Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Banana Bread

So, in case you didn't notice, I like bananas.

I don't peel and just eat them very often (can't stand them when they're a little mushy, over ripe or under ripe either), but I love what they do when used in recipes.

Such recipes are perfect for people who hate the texture of bananas. For some, bananas can even evoke the image of baby food. I have some friends like that, but when I mix it in with something else - like a shake or a baked good - they don't mind it at all.

My mom recently went gluten-free, and it's really worked for her health. I've also cut down on the amount of gluten I consume, and I've noticed a difference as well. So, for this recipe I used gluten-free all-purpose flour. I also used some low-fat Greek yogurt because I was avoiding adding too much fat (like butter/oil). I added in a tablespoon of peanut butter because I was experimenting, but just know that you have to really love peanut butter for that addition. If you don't, I'd suggest leaving it out. It would taste delicious all on its own.

Gluten-Free Peanut Butter Banana Bread
Yield: 1 loaf

3/4 cup mashed very ripe banana
2 1/2 tbsp plain low-fat Greek yogurt
2 1/2 tbsp unsalted peanut butter
1 1/2 tbsp butter, melted (cooled)
1 large egg
1/3 cup sugar (half granulated, half light brown)
3/4 cup gluten-free all-purpose flour
3/8 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
pinch ground allspice
1/2 cup walnuts, chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine banana, yogurt, peanut butter, butter, and egg. Beat with a hand mixer at medium speed. Add sugar and beat until blended.

Sift together flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and allspice. Combine with banana-yogurt mixture, beating just until blended. Stir in nuts. Add to small greased loaf pan, and set in oven for 50-55 minutes or until done. Let cool for 10 minutes, then remove from pan.

Enjoy once cooled. Also, I'd suggest keeping it all to yourself. It's delish.

Frozen Banana Milkshake

Bananas have the texture of ice cream when frozen. Either you already know this, or your mind has just been blown.

It's the easiest, most simple thing to do - take a very ripe banana, peel it, cut it into thirds and stick into the freezer. It's the perfect way to thicken up a smoothie or delicious on its own blended with a few chopped nuts or a tablespoon of peanut butter. It's so satisfying, and definitely fulfills my need for ice cream without having to consume all that cream, sugar and fat.

Now that the weather is warming up, I decided I needed a more cooling snack to enjoy in the heat of the afternoon. Something that even my mom - who is very particular about what she eats - would be able to enjoy. So, I blended up 1 cup of non-fat milk (I used lactose-free), one whole frozen banana (roughly chopped), a tablespoon of peanut butter, and a teaspoon of sugar (as needed). It already looked delicious, but I really wanted to top it off with something to make it seem a little more decadent. Using a zester, I took a chocolate covered almond and shaved little bits of it onto the top of the shake. So. Good. It looked pretty, and tasted even better.