As I pack up my belongings in preparation for a move across town, I am reminded  of my life-saving kitchen tool.

The reason I adore my kitchen timer is because….

It Saves Me Time!

While something delicious is baking in the oven, I can leave the room with my kitchen timer in hand and feel confident that I will not set the place on fire.

The buzzer sounds off just in time for me to pull it out of the oven or give it a quick toss.

Preparing Dinner Just Got Easier & Quicker.

Instead of quitting my work day at 5pm to have dinner on the table at 6pm, I can thrown everything together, set the timer, and get back to my paperwork.  Or those busy mornings when there is little time for breakfast, the kitchen timer saves my day.

When my nutrition clients complain that there is not enough time in the day to prepare a meal and I beg to differ.  There is always time to whip up something healthy and delicious especially when one utilizes the kitchen timer.  Martha Stewart agrees on the necessity.

An Extra 5 Minutes Helps Tremendously!

I understand that not every meal can just be thrown into a big dish and left in the oven for an hour.  Many times cooking a meal requires multiple pots and pans.  However, even if you are not making that one-dish-wonder, try utilizing your kitchen timer even just for 5 minutes.

Unless something needs to be stirred constantly, there is no sense in standing over your oven wasting precious minutes of your day.  Instead, time it and…. step away!

4 Dishes To Make Using Your Kitchen Timer.

Baked Chicken with Roasted Veggies :: Approx. time saved = 30 min. – 1 hour

Brown Rice :: Aprox. time saved = 30 minutes

Oven-baked Salmon :: Approx. time saved = 40 minutes

Homemade Granola :: Approx. time saved = 40 minutes

These will get you started using the timer…..

What recipes are you currently making where you utilize your kitchen timer?  Or maybe there are some where you could be making better use of the timer?

How has your kitchen timer saved you time in the long run?

What other tools do you use in the kitchen that help cut time?

Alison Held, M.S., CMTA
Clinical Nutritionist

While banana bread appears to be healthy, often the classic recipes have an abundance of sugar.  In addition, those with egg or dairy allergies often must refrain from this childhood favorite.  This week I scoured the internet for vegan (egg and dairy free) banana bread recipes.  I found many and decided to partake in some kitchen experimentation.

Image by bmann

Let the Fun Begin!  Be a “Chemist” in Your Kitchen!

Instead of sticking by the rules, I mixed and matched what I had found on the web.  With about 20 ripe bananas, I had plenty of room for error….but I must say, no error was to be had.

After reading several comments by fellow bakers and then thinking about my different flavor options, I created the most delicious twist of the old classic recipe for banana bread that includes less sugar, no eggs, no dairy, and a whole lot of moisture and taste.

I am so excited to share this recipe with my friends, family, clients (especially those with dairy and egg allergies) and you!

Bingo!  A New Recipe is Born!

Healthful Direction Banana Walnut Bread Recipe:

Ingredients:

6 ripe organic bananas
4 TB coconut oil
3 cups spelt flour
1 cup organic sugar
1 cup organic applesauce
2 Tsp sea salt
2 Tsp baking soda
2 cups chopped walnuts
Cinnamon to taste

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees.  Grease two standard loaf pans with coconut oil.  Mash bananas in a large bowl and add liquid coconut oil.  Next, add flour, sugar, applesauce, salt and baking soda.  Stir in mixed walnuts and cinnamon to your liking.

Pour the batter into greased loaf pans (divided evenly).  Sprinkle cinnamon on top and bake for approximately one full hour.

The Key = Superior Ingredient Selection

You may have already whipped up a few loaves but before taking your first bite, let me give you a quick rundown on why I chose the above ingredients:

Organic Bananas: Why organic?  Have you heard about the study where monkeys were given a choice between conventional and organic bananas? Without being given any direction, these creature chose the organic variety.

Coconut Oil: Most baking recipes call for vegetable oil or shortening.  These oils can be loaded with trans-fat and/or contribute to clogged arteries.  In addition, many oils are not stable at high heat BUT coconut oil is extremely stable, healthy and tastes divine.

Spelt Four: White flour is often enriched (bad news) and bleached (more bad news).  Whole wheat flour can be dense…in addition, our diet has an abundance of wheat which is very difficult for our bodies to digest.  Spelt is in the wheat family but a gentler grain on the digestive tract.

Organic Sugar: This will be less refined and contain fewer or no pesticides in comparison to its conventional counterpart.  If I had my choice, I would choose xylitol as the sweetener since it does not impact blood sugar.  I will try this next time!  It is important to note that this recipe contains far less sugar than anything you will ever find in a bake shop.  If your bananas are extra ripe, you could even cut back on the sugar.

Organic applesauce: I used Eden Organics because it’s a brand I trust.  Did you know that conventional apples are part of the dirty dozen and may be sprayed with up to 40 different pesticides and fertilizers?  Yuck!

Sea Salt: Contains a plethora of minerals and again, far less refined than your conventional salt.  There is much more to this story which you will perhaps read about in a future blog entry.

Baking Soda: to help the bread rise.

Walnuts: loaded with healthy oils, will help stabilize your blood sugar since the bread does have some sugar and bananas are high on the glycemic load.

Cinnamon: Another blood sugar stabilizer!

Ain’t Nothing Like The Real Thing?

I beg to differ. Yes, finding healthy recipes that taste as good as, “the real thing” can be challenging.  Even when someone says it tastes just like the original, it often does not.

Today I share this classic twist to show you that it can be done.  Healthier options do not have to taste or look dry or bland.  Have a food allergy, sensitivity or limitation?  You CAN find an alternative that the whole family with LOVE.

All it takes is some experimentation in order to get it right.  This recipe is perfect for an after-school snack or a dish you can take with you to any type of gathering.  In fact, I’ll be attending a Halloween tea party tomorrow and will arrive to the party with this scrumptious bread in hand!

Give this recipe a try and let me know how you make out!