Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Recipe

May 25, 2017breakfast, desserts, snacksSheri SpalloneComment

Imagine the sweet aroma of freshly baked banana bread wafting through the air. It sounds heavenly, doesn't it? Is your mouth watering? Growing up, one of my favorite treats was my mom's banana bread, which was undoubtedly the best banana bread ever and has become a breakfast staple in our family.

This moist and flavorful banana bread recipe was given to my mom many years ago by a little old lady in Hawaii. My mom's original recipe called for shortening and a lot of sugar, which is probably why it was so decadent, though not practical by today's standards. I substituted butter for the shortening and used Cherchies® Apple Butter Spread in place of some of the sugar. Feeling adventurous, I also added chocolate chips. The real question was whether my version could compete with Mom's recipe. Only our discerning "master taster testers" (our kiddos) could reveal the truth.

Yes! My version passed with flying colors! It was moist and flavorful, just like "Grammy's," which was music to my ears! I usually triple this recipe because this decadent treat disappears almost instantaneously, and freezing extra loaves slightly extends its shelf life.

So, if you're looking for your new favorite banana bread recipe, put those overripe bananas to good use and make this tasty treat today! You won’t be disappointed.

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have used any of these hacks or if you have some to add. Come back again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

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Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup Cherchies Apple Butter Spread
2 eggs
1 teaspoon (tsp) baking soda
1 teaspoon (tsp) salt
2 cups flour
5 Tablespoons (Tbsp) *sour milk
1 teaspoon (tsp) white vinegar
4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup chopped pecans (optional)
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) flour

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350.

To make the *sour milk, add 5 Tablespoons of milk to a small bowl. Add the white vinegar to the milk, stir and set aside.

In a medium bowl, cream the butter, sugar, and Cherchies Apple Butter Spread together. Then add eggs, baking soda, salt, flour and measure out 5 Tablespoons of the sour milk. Discard the remaining sour milk.

Mash the bananas with a fork and add to the batter. In a small bowl, mix the chocolate chips with 1 Tablespoon of flour. This helps prevent the chips from sinking to the bottom. Gently fold the floured chocolate chips into the banana bread batter.

For two loaves, divide the batter evenly into two greased (with cooking spray) loaf pans, or into one greased loaf pan for one loaf.

Bake at 350 degrees for 1/2 hour or until done. Enjoy!

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Caprese Ciabatta Recipe

May 19, 2017lunch, entreesSheri SpalloneComment

To think I was a picky eater when I was a child. Thank goodness my palate changed as I would have missed out on one of my favorite combinations, Caprese, a simple Italian salad made with tomato, basil, and mozzarella cheese. Add that to fresh grilled Ciabatta bread, and the result is a colorful, flavorful sandwich that screams summer. I introduce our Caprese Ciabatta Sandwich Recipe.

Caprese sandwiches are impressive by themselves, with bright green pesto, juicy ruby red tomatoes, and creamy mozzarella cheese, but add Cherchies® Basil Pizzazz to the pesto, and it will elevate this sandwich to the next level.

With a bounty of summer tomatoes and fresh basil abundantly available this time of year, you have no excuse but to make this delicious classic Italian-inspired sandwich. You will not be disappointed.

Comment below and let us know if you tried this tasty recipe. Thank you for visiting and come back again.

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Ingredients

4 Ciabatta rolls, sliced
Cooking spray
1/2 cup mayonnaise (could substitute Olive oil)
1 Tablespoon Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning
1/2 cup Perfect Pesto Recipe
1 or 2 large, ripe tomatoes, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
8 oz. fresh mozzarella cheese, sliced into 1/4 inch slices
1/4 cup white Balsamic vinegar (optional)

Preparation

Spray grill with a light coating of cooking spray. Light grill and turn to high for five minutes, then turn down to low.

Slice Ciabatta rolls in half, and spread each half with 1 Tablespoon (Tbsp.) of mayonnaise (or olive oil).

Sprinkle Garlic Seasoning on rolls. Place rolls mayonnaise side down onto grill for about 3 minutes, or until bread has grill marks. Remove bread from grill.

Now it's time for the pesto...my mouth is already salivating! Spread 1 Tablespoon of the pesto on one slice of the Ciabatta. (Feel free to put the pesto on all the slices at this point to save time. I chose to do it this way for the "glamour shot" later).

Next add the tomato, mozzarella, and another Tablespoon of pesto to the other slices of Ciabatta (see my comment earlier). You could drizzle the balsamic vinegar at this point, but this is optional.

Now for the assembly of the sandwiches! Once these beauties were assembled, I placed the Caprese sandwiches on a plate and placed them on the grill (which was cooling from earlier) for a few minutes. It was worth the few extra minutes, as the cheese melted ever so slightly, and then heaven:) Buon Appetito (that's Italian for enjoy your meal)!

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Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread Recipe

May 18, 2017breakfast, snacks, glaze marinade & sauceSheri SpalloneComment

Cooking Time: 15-20 minutes
Difficulty: Easy

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Today's recipe is a copycat version of our family's beloved Philadelphia's Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese Spread. It is chock full of vegetables and fresh herbs and is a fraction of the cost of the store-bought brand. I have to say, this recipe is pretty darn close to the original.

Bagels and cream cheese are a staple breakfast or afternoon snack in our home, especially bagels slathered with Philadelphia Garden Vegetable Cream Cheese, our family's favorite. Unfortunately, the small tubs found in grocery stores do not last long in a home with young adults and their friends, all with voracious appetites. Anyone with teenagers or young adults can attest to how quickly food disappears. Yeesh!

Re-creating recipes at home is my thing, so I took a stab at re-creating my family's beloved veggie cream cheese spread because I could make larger quantities and control the ingredients. It took a couple of tries experimenting with the ingredients (apparently, cucumber was a no-no), but according to our "Master Taster Tester," as my son calls himself, this recipe got a thumbs up!

With just a few ingredients and a few minutes of chopping and mixing, the result was a creamy, dreamy, savory spread, the perfect addition to bagels, crackers, sandwiches, and more! This recipe is so tasty and economical that you may never use the store tubs again!

Thanks for stopping by:) Comment below if you have tried this tasty recipe. Return again for more family-tested recipes, entertaining ideas, and cooking tips using all our favorite Cherchies® gourmet products.

Ingredients

3 (8 oz.) packages of cream cheese, softened
1/2 whole green pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1/2 whole red pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
1/2 whole yellow pepper, seeded and coarsely chopped
6 whole green onions, sliced
1 large carrot, peeled and coarsely chopped
1 stalk of celery, coarsely chopped
1 clove of garlic, peeled
1 1/2 Tablespoon (Tbsp) coarsely chopped chives (more to taste)
1 Tablespoon (Tbsp) Cherchies® Lem'n Dill Seasoning (more to taste)
1 teaspoon (tsp) Cherchies® Garlic Seasoning (more to taste)

*Feel free to add or subtract any veggies or herbs to your liking.

Preparation
Coarsely chop the peppers, the onions, carrot, celery, and herbs. Add all the ingredients, except the cream cheese, to a food processor and pulse until desired consistency. My family prefers chunks of vegetables in their veggie cream cheese spread, but you are welcome to pulse until really fine. Scoop out the vegetable mixture from the food processor and place into a bowl. Set aside.

*Note: if you do not have a food processor, don't fret, this recipe can easily be made by finely chopping up all the ingredients and adding to the softened cream cheese.

Combine the cream cheese in the food processor until smooth. Remove the cream cheese from the food processor and add to the vegetables. Mix to combine. Refrigerate the mixture for at least a half hour to marry the flavors.

Spread this heavenly mixture on just about anything, bagels, crackers, sandwiches, wraps, or use as a dip. Enjoy!

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30 Amazing Memorial Day BBQ Recipes

May 13, 2017parties, recipe round upSheri SpalloneComment

Happy May!

According to www.daysoftheyear.com, May is National BBQ month! It is the unofficial beginning of summer, and a time for celebrations such as Mother's Day, graduations, and the end of the school year. May is also a month to remember those who have fought for our freedom.

Amid the celebrations, Memorial Day seems to get tucked in at the end of May and often does not get the recognition it deserves. This particular holiday is meant to be a day of recognition to our servicemen and servicewomen, past and present, who have protected our rights as Americans. "Thank you to every serviceman and servicewoman who has given their all to guarantee us the wonderful freedom we enjoy. May we never forget nor take for granted what their sacrifice means to us!" - Anonymous

Well said!

In honor of May and freedom and National BBQ month, we hope you enjoy our 30 favorite BBQ recipes to make your holiday easy peasy. So celebrate your freedom this Memorial Day with a BBQ surrounded by your family and friends, and say thank you to those who serve and have served our glorious country!

Thanks for stopping by! Please comment below if you have made any of these delicious recipes. Please come back and visit us.

Enjoy!

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