Apple and Banana Recipes for a Baking Day and Recipe Swap

See other recipes at http://www.lifeasmom.com/2009/10/ultimate-recipe-swap-anything-goes.html#. This week, anything goes!

Today I did my own little baking day. I made Applesauce, Oatmeal Applesauce Bread and Banana Bread thanks to some ripe bananas and a sale on apples.

Banana Bread:

INGREDIENTS
1/2 cup shortening (I substituted with applesauce)
1 cup white sugar
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
3 ripe bananas

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.
In a large bowl, cream the shortening and sugar. Sift in the flour, baking soda and salt. Blend in the mashed bananas. Pour batter into prepared pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a knife inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.

Oatmeal Applesauce Bread:

INGREDIENTS
2/3 cup warm water
2 1/4 cups bread flour
1 tablespoon white sugar
1 tablespoon dry milk powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon butter
1/4 cup rolled oats
1/4 cup applesauce
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used apple pie spice)
1 (.25 ounce) package active dry yeast

DIRECTIONS
Place ingredients in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select cycle; press Start.

Applesauce:

Ingredients
5 medium apples - peeled, cored and chopped
3/4 cup water
1/4 cup white sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon (I used apple pie spice)

In a saucepan, combine apples, water, sugar, and cinnamon. Cover, and cook over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, or until apples are soft. Allow to cool, then mash with a fork or potato masher or a hand mixer.

This makes about 1 1/2 - 2 Cups of Applesauce