my favorite cooking utensil

this is it. my favorite utensil for cooking that usually lives in or very near my kitchen. if i can't find it, and jay asks what i'm looking for and i say my cookbook... he knows it's this one. i received this cookbook from my dear friend ashley many years ago.

(this picture was 4 years ago... time sure does fly)

she started me out with a few of her favorite recipes and since then, i have continued to add to it with favorites i have discovered along my way. i have new recipes, old recipes, family recipes, cut-outs from magazines. some of them i have made and love, some of them have sounded delicious but i have never made them (one day). this is my trusty kitchen companion- better than anything i could ever get from the pampered chef or bed, bath, and beyond.

speaking of kitchens and cooking... weight watchers continues to make a difference in our lives and home. i'm not sure of jay's weight loss total to date, but in 2 months, i have lost 6.4 lbs. i can see and feel the difference and am thankful that the weight is coming off slowly. i feel that i am taking the time to lose it and by doing so, i am learning new, healthy habits that will remain long after tracking every single thing i eat ends.

what is that, you ask? well, yesterday we had some very ripe bananas and not enough yogurt (or room in our stomachs) for 3 smoothies. so, i was determined to find a delicious recipe from weight watchers for those bananas. and i did! i had every ingredient in the house already, too. so, i made some delicious banana oatmeal bread. yummy. at 4 points per slice (10 slices per loaf), it is a yummy treat for breakfast. it has made it into my little companion, too.

BANANA OATMEAL BREAD

1 c. uncooked old-fashioned oats

3 large bananas

2 med. egg whites

1 lg. egg

3 tsp. canola oil

1/4 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

1/2 c. unpacked brown sugar

1 1/4 c. all-purpose flour

1. Preheat oven to 350ºF. In a large bowl, stir together dry ingredients (except oats). Add oil and eggs; mix thoroughly.

2. In a small bowl, mash bananas with a potato masher or fork. Add bananas and oats to batter.

3. Spray a loaf pan with cooking spray. Pour batter into pan and bake until top of loaf is firm to touch, 45-55 minutes. Remove from oven to cool in pan for 5 minutes. Flip out and cool on a wire rack for another 10 minutes.

and voila! tasty banana oatmeal bread. and it smells wonderful while it is baking, too. enjoy!