Banana Bread Coffee Cake

I had a ton of banana's that were becoming overripe on the counter along with almost a shelf of frozen banana's in the freezer I've been saving for a day when I felt up to baking, and  I knew I was long overdue to make a couple loaves of Banana Bread. So I decided I better put them to use to make Banana Bread Coffee Cake.

I'm super picky when it comes to Banana Bread, because there's nothing worse then a dry, tasteless loaf of Banana Bread, but these loaves never disappoint.  I decided to make a double batch of Grannies Banana Bread, and then covered it with a brown sugar coffeecake crumb for a lovely treat! 

These Coffee Cake Banana Bread loaves turn out perfect every time, with a deliciously moist crumb. The addition of a crunchy coffee cake crumb really make these loaves extra special and worthy of a lazy weekend with a cuppa. 

9

Tomato Cucumber Olive Salad

Tomato Cucumber Olive Salad is a classic simple tomato salad recipe that is such a refreshing side dish at the end of a hot day when tomatoes and cucumbers are at their peak. This simple Tomato Cucumber Salad is made with juicy tomatoes, sliced fresh cucumbers, olives, fresh dill, fresh rosemary, and a simple red wine vinaigrette. 

Serve Tomato Cucumber Olive Salad next to fish, seafood, meats or sandwiches, such as Greek Chicken, Lemon Garlic Shrimp, Balsamic Steak Shish Kabobs, and Philly Cheesesteak Sandwiches. 

Tomato Cucumber Olive Salad has been making a weekly appearance at our dinner table the last few weeks since it's so easy to make! It's one of those recipes that can be made in the morning and only gets better after a few hours marinating in the fridge, making it perfect for all those summer barbecues and picnics. 

I created a red wine vinaigrette and left out feta for this recipe making it only slightly different then this Tomato Cucumber Herb Salad with Balsamic Vinaigrette and used a little different ingredients then our beloved Greek Salad. 

At first I wasn't even going to share this recipe but sometimes different variations of favorite recipes may help accommodate a choosy eater who dislikes cheese or someone who has food sensitivities. It can also give tried and true recipe the family likes to enjoy on a regular basis just enough change that no one tires of it.

It's a simple salad worthy of only the freshest summertime tomatoes and cucumbers that is a staple in our house.

0

Rice Pilaf With Orzo

Easy to make Rice Pilaf is a family favorite side dish recipe! Made with shallot or onion, orzo pasta for color and texture, jasmine rice, chicken stock and herbs. It makes a great side dish with fish, seafood, chicken, or beef.

I can't believe I totally forgot about my blogiversary on April 26th and just realized today! It's hard to believe I've been sharing my favorite recipes for 6 years now and this Rice Pilaf with Orzo is no exception. 

When Colt and I first became married we made a lot of those boxed Rice Pilaf mixes you find at the grocery store, but as we had the kids, and started to feed a growing family I found homemade Rice Pilaf just as easy to make, way more affordable, and so much better overall. Plus I always prefer knowing exactly what it is I'm feeding the kids.

There's probably a million different versions of Rice Pilaf but I decided on this occasion to keep it simple with some browned orzo. The nutty flavor and texture of the orzo adds a wonderful contrast to a simple dish that will pair well with just about any main dish.

Rice Pilaf with Orzo will quickly became a highly requested side dish at the dinner table and family favorite!

Here's how I make Rice Pilaf:

6