! I think, most of the time, I am always looking to update a recipe, make it better for you, and ultimately taste better using natural ingredients. The only downside, they tend to be more expensive, but they are worth the health benefits, tenfold.
Thanks Joel. You, of all the people, always give me the most honest, and best feedback. Keep it coming.
Where oh where has our Lollipop gone?????
Great site. A lot of useful information here. I’m sending it to some friends!
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