Best Banana Bread Ever!

Baking for your Mom can be a great way to show your love. This recipe for banana bread is grain-free and gluten-free, and can also be made with zucchini for those health-conscious Mom’s out there :)

This bread is based on the Zucchini Bread recipe in “The Plantpower Way” by Rich Roll & Julie Piatt. You can use a mix of 6 tablespoons ground flax seeds and 1/2 cup water in place of the eggs for a vegan version.

• 2 eggs

• 1 small apple

• 1/4 cup water

• 1/4 cup coconut oil

• 5 dates

• 1/2 cup coconut sugar

• 1/2 tsp vanilla

• 3 - 4 frozen or fresh bananas, or medium zucchini

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 3/4 tablespoon baking powder

  Flour mix: * 3 cups of premixed gluten-free flour can also be used

• 1 1/2 cup cassava flour

• 1/2 cup almond flour

• 1/2 cup arrowroot

• 1/4 coconut flour

• 1 teaspoon Pamela’s gum-free baking binder *optional

  Spices

• 1-1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

• 1-1/2 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

• 1 teaspoon Celtic sea salt

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F

2. Place eggs in food processor

3. Slice apple and blend with eggs and 1/4 cup water

4. Add dates, sugar, vanilla and bananas and blend

5. In a separate bowl, sift or mix together baking soda, baking powder, flours, spices and Pamela’s baking binder (if using)

6. Fold into the wet mixture (or just blend it in with the food processor)

7. Bake in the oven for 50-55 minutes in a baking pan (shorter time for muffins - start at 20 minutes and test for doneness)

8. Enjoy your homemade banana bread!

PUMPKIN SLAB PIE

From the recipes: Grain Free Pumpkin Slab Pie from MI Gluten-Free Gal and Gluten  Free Vegan Pumpkin Pie from Sarah Bakes Gluten Free

For the crust:

1 pkg Chebe Cinnamon Roll Mix (1-1/4 cups)

2 tbsp oil

1 egg

4 tbsp cold butter, cut into chunks

4 tbsp ice cold water

For the Filling:

2 1/4 cups pure pumpkin purée

3/4 cup full-fat coconut milk

1/2 cup cane sugar

1/4 cup pure maple syrup

1/4 cup cornstarch or tapioca starch

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

1-1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/2 teaspoon ground ginger or 1 teaspoon ginger juice

1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg

non-dairy whipped topping for serving (optional)

In a large bowl, combine ingredients for the filling and whisk until completely combined. Cover bowl with saran wrap and refrigerate for one to two hours.

Meanwhile, prepare the crust. Add the Chebe Cinnamon Roll mix to a food processor, along with the oil and egg. To that, add the cold butter. Pulse until a dry sand texture develops.

Slowly add the ice cold water to the processor, one tablespoon at a time. Process until a ball of dough forms. Lightly flour a work surface with grain free flour or tapioca starch. Roll the large portion of dough into a large rectangle, approximately 11 by 15 inches.

Transfer crust to an un-greased quarter sheet pan. Use your fingers to press into place, making sure dough forms up the sides of the pan. Place pan in refrigerator for 15-20 minutes for crust to chill. Doing so prevents the crust from shrinking as it bakes.

Preheat the oven to 425 degrees. Once oven is preheated, removed crust and filling from the refrigerator. Pour approximately half of the pie filling into the prepared crust. Bake the pie at 425 for 10 minutes. Then, immediately turn the temperature down to 350, and continue to bake for another 20-60 minutes. Check every 20 minutes. Bake until the outer edges of the slab pie are set, and the center is ever so slightly jiggly.

Chill in the refrigerator or set on the counter to cool.