Recipe(tried): Red Beans, Rice, Collards & Banana Repub

Hi Everyone!

Tonight's dinner will be Cuban Red Beans served over Fluffy White Rice, Smothered Collards, Cornbread and Banana Republic 2000 Loaf. This is a very tropical flavored banana bread.Cuban Red Beans

serves 6

1 lb. dried red kidney beans
4 c. water
1 large green bell pepper
1 bay leaf
Soak the above overnite.

Next day, make the "Sofrito".
1/4 c. olive oil
1/4 lb. bacon, diced
1 t. ham bouillion mixed with 1 c. water
1 large Vidalia onion, chopped
5 garlic cloves, minced
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 c. tomato sauce
1 T. red wine vinegar
1/2 c. Vino seco (dry cooking sherry)
1 t. fresh chopped oregano
1/2 t. cumin
1 small packet of Sazon Goya with Culantro & Achiote
Salt and pepper to taste

Heat oil in skillet, add bacon, garlic, onion and bell pepper, saute over med. heat til tender about 10 min. Add sauce, vino seco, vinegr and broth, all seasonings. Taste and adjust flavoring with salt and pepper. Cook another 10 min. When the beans are tender, add the sofrito and mix well. Cook over med. heat an additional 30 min. The beans should be thick and rich and very fragrant. Discard the bay leaf. Serve over white rice.

Smothered Collard Greens

1 bunch of collard greens, washed and cut up
1/2 Vidalia onion, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
1/4 c. olive oil
splash of red wine vinegar
1 T. sugar
salt and pepper to taste
couple of drops of Tabasco
1 c. ham broth (Superior Touch)

Saute onion and garlic in large pot in olive oil. When tender, throw in the collards and the rest of the ingredients. Toss well as to coat all the collards. Cover and simmer til tender.Plantation Broccoli Cornbread

4 large eggs
1 10 oz. pkg. frozen chopped broccoli, thawed
1 small onion, finely chopped
1 scallion, finely chopped
1 c. small curd cottage cheese
1/2 c. butter, melted
1 1/2 c. self-rising cornmeal
1 t. sugar
1/8 t. cayenne pepper

Preheat oven to 350.

Combine all ingredients til well blended.
Pour batter into greased 13x9x2" baking pan. Bake 40-45 minutes til golden. Makes 12-16 servingsBanana Republic 2000 Loaf

makes 2 delicious loaves

3 c. sugar
4 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
3 t. baking soda
6 ripe bananas
4 large eggs
1 c. veg. oil
1/2 c. orange juice
1 1/2 t. vanilla extract
zest of 1 orange
1/2 t. rum extract
1 t. almond extract
1 t. coconut extract
1 1/2 c. shredded sweet coconut
1/2 c. golden raisins
1/2 c. fresh cranberries
1/4 c. candied diced pineapple
1/4 c. candied lemon peel
1/4 c. candied orange peel
1/2 c. chopped pecans
1/2 c. candied red cherries, quartered

Sift all dry ingredients in a largebowl. Set aside. Put the bananas in the mixing bowl and mash at low speed. Add the eggs, orange juice and extracts. Mix well. Add the dry ingredients, mix well. Add the fruits, zest, & coconut & mix well. Pour into two greased loaf pans and bake at 350 for 1 hour and 15 min. Cool on rack for 20 min. then unmold carefully.

Raspberry-Lemon Glaze

1/2 c. Smucker's Red Raspberry Syrup
1/2 t. lemon juice

Blend well and brush on top of warm loaf after getting out of pan. Bruh top and all four sides. Enough for two loaves.