Easter has got to be one of my favourite holidays of the year. First of all, I adore the spring. After a long winter (2014 especially), it is so wonderful to celebrate the start of a new season, a rebirth, a renewal. As a Roman Catholic, this is also one of our high holidays -- mourning both Jesus' death on Good Friday, but also His resurrection on Easter Sunday.
Of course, like any holiday, we tend to celebrate with food -- LOTS of delicious, delicious food. Traditionally, Good Friday is not a day of feasting, but a day of fasting. Many people (my family included) will refrain from eating meat on this day. Seafood and fish dishes are a staple on Good Friday, but for us, the major day of feasting comes on Easter Sunday. We will indulge in homemade ravioli, baby goat prepared various ways, vegetables, salads, and desserts. I'm hungry just thinking about it!
I treasure these family traditions; whether it's about the food or the activities, there's a certain comfort in traditions. Here's another funny tradition: wearing an Easter hat. My mom tells me I always had an Easter hat, to go with my Easter outfit or dress. It's a tradition I've embraced as a mom, too -- and Isabelle will have her Easter hat for Sunday's lunch. Or the traditional Easter egg hunt. On Sunday morning, we will lead our LO through the house picking up colourful eggs. I'm sure the hunt will grow and change as she does, but even as a baby, we had fun hiding and hunting. What Easter traditions does your family partake in?
In the spirit of spring, of rebirth and of tradition, I wanted to bake a special treat that I knew my family would enjoy this Easter: a Chocolate Chip Banana Loaf.
This is the perfect, symbolic dessert -- you take something old and ripe (bananas) and turn them into a brand new dessert. Of course, to complete my dessert I'm using Gay Lea Spreadables!
You can use a standard banana loaf recipe (there are thousands out there), but I decided to use a brand I recently became a fan of -- Grainstorm. It's Canadian, and has a few blends of flours and grains that combine real, healthy ingredients. This is also an easy way to get some added nutrients into your dessert.
My recipe:
To celebrate the Easter season, Gay Lea Foods has two amazing giveaways on the horizon! The first, hosted by Simply Suppa, is a YEAR'S SUPPLY of Gay Lea Product! To enter my contest, please enter via Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ANNNNNNNDDDD....you can also enter to win A Waring Pro Double Belgian-Waffle Maker valued at $190! There will be one winner across all participating blogs, but test your luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck to all, and for those who celebrate, I wish you and your families a happy and blessed Easter.
Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
Of course, like any holiday, we tend to celebrate with food -- LOTS of delicious, delicious food. Traditionally, Good Friday is not a day of feasting, but a day of fasting. Many people (my family included) will refrain from eating meat on this day. Seafood and fish dishes are a staple on Good Friday, but for us, the major day of feasting comes on Easter Sunday. We will indulge in homemade ravioli, baby goat prepared various ways, vegetables, salads, and desserts. I'm hungry just thinking about it!
I treasure these family traditions; whether it's about the food or the activities, there's a certain comfort in traditions. Here's another funny tradition: wearing an Easter hat. My mom tells me I always had an Easter hat, to go with my Easter outfit or dress. It's a tradition I've embraced as a mom, too -- and Isabelle will have her Easter hat for Sunday's lunch. Or the traditional Easter egg hunt. On Sunday morning, we will lead our LO through the house picking up colourful eggs. I'm sure the hunt will grow and change as she does, but even as a baby, we had fun hiding and hunting. What Easter traditions does your family partake in?
In the spirit of spring, of rebirth and of tradition, I wanted to bake a special treat that I knew my family would enjoy this Easter: a Chocolate Chip Banana Loaf.
This is the perfect, symbolic dessert -- you take something old and ripe (bananas) and turn them into a brand new dessert. Of course, to complete my dessert I'm using Gay Lea Spreadables!
You can use a standard banana loaf recipe (there are thousands out there), but I decided to use a brand I recently became a fan of -- Grainstorm. It's Canadian, and has a few blends of flours and grains that combine real, healthy ingredients. This is also an easy way to get some added nutrients into your dessert.
My recipe:
- One pouch of Grainstorm Ancient Grain Muffin & Loaf Blend (500g)
- 1/2 cup Gay Lea butter, melted
- 2 ripe bananas
- 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
- 1 tbsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- cinnamon
- Gay Lea Spreadables butter
What you may notice right off the bat -- there's no sugar in this recipe! Well, there's no ADDED sugar. The bananas are sweet, and the chocolate chips will give a bit of sweetness, but this dessert is not overly sweet.
Pre-heat your oven to 400 degrees, and lightly grease a loaf pan or prep a muffin tray with wrappers. In one bowl, mash the bananas, and leave aside. In a second bowl, whisk the eggs, and add the vanilla and melted butter. Add the Muffin and Loaf blend to the egg mixture, followed by the bananas and chocolate chips. Do not over-mix. It will look grainy and thick, but that's ok. Pour the loaf mixture into the pan and drizzle with cinnamon. (You can also add some melted Spreadables Cinnamon and Brown Sugar.....mmmmmm)
Bake at 400 for 20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.
I prefer to eat my Banana Bread warm, but this loaf is great cold, too. When it's fresh out of the oven, the chocolate is melted, the banana is rich and the loaf is delicate and tender. Of course, you need to add some Gay Lea Spreadables to the warm loaf for some added flavour and creaminess! It's so, so good!
To celebrate the Easter season, Gay Lea Foods has two amazing giveaways on the horizon! The first, hosted by Simply Suppa, is a YEAR'S SUPPLY of Gay Lea Product! To enter my contest, please enter via Rafflecopter below!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
ANNNNNNNDDDD....you can also enter to win A Waring Pro Double Belgian-Waffle Maker valued at $190! There will be one winner across all participating blogs, but test your luck!
a Rafflecopter giveaway
Good luck to all, and for those who celebrate, I wish you and your families a happy and blessed Easter.
Disclosure: I am part of the Gay Lea Ambassador Program with Mom Central Canada and I receive special perks as part of my affiliation with this group. The opinions on this blog are my own.
I like using cottage cheese in a lasagna.
ReplyDeletefavorite way to use cottage cheese is just eating plain
ReplyDeleteI love to use cottage cheese as a snack and as a topping for appetizers. I'll mix fruit and honey in it to make it sweet and for savoury, a dash of salt and pepper and fresh herbs. Mmmmmm!
ReplyDeleteI like to have cottage cheese in lasagna.
ReplyDeleteMy fave way is for popcorn topping, quick and easy.
ReplyDeleteI like using spreadables on hot breads, doesn't tear.
ReplyDeleteI like it on my bread.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite way is to make cake with it.
ReplyDeleteMy favourite way to use Gay Lea Spreadables is when I'm making lemon squares.
ReplyDeleteI love it on my toast,.yum!
ReplyDelete(Karla Sceviour)
I like it on buns or bread
ReplyDeleteI like to have the light version of Spreadables on a bagel.
ReplyDeleteWe put it on our popcorn.
ReplyDeleteFlorence C
On top of pancakes! Yummy!
ReplyDeleteI love it on toast....
ReplyDeleteI don't have a unique recipe. But I love using Gay Lea when I bake banana bread.
ReplyDeleteI love the spreadables on my toast :) delicious
ReplyDeleteI like spreadable on my sandwiches so it doesnt rip the bread. Lori R Jackson is my rafflecopter name
ReplyDeletefor everything from baking to cooking.. there is nothing I won't use it for.
ReplyDeleteNo unique recipes for me, everything is pretty straight forward and simple.
ReplyDelete