So it's been a while. I've been busy and not quite eating healthy. I have been doing some cooking and baking, and I take pictures, but forget to put the recipes up and by the time I remember to do so, the recipe is out of my head (most of my recipes I create) But I do love to bake for the holidays. And so far, I'm loving what I'm baking so I thought I'd go ahead and put the recipes up so that way next year I can remember what I made, and also to share with you
all!

*Note: When one is baking for the holidays, one should always listen to Christmas music, it makes everything taste better and puts one into a better baking mood!

Banana Oat Bread
Makes 2 loafs

3 1/2 C all purpose flour
3 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1 t. salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/2 tsp nutmeg
2 Tbsp flax seed
1 cup quick oats
3/4 C white sugar
3/4 C light brown sugar
¾ C shortening
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 eggs
3/4 C milk
1/2 tsp lemon
2 1/2 cups very ripe banana, mashed

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Grease (with shortening and flour) two 9x5 bread pans.

In a large bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, ginger, cloves, and nutmeg. Add the flax seeds and quick oats to this bowl as well, mix up.

In a separate bowl, combine the sugars, vanilla and shortening. Mix with mixer until all incorporated. Add the 3 eggs and beat for about 1.5 minutes. Add the milk, banana (mashed), and lemon. Mix again with mixer for about 1.5 minutes.

In the flour bowl, create a hollowed out center in the middle of the flour. Pour the wet mixture into the center. Combine using a rubber spatula. DO NOT use a mixer after this point, you will over mix it and cause the flour to become elastic and your bread will be dense. Fold everything together until no dry flour is left, about 15-20 folds. Pour half into one greased pan, and the other half into the other greased pan.

Bake at 350 degrees F, for 50-60 minutes. Bread is done when a raw spaghetti noddle inserted in middle comes out clean.