IF YOU'RE OUT OF............USE

LIGHT CORN SYRUP SUBSTITUTE
2 c. white sugar
3/4 c. water
1/4 tsp. cream of tartar
Dash of salt
Combine all ingredients in a heavy, large pan. Stir and bring to a boil. Reduce heat to a simmer and put cover on it for 3 minutes to get sugar crystals off the sides of the pan. Uncover and cook until it reaches soft ball stage. Stir often.
Cool syrup and store in a covered container at room temperature. It will keep for about 2 months. Makes almost 2 cups.


Spice Substitutions
Allspice
Cinnamon; cassia; dash of nutmeg or mace; or dash of cloves

Aniseed
Fennel seed or a few drops anise extract

Cardamom
Ginger

Chili Powder
Dash bottled hot pepper sauce plus a combination of oregano and cumin

Cinnamon
Nutmeg or allspice (use only 1/4 of the amount)

Cloves
Allspice; cinnamon; or nutmeg

Cumin
Chili powder

Ginger
Allspice; cinnamon; mace; or nutmeg

Mace
Allspice; cinnamon; ginger; or nutmeg

Nutmeg
Cinnamon; ginger; or mace

Saffron
Dash turmeric (for color)



Starbucks (like) Banana Walnut Bread
It is such a treat to go into Starbucks and enjoy a coffee and something sweet. It is one of my life’s little pleasures. Freshly baked banana bread is hard to beat. Banana walnut bread isn’t difficult to make, in fact you can make banana walnut bread that will taste just like Starbucks. I recommend using bread flour if you have it on hand, as it gives the bread a more dense feel. Why not try making some this banana walnut bread, and bring it to your co-workers. Unlike in the store, you can enjoy this banana walnut bread while it is still warm out of the oven. And, don't forget--the $$$$$ is much less when YOU make it!!!!
1 3/4 C. flour (bread flour is best)
2/3 c. sugar
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 C. mashed ripe (this is usually 2 or 3 bananas)
1/3 C. margarine
2 Tbsp. milk
2 eggs
1 cup chopped walnuts (divided into 2 (1/2 C.) portions
Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. In a medium size bowl combine all dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt), stir together to combine. In another medium size bowl combine margarine and sugar, with a mixer cream the margarine and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add in mashed bananas and eggs, and mix well. Add 1/2 of the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients, mix until the flour is just mixed in, then add in the remaining flour and 1/2 cup walnuts, blend together until everything is mixed together. Do not overstir.
Pour batter into a greased 8×4 inch loaf pan. Then top the batter with the remaining chopped walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack.

While Starbucks does not make their banana bread with butter, I think this comes out more rich this way. I also like to add in a sprinkle or two of cinnamon and sugar into this, again, not in their recipe, it does add that little something extra.