Showing posts with label Tuesdays at the Table. Show all posts
Showing posts with label Tuesdays at the Table. Show all posts

Tuesday, April 6, 2010

Cooking up Red (Strawberry Pineapple Freeze)


Today is Tuesdays at the Table, a little cooking party hosted by Cole @ All the Small Stuff. It is a fun gathering and everyone always brings such tasty treats. So far I have brought the best ever banana bread, homemade marshmallows, gumdrop roses and dirt to this virtual table. You may be asking, how does one top edible dirt? Since I also like to show a little color for Wednesday is Rednesday with Sue @ Its a Very Cherry World, I decided " Why Not Cook a Little Red".

Well I needed to get out my frying pan for some inspiration. This number 8 cast iron pan was actually painted by my father in the late 40's or early 50's. Growing up , it had always been a fixture in the family kitchen and is now displayed in mine.


Then I needed my
red cookbooks, I mean I needed to read my cookbooks. Found lots of tasty recipes but not the "one" for today.

Finally one caught my eye. I found the recipe in my very first owned cookbook Better Homes and Gardens Junior Cook Book (with the original price tag of $1.95 still on the red cover of this 1972 culinary guidebook).

Now I am known to be rather creative in the kitchen; however, assembling a photo of all "
red" food products takes that creativity to a new level. Okay this is a stretch for something red, so let's get back to the recipe. It is time to cook.

Here is the recipe for Strawberry-Pineapple Freeze, and as the book title states, For Beginning Cooks of All Ages. This recipe is foolproof. Of course, going with our theme for today, Strawberries are Red.

Ingredients:
1 10 ounce package frozen strawberries, thawed
1 8 3/4 ounce can crushed pineapple
1 cup strawberry-flavored yogurt
1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
3 pineapple rings
lettuce to garnish

1. Put undrained strawberries in a bowl. Mash with a fork. Open can of crushed pineapple; drain off the liquid. Stir drained pineapple, yogurt and sugar into berries.

2. Line an ice cube tray with foil, having foil extend 3 inches on each side. (This of course is referencing the old fashioned metal ice cube trays. Any other similar size low sided dish would work.) Pour in fruit mixture; fold foil edges over fruit. Freeze till salad is firm, about three hours.

3. Lift salad and foil from tray; let stand a few minutes to soften. Cut salad into 6 wedges. Cut pineapple rings in half; arrange atop each wedge. Serve on lettuce. It makes a refreshing little salad perfect for a warm day garden luncheon.

Not only does this junior cookbook provide good recipes, suggested menus, and table setting etiquette, it also teaches 11 rules about Table Manners. I had to share a few with you. Please remember that these are from 1972.

1. Talk about pleasant subjects.

2. Contribute to the table conversation. Say excuse me if you must interrupt when someone else is talking or telling a story.

3. Wait until the whole family is seated before you begin eating.

4. My personal favorite. Wait for the family to finish eating before excusing yourself from the table. Mother likes to hear a "Thank you" for the meal.



Please click on these links to join Cole and all the other good cooks for Tuesdays at the Table
and after you have checked out all the recipes, please hop on over and see Sue for Wednesday is Rednesday for a little pop of color.

Just a quick reminder that my 100 Followers Giveway ends on Saturday. (I moved the date to the 10th) Please click here to see what the winner will receive and yes you will notice, it is all about having a color scheme. Thank you to all who enter. Good luck.

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Best Banana Bread Recipe - Tuesdays at the Table



I am trying a new party today with Cole for Tuesdays at the Table at All the Small Stuff. I am happy to be able to bring to this party my favorite recipe for Best Ever Banana Bread. My daughter and I, decided to made a couple of loaves of bread this weekend. A friend of hers was celebrating her birthday and she absolutely loves Banana Bread. This recipe makes one loaf but is easily doubled.


Please join in at Tuesdays at the Table




Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
2/3 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 very ripe medium bananas)
2 eggs slightly beaten

This was a recipe popular in the 1960's and 1970's. It is a cake-like bread, full of great flavor and texture. Easy to make and oh so yummy. Enjoy.

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour 9" x 5" loaf pan.
In a large bowl, with fork, mix the first 5 ingredients.
2. With pastry blender or 2 knives scissor fashion, cut in shortening until mixture resembles course crumbs.
3. With fork, stir in the bananas and eggs just until blended; spread batter evenly in pan.
4. Bake 55 minutes to 1 hour (I always have to cook it an extra 10 minutes with my stove), until toothpick in center comes out clean.
5. Cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes and then remove from pan and cool completely on rack.

This is the actual recipe as printed in my Good Housekeeping Cookbook 1987. I always add chopped walnuts.

TIP 1: I use this recipe a lot for bridal/baby showers. The bread has a nice crust and holds its shape when cutting into slim slices. I then spread with whipped cream cheese brought to spreadable room temp. I then place a candied walnut in the center and drizzle just a smidge of honey over the slice. It makes for a little more elegant presentation.

TIP 2: In the photo above it shows the bread being wrapped for its gift giving. I do not wrap my baked goods, it makes them loose that fabulous crust. Within 10 minutes of the bread being wrapped, it was delivered to the Birthday Girl at her party. Ten minutes after that it was totally devoured.

So be sure to stop over and say Hi to Cole and to check out all the other great recipes. She is also having a giveaway to celebrate her Blogoversary.
(Please click on the link above or the button on my sidebar to join in, thanks.)

Have a good day.
Sherrie