Tuna-Macaroni Salad

I've always hated tuna, up until last year when my taste buds changed and I decided it wasn't that terrible.  I don't like to eat it plain, but when mixed up with other stuff, it can actually be quite good.  I had a couple of cans of tuna in the cabinet and decided to use them up somehow.  I came upon this recipe in my Betty Crocker cookbook.  To make a short story even shorter, it was delicious.  I loved it.  Ben loved it.  Gracie probably would have loved it if we allowed her to eat it.  Try it - you'll probably love it too!

NOTE:  I doubled the recipe so that it would last a few extra days.


Tuna-Macaroni Salad

Ingredients:

     1 package (7 oz) elbow macaroni (I used medium shells instead)
     1/2 c. frozen green peas
     1 can (9 oz) tuna, drained
     1 c. mayo
     1 c. shredded cheddar (optional - I didn't use it since Ben hates cheese)
     1/4 c. sweet pickle relish (optional - I didn't use it because I was too cheap to buy it)
     2 tsp. lemon juice
     3/4 tsp. salt
     1/4 tsp. pepper
     1/2 c. celery, chopped
     1/4 c. onion, chopped

Instructions:
    
1) Cook macaroni as directed on package.  Add peas for last 4-6 minutes of cooking.  Rinse with cold water and drain.

2) In large bowl, mix macaroni, peas and remaining ingredients.  Cover and refridgerate at least 1 hour to blend flavors.

"Kona Inn" Banana Bread

This morning I had the nastiest, ripest bananas of all time sitting on my kitchen counter.  They were the kind of bananas that fell out of their peels just by being picked up gently - super mushy and gross. They should have been tossed in the trash days ago. However, in an effort to keep the peace with the starving kids in China that my parents always told me about, I decided to not be wasteful and to bake banana bread instead.  But wait... no vanilla!!!  What to do?

I googled "Banana Bread No Vanilla" and guess what I came up with!  A recipe for Banana Bread... (wait for it....) with NO VANILLA!  Hooray!

Not only does this recipe have only the most basic ingredients, but it was probably the best banana bread I've ever made.

Kona Inn Banana Bread

Ingredients:

     1 c. sugar
     1/2 c. butter, softened
     3 bananas, ripe and mashed
     2 eggs
     1 1/4 c. flour
     1/2 tsp. salt
     1 tsp. baking soda


Instructions:

1) Lightly grease one 9x5" loaf pan with cooking spray.

2) Cream together butter and sugar.  Add eggs and bananas.

3) Sift together dry ingredients.  Add to wet mixture.  Do not overmix!

4) Bake at 350F for 45 minutes.