Nebraska Cornhuskers bye week, What’s cooking?
By Kelli Anne
Week 7 – Homework and Homemade. It’s the Bye week. For the Nebraska Cornhuskers football team it means a time to rest up. Enjoy it because next year there is no October bye week. For the fans, it’s time to switch the closet over from summer to winter, harvest zucchini and apples from the garden, drain the pool, gather leaves from the yard or just relax in front of the tv and catch up on all those other teams you haven’t watched yet so you know what to expect from the competition. Northwestern v MN at 11 will preview two teams the Huskers still have to face. Otherwise, I’ll be watching Auburn v Miss St 2:30, and Ole Miss v Texas A&M at 8.
Since you will be inside and in front of the tv all day, why not use the lazy day to bake up some breads. A big THANKS to some very special friends Linda, Carrie R and Leslie S. They were kind enough to share their great recipes (made with love of course) with me as my talents do not extend to baking unless it’s cookies and Christmas time. The best thing about these recipes is they are easy and will make the house smell amazing.
Beverages: Once you finally sit down to enjoy your bread, you might want a libation. Cooler weather means hot chocolate to me. Traditionally one mixes peppermint schnapps with it to warm your insides, but for a change try a little Fireball whiskey instead. Hot Apple Cider warming on the stove in a big pot also adds to the aroma. Dark or spiced rum is the key ingredient. Not into hot, try a stout. Lugene Chocolate Milk Stout (check hy-vee) is brewed with milk chocolate and is creamy goodness.
Tailgate Tip: sticking with the cooler theme… It’s time to check on your tailgate supplies and fix what’s broken. Cooler prices range from $30-$80 depending on size. Rather than abandon one if it breaks, why not fix it. Igloo parts are interchangeable and easy to find. I now own an abandoned $30 cooler for $.67 (2 screws) it’s like new. If it’s a big enough hardware store, they usually stock handles and hinges. I keep a couple extra in my tailgate tool chest at all times just in case.
Banana Bread
1 ½ flour
1 tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
1 c sugar
2 eggs – beaten
¼ c butter, melted
3 mushy soft bananas
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Add flour, soda, salt and sugar together. Mix in a blender eggs, melted butter and mushy bananas. Add in the dry ingredients and put in a greased bread pan or muffin tin and bake for 60 mins. (less if muffins)
Lagniappe: (that’s LSU for a lil something extra) Carrie says add in WHITE CHOCOLATE CHIPS with this recipe!
3 eggs, beaten
2 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3/4 c oil
1/4 c applesauce
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 c walnuts (or your choice)
1 small can crushed pineapple (don’t drain)
2 c shredded zucchini (drained well)
3 c flour
1 tsp. soda
1 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
Beat the egg, add the oil, applesauce and sugar together. Add in zucchini and vanilla. Mix in flour, soda, baking powder to creamed mixture. Blend, add nuts, and pour into two greased and floured loaf pans. Bake at 325 for 1 hour
Apple Bread
4 cups chopped apples, 1 inch chunks (peeled or unpeeled)
4 large eggs beaten
1 c canola oil
2 tsp vanilla extract
1 tsp almond extract
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
3 c flour
2 c sugar
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, lightly grease two 9×5 pans or 6 mini loaf pans) In large bowl beat eggs until fluffy. Add oil and combine. Add vanilla, almond, baking soda, salt, 2 tsp cinnamon. Blend until thoroughly mixed. Add 3 cups flour, 2 cups sugar on low to blend. Turn mixer to high and beat until the mixture is smooth. Fold in apples (best done by hand) Batter will be thick so begin with a greased spoon when mixing the apples in. Divide between the pans.
Topping: 3/4 c flour, 1/4 c sugar, 2 tsp cinnamon, 6 Tbs butter
Cut butter into topping mix with a fork until ingredients are moist and crumbly. Sprinkle equal amounts on each loaf or muffin. Bake 60 mins on center of rack. Loaf should feel fairly firm when touched in the middle. (mini pans check at 25 minutes, may take up to 40 minutes) Remove from oven, put on cooling rack, wait 5 minutes before removing from pan.
Enjoy the bye week, only 6 games left in the regular season. GO BIG RED!