Banana Bread and Homemade Granola

This banana bread recipe comes out of a cookbook from my Grandma's church in New Castle, PA. I have tried many recipes for banana bread and none beat this one. I didn't have buttermilk Saturday when I made it so I substituted vanilla yogurt and I think it made it more moist! It was really good. This recipe also makes 2 loaves so it's great......I usually give one to a friend or neighbor or freeze one for later, it freezes very well!
Grandma's Best Banana Bread
2 1/2 c. sugar
1 c. shortening
3 eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas
3 c. flour
1 1/4 c. buttermilk (or yogurt)
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, mashed bananas and vanilla. Mix in dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Add nuts. Pour into 2 greased 9X5 loaf pans and bake at 350 for 45-60 minutes(until wooden pick comes out clean).

I also made our favorite Homemade Granola on Saturday. It's low fat and is really good sprinkled on yogurt and fruit. It's a weight watchers recipe so if you count points one serving is 1/2 cup and 3 points.

Homemade Granola

Ingredients
3 cup(s) uncooked quick oats
2 cup(s) ready-to-eat puffed rice cereal
6 Tbsp honey
1 tsp canola oil
1/4 cup(s) apple juice
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground ginger
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup(s) slivered almonds
1/4 cup(s) dried cranberries
1/4 cup(s) raisins

Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°F. Mix uncooked oats and puffed rice cereal together and spread on a non-stick baking sheet with sides; bake for 10 minutes, stirring once.


Meanwhile, mix honey, oil, apple juice, spices and vanilla together in a cup. When oats and puffed rice are done, spoon into a large bowl; set pan aside. Add almonds to cereal mixture and stir to combine. Pour honey-spice mixture over cereal mixture and mix thoroughly to distribute and coat completely; spread mixture back over pan.