Best-Ever Banana Bread
Servings: 1 loaf or 1 1/2 dozen muffins
Preparation Time: 1 hour

Ingredients:
1/4 cup butter, melted
1/4 cup Tropical Traditions Gold Label Coconut Oil, melted (plus a few tablespoons for greasing pans)
3/4 cup sugar 
1/2 cup sour cream 
2 eggs, (large) 
1/4 cup whey (left over from making yogurt, etc., substitute with milk or cream, if needed)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract 
3 large very ripe bananas (or 4 small bananas), mashed 
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour 
2 tablespoons flax seeds, finely ground 
2 tablespoons grass-fed gelatin 
1 teaspoon baking soda 
1/2 teaspoon baking powder 
1/2 teaspoon salt 
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Directions: 

Grease the pans with coconut oil. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the melted butter, melted coconut oil, and sugar. Whisk together until smooth and creamy. 

Whisk in the sour cream, vanilla, whey, and eggs, stirring until well combined. Add the mashed banana and stir again until smooth.  

Sprinkle the flour, baking soda, baking powder, gelatin, flax, salt, and cinnamon on top of the wet ingredients. Stir everything until thoroughly combined. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pans and bake for 45--55 minutes (18--20 minutes for muffins) or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. 

These are delicious with nut butter and a slice of fresh banana!

Marijah in Columbia, KY, won a $50 Healthy Traditions gift certificate for this recipe and photo! Submit your recipes and photos here! 

Ginger Strawberry Grapefruit Smoothie

Servings: yields three 1 3/4-cup servings
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 1 grapefruit, peeled, skins removed, and seeded
• 2 cups frozen strawberries
• 1 honey crisp or pink lady apple, cored and sliced
• 1-inch piece fresh ginger, peeled and finely chopped
• 1 cup coconut water
• 1 tablespoon Coconut Cream Concentrate*

Directions:

Prepare the Coconut Cream Concentrate (see video link below), then add it to the blender with all the other ingredients and pulse until smooth.

Serve with slices of fresh, tangy grapefruit.

Note: Leftover smoothie can be made into frozen pops.

*Learn how to prepare Coconut Cream Concentrate for use in a smoothie. Watch this video here.

Recipe and photo by Orissa. Submit your recipes and photos here for a chance to win $50!

Featured Product

Commercial coconut milks and creams are generally sold in cans, or sometimes boxes and tetra packs. The main ingredient in these products is water. If the fat content is 17%, it is called “coconut milk.” If the fat content is 24%, it is called “coconut cream.” But most of what you are purchasing is water. Coconut Cream Concentrate, on the other hand, has NO water, and is pure coconut. Unlike the commercial varieties, it also contains ALL the fiber of the coconut. Pure, dried coconut contains more fiber per gram than even oat bran! This fiber has been stripped out of commercial coconut milks and coconut creams. Also, almost all commercial coconut milks and creams have additives to prevent the water from separating from the coconut oil, and also have sulfites added to keep it white longer. Sometimes these additives are so small, that the FDA does not require them to list them on their labels as ingredients. Coconut Cream Concentrate, however, contains NO additives and NO preservatives at all: it is 100% natural coconut made from Philippine coconuts grown without pesticides or fertilizers.

Buy it here!

Soothing Hot Carob

Servings: 1
Preparation Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:

• 4 ounces coconut milk
• 4 ounces coconut water
• 1 teaspoon granulated (or ground) ginger
• 1/4 teaspoon ground turmeric
• 1 teaspoon carob powder
• 1 teaspoon raw honey

Directions:

In a saucepan, combine the milk, water, ginger, turmeric, and carob.

Heat until just boiling, stirring frequently to prevent scorching.

Pour into a large mug and stir in honey.

Courtney from Weir, KS, won $50 for this recipe and photo! Submit your recipes and photos here!