Christina's Banana Cookies

from Simply Recipes by Elise

* 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
* 1 cup of sugar
* 1 egg, room temperature
* 1 cup of mashed bananas (about 2 large bananas)
* 1 teaspoon of baking soda
* 2 cups of flour
* pinch of salt
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground mace or nutmeg
* 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
* 1/2 cup oats or quick oats
* 1/2 cup pecans, walnuts or chocolate chips

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

2 In a bowl, mix the mashed bananas and baking soda. Let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.

3 Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. Mix together the flour, salt, and spices and sift into the butter and banana mixture and mix until just combined.

4 Fold into the batter the oats and nuts/chocolate. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes about 30 cookies.

Christina's Cream of Asparagus Soup

1 1/2 lb. asparagus
4 Tbs. butter
1 yellow onion, diced
3 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 cup dry vermouth (optional)
3 cups chicken stock, plus more as needed
salt and freshly ground pepper, to taste
3/4 cup heavy cream

Snap off the tough stem ends from the asparagus spears. Chop the asparagus into 1-inch pieces.
In a heavy soup pot over medium heat, melt the butter. Add the onion and garlic and sauté, stirring occasionally, until tender and translucent, 3 to 4 minutes. Add the vermouth and cook until most of the liquid has evaporated. Add the chopped asparagus and the 3 cups stock. Season with salt and pepper. Bring to a simmer, then reduce the heat to medium-low. Cover and cook until the asparagus is tender, about 20 minutes.
Using an immersion blender, puree the soup until smooth, about 2 minutes. Stir in the cream plus more stock if needed to reach the desired consistency. Season with salt and pepper. Set the pan over low heat and reheat the soup to serving temperature.
Ladle the soup into warmed bowls, garnish with the asparagus tips and serve immediately. Serves 4.

Christina's Bacon-Wrapped Pork Tenderloin

from Cafe Johnsonia

2 pork tenderloins, about 1 lb. each
1 tsp. freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 tsp. onion powder
1/4 tsp dried thyme
12 slices bacon

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place the oven rack in the center of the oven.
Line a jelly-roll pan with foil and spray with non-stick cooking spray.
Trim the fat and silver skin from the pork tenderloins. Dry off the surface of the tenderloins with a paper towel. Mix together: pepper, garlic and onion powder, and thyme. Rub the surface of the tenderloins with the spice mixture. You may also need to even up the ends by tucking the thin part underneath, but you won't need twine, the bacon will help hold it just fine.
Begin at the end and wrap the bacon around each tenderloin at a slight angle--overlapping and layering each strip to completely cover the tenderloin.
Roast for about 20 minutes, or until the internal temperature reaches 150 to 160 degrees. Any higher and the tenderloin will be overcooked. You want the center to be slightly pink, but not raw.
Let the tenderloins rest for a few minutes before serving. To serve, cut into 1-2" slices.
If you aren't on a diet, drizzle the tenderloin slices with the rendered fat and juices.

Christina's Raspberry Buttermilk Cake

from Smitten Kitchen

1 cup (130 grams) all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) baking powder
1/2 teaspoon (2 grams) baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 stick (56 grams) unsalted butter, softened
2/3 cup (146 grams) plus 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 grams) sugar, divided
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon finely grated lemon zest (optional)
1 large (57 grams) egg
1/2 cup well-shaken buttermilk
1 cup fresh raspberries (about 5 oz)

Preheat oven to 400°F with rack in middle. Butter and flour a 9-inch round cake pan.

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt and set aside. In a larger bowl, beat butter and 2/3 cup (146 grams) sugar with an electric mixer at medium-high speed until pale and fluffy, about two minutes, then beat in vanilla and zest, if using. Add egg and beat well.

At low speed, mix in flour mixture in three batches, alternating with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour, and mixing until just combined.Spoon batter into cake pan, smoothing top. Scatter raspberries evenly over top and sprinkle with remaining 1 1/2 tablespoons (22 grams) sugar.

Bake until cake is golden and a wooden pick inserted into center comes out clean, 20 to 25 minutes. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack and cool to warm, 10 to 15 minutes more. Invert onto a plate.

Christina's Asian Tropical Fruit Salad

from Steamy Kitchen

One can rambutan, lychee or longan, drained
1/2 fresh pineapple, cut into chunks
1 mango, cut into chunks
2 kiwi fruits, cut into small chunks
1 pint strawberries
juice of ½ lime (optional)
fresh mint leaves, julienned (optional)

In a large bowl, combine all of the ingredients and toss.

Christina's Vietnamese Chicken

from Better Homes and Gardens

4 medium skinless, boneless chicken breast halves (about 1 pound total)
2 teaspoons toasted sesame oil
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
2 tablespoons sugar
3 tablespoons peanut butter
2 tablespoons soy sauce (NOT dark soy sauce)
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1 clove garlic, minced
1/4 cup chopped peanuts (optional)

1. Combine sesame oil and crushed red pepper; brush over chicken.
2. Grill chicken on the lightly greased rack of an uncovered grill directly over medium heat for 12 to 15 minutes or until tender and no longer pink, turning once. Not having a grill, I put the chicken in a grill pan on my stove. Still tasted great.
3. Meanwhile, for sauce, in a small saucepan, stir together sugar, peanut butter, soy sauce, oil, garlic, and 2 tablespoons water. Heat on low until sugar is dissolved, stirring frequently.

Christina's Peanut Butter Cookies

from Smitten Kitchen

1¼ cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon baking powder
¼ teaspoon salt
½ cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup peanut butter at room temperature (smooth or chunky)
¾ cup sugar
½ cup firmly packed light brown sugar
1 large egg, at room temperature
1 tablespoon milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
½ cup peanut butter chips (optional)
½ cup chocolate chips (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a mixing bowl, combine the flour, the baking soda, the baking powder, and the salt. Set aside.

In a large bowl, beat the butter and the peanut butter together until fluffy. Add the sugars and beat until smooth. Add the egg and mix well. Add the milk and the vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture and beat thoroughly. Stir in the peanut butter chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonfuls onto ungreased cookie sheets, leaving several inches between for expansion. Using a fork, lightly indent with a crissscross pattern, but do not overly flatten cookies. Bake for 9 to 12 minutes. Do not overbake. Cookies may appear to be underdone, but they are not.

Cool the cookies on the sheets for 1 minute, then remove to a rack to cool completely.