Salted caramel upside down banana cake!

  I love bananas! However, I’m particular about how I eat them, I like them yellow but, tinged with green. That way, they’re firm and sweet, but not too sweet from being over-ripened. When bananas start getting spots, it’s time to bake or make a smoothie. We had three large over ripe banana's after our children left last week. I could of thrown them out, but, after thinking about it, I decided , another recipe for over ripe banana's can't be a bad thing! I think we all end up with over ripe banana's now and then...right? Lot's of great idea's popped into my head.... I thought about doing caramelized banana cupcakes, I also thought about a breakfast smoothie with oatmeal and banana's...yum!  But, I been thinking of making a upside down pineapple cake lately(remembering a wonderful upside down pineapple cake my Mother used to make), then it hit me!! Why not combine my favorite salted caramel and a banana flavored cake? Okay! This is one of the best uses of over ripe banana's ever!

Farfalle Pasta Salad with Toasted Pine Nuts!

I like fun food at fun holidays! With Memorial Day approaching and 4th of July around the corner.....I'm thinking a fun pasta salad!

Asparagus - Grilled Bacon wrapped bundles and Grilled Parmesan Asparagus

Asparagus like most fresh fruits or vegetables, begins to lose its natural sugars immediately when it is harvested. This loss is rapid, and unless used very soon after it is picked it becomes less flavorful and sometimes even bitter. There is a method to amend this, and it is very simple.....

Strawberry-Rhubarb pie in a Mason Jar!!

 
Appreciation for Mom is shown in a lot of different ways in my family. It can be anything from flowers to a lovely piece of jewelry, but, it always includes food...good food! 

When my children were young they would make me a course by course breakfast, with the first course being strawberries. I love strawberries, and these days you can buy fairly sweet ones all year long! Yum!

I decided to do a twist on the strawberry theme this year, I put them together with rhubarb and made a little mason jar pie! You can find these wide mouth 8 ounce Mason jars at most hardware stores, grocery stores or on Amazon, about $10.00 for 12. The acerbic punch of the rhubarb mellows out while it cooks and is the perfect complement to the ripe sweetness of the strawberries. Use my delicious, flaky pie crust recipe or keep it simple with a pre-made dough and customize with different cutout shapes or crimping styles around the edges.

Roasted Red Pepper Tart-Cinco de Mayo!

 

Cinco de Mayo is May 5, a few days away! This is one of the most fun holidays! This year I have made a delicious "Roasted Red Pepper Tart" or quiche as you may say! I love this tart! Gruyere and Parmesan cheese make up the base of this delicious tart....what's not to like!! But really, this tart recipe is merely a canvas for you. You can add absolutely anything that crosses your mind: asparagus, prosciutto, diced ham, bacon, herbs, shrimp, sausage…and/or any vegetable you want. You can make it for breakfast, lunch or dinner, it is delicious for any occasion! Let’s make this tart my friends!