The BEST Banana Bread

Our family has been trying to eat as many whole foods as possible and we are trying to avoid sugars, oils, and too much animal protine. With that said, it has been hard to satisfy my sweet tooth. I really wanted to find a good, healthy, but tastey dessert recipie. I found a keeper tonight! This recipie has no white sugar, no eggs, and no oil. It was so delicious and so healthy...I just HAD to share. This will be a new family staple in our house!

Healthy Whole Wheat Banana Bread 
Yields 1 loaf

Ingredient List

1/3 cup sugar free applesauce
1/2 cup local, raw honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
1 3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 teaspoon sea salt
1 tsp baking soda DISSOLVED in 1/4 cup hot water


Optional:
1/2 cup whole oats
1/8 cup ground flaxseed
1/2 cup walnuts
1/3 cup dried fruit

Note: This recipe is super moist, almost to the point of being a bread pudding. Adding the oats and ground flaxseed absorb some of the moisture. The bread has always turned out moist, even when adding oats or flaxseed.

Directions:

(1) Preheat oven to 325.

(2) Prepare a loaf pan, either with butter, or with a Baker's Joy type of pan-preparant. (is that a word?)

(3) In a large bowl, beat applesauce and honey together.

(4) Add bananas, salt, cinnamon. Mix well.

(5) Add whole wheat flour and baking soda mixture. Mix well, scraping sides of bowl.

(6) Add any optional ingredients.

(4) Bake for about 50-60 minutes. Check at 50 minutes, then if needed, bake 5-10 more minutes. My cooking time varies with how "big" the bananas are.

It's a Beautiful Life

I am a very blessed person. I have two beautiful children, a wonderful husband, and wonderful extended family. We live in a great ward, I LOVE Arizona, and our day to day comings and goings are worth documenting! So here I go.  Here is a post with some of the "usual" goings on that make up my beautiful life. 

 Nightly scripture reading. We always sing the chorus of "Scripture Power" to get the boys gathered. I love this part of my day!

The Meal Chart...my kids are always begging for food so I made this clock so that when they say "I'm HUNGRY!" I can say, go look at the clock. Is it time to eat? This has been a great addition to our household. I am learning that the more procedures the kids have the more smoothly the day goes.

Car washes. I will never pay for one (at least not in the spring, summer or fall). We have WAY too much fun washing the car on our own.

Playing with Austyn. My niece and sister-in-law live with us. Ethan, Austyn and Cameron have a great time together. Of course, they have their moments, but all in all, they have so much fun.

Another part of our weekly life is going to Wal-Mart and price matching all of our produce. I love doing this! Jared went this week and got all of this for $30. 8 Roma tomatoes, 4 onions, 4 pineapples, 1 head of Romane lettuce, 6 lbs of strawberries, 4 bunches of bananas, a case of cutie oranges, 8 oranges, 6 bell peppers, 4 lemons and 2 limes. If you don't price match, and you live in the valley, you should!!!! We love it even more than Bountiful Baskets.

"Bike rides" and playing at the park. We have had beautiful weather all month! I have loved it and have tried to spend as much time outside as possible. We go to the park as often as we can. There is nothing better than being outside with my kids and a good book! (Except maybe a date night with my husband.)

In summary, I am opening my eyes to what I do have and am trying to forget what I don't have. I ran across this quote today and it is perfect! 

"The art of being happy lies in the power of extracting happiness from common things."

-Henry Ward Beecher

Father and Sons

Last weekend Jared took Ethan on the annual "Father and Sons" campout with our ward...and guess what? They got rained out. The weather has been beautiful for weeks without rain...exept for this past weekend.  That is how camping goes, I guess. Ethan and Jared ended up sleeping in the car but they still had a great time.

Easter 2012

This Easter was wonderful. We did the Easter festivities on Saturday and we stared with the Easter Egg hunt. Jared took the kids to the playground while I hid all the eggs. 

Jared and I have had discussions about how to teach our children the true meaning of Easter. So, for our Easter egg hunt we decided that we would put a picture of Christ in one egg. Whoever found Jesus would receive the biggest gift…symbolic of Christ giving the greatest of all gifts, immortality and the possibility of exultation.

Ethan found the egg with the picture of Jesus

Sunday Easter baskets

We then enjoyed a wonderful Easter Sunday.  I am so thankful to my Savior. Because of what He did, I can return to my Father in Heaven. I know that my Savior lives. In closing I wanted to share a video of the Saviors last hours and His resurrection. I hope this will touch your heart, as it did mine. Happy Easter!!!

Jennifer and Brandon's Wedding

Well, I am playing a little blog catch up. Our family flew to Idaho on March 22nd to see my baby sister get married for time and all eternity in the Rexburg, Idaho temple. It was a wonderful trip. We stuck around Idaho for a week and got back home on April 1st. Here is a photo essay (with a little commentary) of our vacation. 

Arriving in Idaho Falls- March 22nd

 Ethan and Abby reunited! They played GREAT together.

 My beautiful neice Katelyn...my mom says she looks a little like I did as a baby. I am flattered. Isn't she a doll?

Setting up the reception in Idaho Falls- March 23rd

Helping my baby sister to get ready for the BIG DAY! This was so fun for me. I spent years using my sister, Jennifer, as my doll. I would do her hair, even if she didn't want me to. I dressed her up and primped and pampered her. Poor thing. It was very special to be a part of getting her ready for the biggest day of her life, her wedding day. It brought back so many memories. It was special. :)

 -March 24th 6:30am

The Newly Weds!!!! Jennifer and Brandon Carney

 The Neil Banner Family :)

 The Luncheon: Cameron begging for food

The reception in Idaho Falls. I never get sick of seeing my handsome husband in a tux!

"Cleaning" up after the reception with Grandpa Banner

I turned the big 26. Cameron was my moral support. -March 25th

We drove back to my parents home in Nampa, ID and played all week. 

First we went to the Boise Discovery Center.

Then Jared was in the passanger seat with my 14 year old cousin, who is learning how to drive.  Her parents were in Australia and we were looking after them. On a drive across town they got in a car wreak. Don't worry, no one got hurt. It sure shook everyone up though all up. Guess who got to break the news to my Uncle..........YEP.......Me. We are so thankful nobody was seriously hurt!!!

 Breakfast TIME!! 

 Bowling with Grandma and Grandpa Banner

Swimming at the Rec Center

 Setting up for wedding reception #2 in Nampa

Wedding reception #2- March 31st

My handsome little brother Keith

Abby with Uncle Jared

Jennifer, Angie, Brother Chandler (our High School seminary teacher) and Keith

Ethan with the bride and groom

Mom and Dad :)

Daddy Daughter dance

Well, that ended up being more like a photo novel instead of a photo essay...but that was our trip. A great time was has by all. And, as always, we are happy to be home but dearly miss our family already.

P.S. I know this is totally off topic...but I HAD to tell everyone. Ethan is officially day and NIGHT potty trained!!!!! We couldn't be happier.