Stuffed Banana Food

CHEESECAKE-STUFFED BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• For the banana bread: Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Generously spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and dust with flour.
• For the cheesecake swirl: Combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream and egg in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until well combined; set aside.
• For the banana bread: Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Mash the granulated sugar and bananas in a large bowl to a paste. Whisk in the oil, vanilla and egg. Whisk in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Reserve 3/4 cup of the bread batter. Spread the remaining batter in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the batter and put the reserved 3/4 cup batter in a line down the center of the pan. Insert the tip of a paring knife into the batter and drag it through and up to swirl 5 to 6 times.
• Bake until the top is cracked and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then carefully invert onto a platter or cake stand and then flip upright. Cool completely, at least 1 1/2 hours. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.

NUTELLA-STUFFED BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• Preheat the oven to 325 degrees F. Generously coat an 8 1/2-inch-by-4 1/2-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and dust with flour, tap out the excess.
• Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl and set aside. Mash the sugar with the bananas in a large bowl until smooth. Whisk in the butter, vanilla and eggs. Whisk in the flour mixture until just combined.
• Microwave the chocolate-hazelnut spread in a small microwave-safe bowl and until pourable, about 30 seconds. Reserve 2 tablespoons in a small bowl and set aside. Spread half of the batter in the bottom of the prepared pan. Pour the warmed hazelnut spread down the center of the batter leaving about a 1/2-inch border all around so that you have a chocolate-hazelnut center. Spread the remaining batter on top and smooth out with a spatula.
• Bake until the top is domed, about 1 hour 15 minutes. Cool in the pan and on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then carefully invert onto a platter or cake stand and then turn upright. Cool completely on the wire rack, about 1 hour. Microwave the reserved hazelnut spread until it can be drizzled, about 30 seconds. Drizzle the spread over the cake then sprinkle the hazelnuts down the center.

DELICIOUS STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Soak toothpicks in water for 15 minutes.
• Combine cream cheese, sun-dried tomatoes, garlic, and cilantro in a large bowl. Mix well.
• Preheat an outdoor grill for medium heat and lightly oil the grate.
• Cut a slit lengthwise through each pepper without slicing it in half. Cut another slit about 1/4 inch from the stem across the previous slit, forming a 'T'. Remove seeds, as desired, using a paring knife.
• Fill each pepper with the cream cheese stuffing mixture using a small spoon. Wrap each pepper with a slice of raw bacon. Slide 1 toothpick through the center of each pepper to hold onto the bacon and keep pepper closed.
• Grill stuffed peppers for 15 minutes. Turn and cook until bacon is crisp, about 10 minutes more.

BOB'S STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut off tops of peppers, and remove ribs and seeds. Chop edible portions of tops; set aside. Bring a large pot of salted water to a boil. Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes. Drain and set aside.
• Heat butter in a medium skillet. Saute reserved chopped pepper, onion and celery until tender, 3 to 5 minutes. Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic. Season with basil, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper. Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C).
• Meanwhile, in a large mixing bowl, combine egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan. Mix in hot sausage, mild sausage, bread crumbs and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture.
• Using a piping bag or sausage stuffer, fill each pepper with the meat mixture. Place in a 3 quart casserole dish, and pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.
• Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour.

BANANA STUFFED FRENCH TOAST, "ULTIMATE-STYLE"

Steps:

• In a large bowl, combine the pancake mix with enough water to make a thin batter. Add nutmeg, cinnamon, vanilla, sugar and eggs. Whisk together until smooth, about 3 minutes.
• In a medium bowl, mix together walnuts, brown sugar, and banana slices.
• Slice the ends off the French bread. Starting at 1 end, measure about a half inch down the loaf and slice the bread 3/4 of the way through. Measure about another half inch, and slice cleanly through the bread. You should have a 1-inch slice of bread with a cut down the middle. Repeat this process until the bread is all sliced up.
• Take a piece of the cut French bread and stuff a few tablespoons of the banana mixture into the slit in the middle. Add a good amount, but do not overstuff so that the mixture won't stay in the center. Repeat until all the slices are stuffed.
• Preheat a skillet or flat-top grill over medium-high heat. When the pan is hot, coat it with 2 tablespoons of butter.
• Pour the crushed-up cornflakes onto a plate. Take a slice of stuffed bread and dip it into the egg mixture, coating both sides liberally. Then press the bread into the cornflakes and flip it to coat both sides. Place the bread on the grill or skillet and cook until golden brown, about 3 minutes per side. Flip the toast over and cook the other side. Repeat the coating and cooking process for each slice of bread, and add more butter to the grill or skillet as necessary, about 2 tablespoons of butter per slice.

STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Mix sausage, cheese, bread crumbs, salt and pepper, and egg together in mixing bowl. Season to taste. Adjust mixture with additional cheese and bread crumbs if too dry or moist - medium moisture for stuffing desired. Make a radial slice around the top of the banana pepper leaving the top intact. Pull back top and remove seeds if so desired. Gently stuff mixture into peppers. Place olive oil in hot saute pan. Gently place peppers in the pan and fry each side until browned. Place marinara sauce in middle of plate. Arrange peppers on top of marinara and grate the dry ricotta cheese on top of the hot peppers.

STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
• Take 6-8 large banana peppers, slice down the middle and remove cap and seeds. Place peppers in 13x9x2 pan.
• Stuff pepper halves with refried beans.
• Cut block of cheese into thick slices and insert one slice into each pepper in middle of the beans.
• Pour one 16 oz. jar of salsa over everything.
• Cook for approximately 30-45 minutes or until cheese is melted.
• Serve and enjoy! How easy does this get!

BANANA-STUFFED FRENCH TOAST

Steps:

• Preheat oven to 350° F.
• Cut banana into 1/4-inch-thick slices and in a bowl whisk together half-and-half, eggs, vanilla, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Cut bread slices horizontally almost in half, leaving 1 edge intact. Stuff each pocket with 4 to 6 banana slices (do not overstuff). In a baking dish just large enough to hold bread slices in one layer, arrange slices and pour custard over them. Soak slices, turning them over once or twice to allow bread to absorb all liquid, about 15 minutes.
• In a 12-inch non-stick skillet melt butter over low heat until foam subsides and cook slices until golden, about 5 minutes on each side.
• Dust French toast with confectioners' sugar and serve with syrup.

STUFFED BANANA PEPPERS

Steps:

• Cut off tops of peppers, and remove stuff inside& seeds.
• Chop edible portions of tops; set aside.
• Bring a pot of salted water to a boil.
• Add peppers, reduce heat, and simmer until tender but still firm, about 5 minutes.
• Drain and set aside.
• Heat butter in a medium skillet.
• Saute reserved chopped pepper, onion and celery until tender, 3 to 5 minutes.
• Stir in crushed tomatoes, tomato sauce and garlic.
• Season with basil, oregano, 1 1/2 teaspoons salt and 1/4 teaspoon pepper.
• Simmer uncovered for 10 minutes.
• Preheat oven to 350F In a large mixing bowl, combine egg, 1 teaspoon salt, 1/4 teaspoon pepper, Worcestershire sauce and Parmesan.
• Mix in hot sausage, mild sausage, bread crumbs and 1 cup of the tomato sauce mixture.
• Using a piping bag or, fill each pepper with the meat mixture.
• Place in a 3 quart casserole dish, and pour remaining tomato sauce mixture over peppers.
• Bake uncovered in preheated oven for 1 hour.