Chocolate Fluffernutter banana bread

Better banana bread

Kick up your banana bread a notch up adding peanut butter, hot fudge sauce and marshmallow fluff. It's like having dessert for breakfast!

Did you eat Fluffernutter sandwiches as a child? You can have that winning combination of marshmallow fluff and peanut butter again with this over-the-top banana bread recipe.

Chocolate Fluffernutter banana bread recipeIngredients:1 cup mashed bananas2 eggs, beaten1/2 cup vegetable oil1/3 cup buttermilk1/2 cup creamy peanut butter1-1/4 cups sugar1-3/4 cups flour1/2 teaspoon salt1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 cup hot fudge sauce1/2 cup Marshmallow FluffNonstick cooking sprayDirections:

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F. Spray a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.In a large bowl, mix together the banana, eggs, oil, buttermilk and peanut butter.In another bowl, mix together the sugar, flour, salt, and baking soda. Add dry ingredients to the banana mixture and stir until just combined.In separate small bowls, warm the hot fudge sauce and the Marshmallow Fluff in the microwave until just pourable.Pour half of the banana mixture into the loaf pan. Drizzle about half the hot fudge and half the Marshmallow Fluff evenly over the banana mixture. Swirl through the batter with a knife.Pour the remaining banana mixture into the loaf pan and drizzle with the remaining hot fudge and Marshmallow Fluff. Swirl with a knife.Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.

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Peanut butter bread

Peanut Butter Jelly Time!Take your peanut butter and jelly sandwiches to a whole new level! This sweet, peanut butter packed quick bread is perfect with a little butter or even a smear of jam.

It's time to jazz up your peanut butter and jelly sandwich! This simple peanut butter quick bread is perfect when slathered with sweet raspberry jam. The best part is that the bread can be made and ready to eat in just about 1 hour. How simple is that?

Peanut butter bread recipe

Adapted from A Pretty Life

Yields one 9 x 5-inch loaf or 4 mini loaves

Ingredients: 1 cup all-purpose flour1 cup white whole wheat flour1 tablespoon baking powder1/4 teaspoon kosher salt1/4 cup butter, room temperature1/2 cup sugar1/4 cup dark brown sugar1 cup creamy peanut butter (not natural)1 large egg1 teaspoon vanilla extract1 cup whole milk (possibly a little more)Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Line a loaf pan with parchment paper and set aside. If you do not have parchment paper, you can just spray the pan with nonstick spray.In a medium bowl, sift together both flours, baking powder and salt and set aside.In the bowl of an electric mixer, cream together butter and both sugars until fluffy.Add in peanut butter, egg and vanilla extract. Mix until combined, making sure to scrape down the sides of the bowl at least once.Slowly add in flour mixture to the peanut butter mixture. The dough will look very dry but this is OK. Drizzle in your milk and mix on low speed until incorporated. If the dough still looks too dry (think of a normal quick bread, does it look dryer than that?) then add additional milk, 1 tablespoon at a time until desired consistancy is met.Add batter to the prepared loaf pan and smooth out the top with a spatula. Bake for about 60 minutes until the top is golden brown and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

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Healthy school lunch Chicken nuggets trump turkey sandwich

Parents in North Carolina might have to think twice before packing their kids' school lunches. State officials apparently prefer that students eat cafeteria-made chicken nuggets over homemade turkey sandwiches.

School replaces student's packed lunch

If feeding healthy lunches to your children is important to you, this story might send you reeling. According to the Huffington Post, a West Hoke Elementary School student had her lunch taken away by a state inspector and was fed school cafeteria chicken nuggets in its place.

What was in the lunch bag, anyway?!

Must have been a home packed brown bag full of junk, right? Not so much, according to the student's mom. If her account of the contents is correct, the only "unhealthy" selection in the child's lunch was the potato chips and really, are a few potato chips among other healthy items that big of a deal?

The 4-year-old's mom said her home packed lunch included a turkey and cheese sandwich, a banana, potato chips and apple juice. In its place, the child was given a cafeteria lunch, of which she ate three chicken nuggets.

One might initially think it was the potato chips that were deemed unacceptable, although that seems unlikely when Congress insists that one tablespoon of pizza sauce is a vegetable and considers that part of a healthy school lunch.

Try these easy nutrients to pack into a school lunch >>USDA requirements

USDA requirements state that all school lunches, including those made at home and brought to school, include one serving of meat, one serving of milk, one serving of grain and two servings of fruit or vegetables.

So, what was this preschool student's lunch missing?

Um, nothing. In fact, a Division of Child Development spokesperson said that the child's home packed lunch should have been just fine.

"With a turkey sandwich, that covers your protein, your grain, and if it had cheese on it, that's the dairy," Jani Kozlowski, the fiscal and statutory policy manager for the division, told the Carolina Journal Online. "It sounds like the lunch itself would've met all of the standard[s]." Kozlowski said a lunch must include a fruit or a vegetable, but not both.

Learn how to pack the perfect lunch >>Turkey sandwich vs. chicken nuggets

For fun, we thought we'd compare the nutritional makeup of chicken nuggets and a turkey sandwich using Calorie King. After all, if a state inspector is giving a child chicken nuggets in place of a turkey sandwich, there has to be something we're missing... right?

Turkey sandwich nutrition info

2 ounces of turkey lunch meat

Calories: 90Fat: 5 gramsProtein: 10 gramsCarbs: 2 grams

1 slice of American cheese

Calories: 80 caloriesFat: 7 gramsProtein: 5 gramsCarbs: 1 gram

2 slices of white bread

Calories: 133 caloriesFat: 2 gramsProtein: 4 gramsCarbs: 25 grams

Grand total for a turkey sandwich

Calories: 303Fat: 14 gramsProtein: 19 gramsCarbs: 28 grams

Chicken nuggets nutrition info

(Store-bought, frozen chicken nuggets)

Calories: 250Fat: 16 gramsProtein: 11 gramsCarbs: 15 grams

While the chicken nuggets potentially have fewer calories, the fat content is higher and the protein content is lower. And really, should we even be comparing frozen chicken nuggets to a turkey sandwich?!

Try this healthy chicken nugget recipe >> Inspection: fail

It sounds like this is a case of a state inspector making a bad decision, but it's concerning that this even happened. To add insult to injury, the student's mom received a note from the school, indicating that her failure to send healthy lunches would result in her child being served school lunches -- for $1.25 each.

"The school may have interpreted [the rule] to mean they felt like the lunch wasn't meeting the nutritional requirements and so they wanted the child to have the school lunch and then charged the parent," Kozlowski said. "It sounds like maybe a technical assistance need for that school."

Whatever you want to call it, it's not good! What do you think about this story? What are the standards for lunch like at your child's school?

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Bananas foster eggrolls

Date Night Dishes... A Sweet Ending Keep your next date night sweet and simple by creating a coffee shop vibe and enjoying homemade dessert. Round out the night by remembering why you fell in love in the first place.

You don't have to make a big, fancy meal or buy expensive flowers to have a great date night. Keep it sweet and simple by indulging in a dessert and a home brewed latte. This take on bananas foster is easy and you don't have to light anything on fire.

While you're munching on these eggrolls and sipping your coffee, get out two pieces of paper and write down your favorite ten things about your date. Sure, it sounds cheesy but relationships need a little bit of corniness every now and then to keep the love alive. Not only will you find pleasure in thinking of all the reasons you adore your partner, but you'll get a confidence boost when you hear your partner's favorite things about you. Hang your lists on the refrigerator, your bathroom mirror or even frame them. You'll smile every time you catch a glimpse and you'll be even more excited for your next date night.

Bananas Foster Eggrolls

Serves 2

Ingredients: 2 ripe bananas1 tablespoon brown sugar1/2 teaspoon cinnamon1 tablespoon rum4 eggroll wrappers1 teaspoon butter1 tablespoon cinnamon and sugar mixtureCaramel Dipping Sauce:1/2 cup sugar3 tablespoons butter1/2 cup heavy cream or half and half1 teaspoon vanilla extractDirections:

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees F. Cut bananas into small chunks and add them to a bowl with brown sugar, cinnamon, and rum. Stir together until combined.Place a spoonful of the banana mixture in the center of each eggroll wrapper and roll them up. Brush the outside with some melted butter and sprinkle with cinnamon and sugar. Poke a small hole in each roll to let the steam out while they cook.Bake the eggrolls in the oven for 15-20 minutes or until the edges are crispy.While the eggrolls are cooking, make your caramel sauce. Get all of the ingredients ready and easy to access – caramel making is a quick and finicky process.In a large saucepan, add sugar and melt on medium to high heat. You will need to stir this constantly to avoid burning the sugar. Once the sugar has melted completely, stop stirring or it will crystallize. When it comes to a boil and is amber in color, add in the butter. Stir until the butter is completely melted and then remove from the heat. Carefully pour in the cream and vanilla. It will likely bubble up so use a deep pan and use caution. Stir until it is mixed in. Pour into a glass container and let cool.Serve eggrolls with warm caramel sauce.

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Homemade mulling spice recipe

Pantry Staples Make Season's Hottest Drink You'll find festively decorated mulling spice tins in gourmet shops everywhere this time of year, along with their steep price tags. The same mulling spices can easily be made at home with common ingredients you may already have in your pantry and this mulling spice recipe.

The two main ingredients that give mulled cider and wine their warming characteristics are allspice and cloves. And when the combination of these two spices, along with cinnamon, citrus peel and ginger, steep together with freshly pressed apple cider or a full-bodied red wine, there's no place like home for the holidays.

Mulling spice recipe

Serves 8 to 10

Ingredients:1 tablespoon whole allspice1 tablespoon whole cloves3 cinnamon sticksZest of 1 orange (or orange peel with pith removed)2 (1/2-inch thick) slices peeled fresh ginger1/2 gallon organic apple cider or low-sulfide red wineDirections:

In a medium saucepan, heat cider or wine over medium-high heat; stir in allspice, cloves, cinnamon, orange zest and ginger.Bring to boiling; reduce to a simmer. Cook, stirring occasionally, six to eight minutes or until desired flavor is achieved.Strain mixture through a fine mesh sieve; discard solids. Serve warm

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DIY Gluten-free wedding favors

DIY wedding favors
Gluten-free wedding favors

Delight your gluten-free wedding guests with wedding favors that they can freely eat. No need to find a specialty caterer -- simply gather your BFFs and make these gluten-free wedding favors.

Gluten-free wedding favor heart-shaped cookies

Invite your best gal pals over for an afternoon of wedding favor cookie baking. Buy a selection of double-heart cookie cutters, make the following gluten-free cookie dough, cut, bake and decorate.

Yields 4 dozen depending on cookie cutter size

Ingredients:2-1/4 cups white rice flour, plus more for rolling1/2 cup cornstarch1 teaspoon baking soda1/2 teaspoon baking powder1/2 teaspoon cream of tartar3/4 teaspoon salt1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened at room temperature, plus more for greasing1/2 cup vegetable shortening1-1/4 cups granulated sugar2 eggs1 tablespoon pure vanilla extractDecorating icing or sugar of your choiceDirections:

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, cornstarch, baking soda, baking powder, cream of tartar and salt. Set aside.In the bowl of a standup mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat butter and shortening to combine. Add sugar and beat until creamy.Beat in eggs one at a time, and then beat in vanilla until well-combined.Add flour mixture and blend on low until just until combined.Shape dough into two balls, flattening each into a disk. Wrap disks tightly in plastic wrap and chill dough for at least two hours.Preheat oven to 375 degrees F and lightly grease four large baking sheets.Place disks on a lightly floured surface and roll each out until it is 1/4-inch thick.Use cookie cutters to make double-heart cutouts. Gather scraps, re-roll and cut more cookies. Place cutouts two inches apart on prepared baking sheets.Bake for six to eight minutes, rotating baking sheets after three to four minutes until cookies are golden at the edges.Cool cookies on the baking sheets for five to six minutes. Transfer to wire racks to continue to cool.When cookies are completely cool, decorate as desired. If using icing, allow icing to set completely before placing cookies in wedding favor bags or boxes.

Wedding favor quinoa chocolates

Little ribbon-tied mesh bags of silver-wrapped Hershey's Kisses are certainly the easiest DIY gluten-free wedding favor you can make, but going the extra step to make your own chocolate wedding favor offerings is as easy as choosing a few candy molds, melting chocolate... and adding popped quinoa to give your chocolate a welcome crunch. This recipe is inspired by quinoa queen Wendy Polisi, author of The Quintessential Quinoa Cookbook.

Yields 50 to 120 depending on the candy molds*

Ingredients:1/2 cup quinoa, rinsed and dried1 tablespoon coconut oil1 pound white, milk or dark chocolate (or a mix), cut into equal-size pieces1 cup almonds, toasted and chopped1 teaspoon sea saltDirections:

Rinse quinoa and spread it out on a baking sheet to dry. You can also cook rinsed quinoa in a skillet until dry.Place oil in a popcorn popper or saucepan and heat over medium-high. Add quinoa and cook in popper for five minutes or until quinoa is lightly browned. If using the skillet, place quinoa in skillet, cover and cook, shaking skillet frequently until quinoa is lightly browned.Spray candy molds with cooking spray.Place chocolate in a double boiler and cook, stirring often, until chocolate is melted and smooth.Remove chocolate from heat and stir in quinoa, almonds and salt.Pour chocolate mixture into molds and allow to sit for at least two hours until firm. You can also place in the refrigerator to speed up setting time.Invert chocolate from molds and allow to cool completely. Store them in an airtight container layered with parchment paper until ready to assemble.To assemble wedding party favors, simply place two chocolates in mesh wedding favor bags and tie bag shut.

* Be warned: The number of chocolate/candy molds is dizzying so consider going with the simple heart-shaped or square candy molds or wedding theme candy molds.

Gluten-free wedding favor seedlings

Give your wedding guests a gluten-free gift that keeps on giving. Live seedlings make a fun and unusual wedding favor that signifies life, growth and great taste. If you have enough lead time, buy seedling trays and sprout your own herbs, veggies, fruit or edible flowers (see growing instructions for each herb to see how long it takes to go from seed to seedling) or you can order seedlings from your local nursery.

Yields 100

Ingredients:100 herb, vegetable, fruit or edible flower seedlingsPlastic wrapRibbon or thin twine100 small burlap bags 100 mini notecardsDirections:

Be sure seedlings have been watered ahead of time so water has drained or been absorbed.Cut out squares of plastic wrap large enough to cover the seedling roots and soil.Set seedling on plastic wrap, bring sides of plastic up around soil, and secure with ribbon or twine.Set seedling in a burlap bag.Write the name of the seedling on the mini notecard along with any other wedding message.Tie notecard to burlap bag with the burlap bag string and pull string to secure around the stem of the seedling.

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Girls' guide to throwing a party

How-To: Throw A Great PartyPlanning a Christmas or New Year's party shouldn't turn you into a stressed mess, especially when you're organizing it in the season's spirit for your friends and family.

Create a guest list

One of the first things any party planner should do is create a guest list. Knowing who you're going to invite and, via RSVP, how many people are going to attend, will help you plan your budget and your affair. Are the majority of your attendees used to mingling and munching? Then you may want to opt for a cocktail party. Is your party intimate and only for close family and friends? Then why not serve a sit-down dinner?

Time and length of the party

Your party's time and length depends in large part on who your guests are and on what day of the week your party falls. Most sit-down dinner bashes happen on Saturdays or Sundays and start around 5 p.m. Cocktail parties typically start later (and run later) on any day of the week, though most people prefer Thursday through Saturday because of work schedules.

Know your budget

Throwing a holiday party isn't cheap, so it's important to know how much money is available to spend on your affair. If you have money saved up, asking for help from a catering company will ensure you have time to relax. If not, there's no harm in asking your friends to bring a bottle of wine or to pitch in by bringing their favorite potluck dishes.

Pick a theme

Instead of just an ordinary holiday party, a themed party is easier to plan and more fun for your guests. After a busy week and a hectic holiday season, consider a relaxing, inviting theme and turn your party into your very own lounge. The great thing is that you can completely control the tone, decor and music -- and best yet, there aren't any creepy guys hitting on you and your gal pals! Stock your bar with luxury liqueurs like a chocolate liqueur. Keep the chocolate theme going with chocolate covered strawberries or a dark chocolate candy bar. Deck your halls with deep browns and burgundies -- toss a few throw blankets over the arms of your chairs and add satin pillows. Bonus -- after the party's over, you have a romantic new hideaway to escape to after a busy week!

Feeling Asian-fusion? Then buy red accessories and choose a menu of dishes that contain similar ingredients (which will cut down on your shopping and cooking prep time). Want to stick with cocktails? Great. All you need is to create a spread of beverages and appetizers to which people can help themselves.

Take Stock

Don't forget to inventory the glasses and dishes in your cupboards. Sure, it can be kitschy to serve everything on throwaway dinnerware, but it's not very classy or environmentally friendly -- so make sure you have enough of everything. (Also, be sure you have enough dishes in which to serve your food.) If you don't, ask your friends iif they can bring some empty dishes along.

Give a sweet goody bag

Decidedly un-child like, goody bags are a memorable way to wrap up any party. Say thank you to your guests with a chic reusable bag full of ingredients to make a sinful après-dinner drink, like a heart-warming chocolate liqueur, or stuff it with sweet surprises like velvety chocolate bars or gourmet truffles.

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