Allspice

All out of Allspice?  Make your own!

NOTE: If you like a lesser amount of cloves and nutmeg, the formula is 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon cloves, 1/4 teaspoon nutmeg.

Adapted from Food.com

Vegan Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread

I've been jonesin' for some banana bread lately.  As luck would have it my mama had a whole bunch of brown bananas sitting on her counter that she was getting ready to toss.  Sweeping in to save them in my Apron Cape I gathered them up and took them home.

I had pineapple and coconut on the brain due to my indulgence this summer of piña coladas while pool side.  I put the three together and voilà Vegan Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread was born!

My first attempt at Vegan Banana Bread was a failure due to the honey.  Did you know honey is not considered vegan?  Why you ask?   

"Veganism is a way of living which excludes all forms of exploitation of, and cruelty to, the animal kingdom, and includes a reverence for life. It applies to the practice of living on the products of the plant kingdom to the exclusion of flesh, fish, fowl, eggs, honey, animal milk and its derivatives, and encourages the use of alternatives for all commodities derived wholly or in part from animals."

While I am no longer vegan due to the lure of bacon (did you know bacon is the gateway meat for a vegan?) I am all over this banana bread!  If you decide to make this banana bread you will smell the sweet sweet smell of vegan success and of course delicious banana bread!  

Vegan Pineapple Coconut Banana Bread
Yield one - 9x5-inch loaf

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Ingredients:

• 2 large or 3 small very ripe bananas
• 1/4 cup crushed pineapple, drained
• 1/4 cup coconut oil
• 1/2 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 1 cup whole wheat flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• generous pinch of ground ginger
• pinch of allspice
• 1/2 cup sweetened shredded coconut

Instructions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly grease and flour a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a large mixing bowl, mash the bananas really well. Add the sugar, pineapple, and oil and whisk briskly to incorporate.
3. Sift in the flour, baking soda, spices, and salt. Use a wooden spoon to mix until the wet and dry ingredients are just combined.  Fold in the coconut.
4. Transfer the batter to the prepared pan and sprinkle with extra sugar if you’d like.  Bake for 45 to 50 minutes. The top should be lightly browned and a knife inserted through the center should come out clean.
5. Remove from the oven and let cool for 20 minutes before transferring out of a pan and onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Adapted from Joy the Baker

Sunshine Award!

What a great way to bring in the first day of summer with a Sunshine Award!   Joan from the fabulous blog Chocolate, Chocolate and More passed her sunshine on to me.  I am more than humbled over here at Deelicious Sweets.  Foodies are truly the nicest people, evah!

If you haven't visited Joan's blog then what are you waiting for?  I'll wait......

Do her Lemon Blueberry Cupcakes entice you?

What about her To. Die. For. Truffle Petit Fours?

This is only a sample of what she has going on over there!  Seriously good stuff, people.

The Sunshine Award is an award given by bloggers to other bloggers.  The recipients of the Sunshine Award are: "Bloggers who positively and creatively inspire others in the blogoshere."  The way the award works is this:  Thank the person who gave you the award and link back to them.  Answer 10 questions about yourself.  Select 10 of your favorite bloggers, link their blogs to your post and let them know they have been awarded the Sunshine Award!  Don't forget to copy and paste the award on your blog!

Now for the questions:

1. Favorite Color - I'm always drawn toward the blues.  Especially turquoise and navy. 
2. Favorite Animal -  If we are talking domesticated animal I would have to pick the cat.  We have two and they sometimes read my blog and they would be super pissed if I said my favorite animal is a dog (which it's not).  I love my kitties (hi Gigi and Snowflake!) and this just got a little weird.  My favorite wild animal would have to be the bear.  They're kind of cool.
3. Favorite Number - 6  My birthday is December 6 and growing up everyone had a favorite number so I just went ahead and picked that one since it had a "value" so to say.
4. Favorite Drink - This is an odd question.  I would have to say daily basis wise, water.  I know, booooring!  But when you're really thirsty there is nothing better than a tall glass of cold water.  After working in the yard on a hot day - a good wheat beer.  Hanging with my husband and select friends- red wine.  Lake house - anything goes!
5. Facebook or Twitter - Facebook.  But, I have my Facebook connected to my Twitter.  Or...is it the other way around?  Twitter hooked up to Facebook.  Either way, I'm partial to Facebook.  Although, with the new changes Facebook has made I'm beginning to learn toward Twitter for my fan base.
6. Good Book or Good Movie - I'm a nerd so I will always pick the book.  I'm especially partial to fantasy (nerd).  That being said, I enjoy a good movie but only at home.  Every time I go to the theater the stinky person sits right beside me.  They haven't showered for days, brushed their teeth and they are usually gassy - from both ends. 
7. My Passion - Oh God, I'm like a fart in a whirlwind.  One day it could be yoga, the next day spinning.  I could give up working out for a few months and repaint my entire house, bake up a storm, cook meal after meal, eat out for dinner every night, make jewelry, make soap, go shopping.  Don't make me pick just one!
8. Giving or Getting Presents -  I like both.  Who doesn't like getting presents?  Well, I guess it depends on who is giving them to you and what it is they are giving you.  We all have that relative that gives us hangers - there's a story to that.  Giving presents is just as awesome. 
9. Favorite Day of the Year - Hmm, never really thought of this. 
10. Favorite Flowers - Petunias!  They smell just like summer should smell.  My husband calls me Sweet Petunia :)

Okay, enough about me!

Let's pick 10 bloggers who more than deserve this award!

Ferris Wheel Of

Cravings of a Lunatic

Mom, What's for Dinner?

The Orgasmic Chef

Sally's Baking Addiction

Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts

Slow Roasted Kitchen

Jeff's Plate

Eat Yourself Skinny

Eat, Drink, Love

Whew, that was uber hard just picking 10.

Thank you, Joan for passing this little bit of light on to me!  You made my day!

Please go and check out Chocolate, Chocolate and More if you haven't already and check out these fabulous blogs that I have passed the award on to.  Make sure you tell them all I said, Hi!

Fish Tacos with Spicy Slaw

This was my first time trying fish tacos.  I've always been a little leery of them as I haven't been much of a fish fan in the past.  This year, however, I've been all over fish.  These fish tacos were the bomb diggity! 

I'm convinced the spicy slaw is what took these over the top.  Grilled jalapenos really kicked up the heat to 11.  Consider that your warning here.  Go easy on the slaw or go easy on the jalapenos in the slaw.  I went all out because I like to sweat when I eat spicy stuff. 

These tacos are also low in calories which is great for bikini season.  Yeah, bikini season is here and it's not going away.  Along with watching what I eat I've been working out to Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred.  I have made it through Level 1 already and I'm 3 days in to Level 2.  Level 2 is much harder than Level 1 but it gets easier.  I think I may add some running in to these workouts as well.

Fish Tacos with Spicy Slaw
Yield 4 servings

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Ingredients:

• 2 tablespoons olive oil, plus more for grill
• 1 pound skinless firm, white fish fillets, such as cod or striped bass, cut into 3-inch pieces
• 1 small bunch cilantro - I used parsley due to the hubs extreme distaste of cilantro
• 3 jalapenos
• salt and pepper
• 1 tomato, diced small
• 3 Napa cabbage leaves, shredded
• 1 small red onion, finely chopped
• Smoky seasoning salt (recipe below)
• lime juice, plus wedges for serving
• 8 corn tortillas, toasted
• sliced avocado, for serving

Instructions:

1. Heat a grill or grill pan over medium-high.  Clean and lightly oil hot grill.  Combine fish, cilantro (or parsley) stems, and jalapenos.  Coat with oil and season with salt and pepper.  Grill fish and jalapenos until fish is opaque throughout and jalapenos are charred and tender, about 5 minutes per side.
2. In a medium bowl, combine tomatoes, cabbage and onion.  Seed and finely chop 2 grilled jalapenos and add to bowl.  Season to taste with seasoning salt and lime juice.  Flake fish and divide among tortillas.  Top with slaw and serve with cilantro (or parsley) leaves, remaining grilled jalapeno, thinly sliced, more seasoning salt, lime wedges, and avocado.

Adapted from Everyday Food

Do you like fish tacos?   Have you tried Jillian Michaels - 30 Day Shred?