Banana Dog with PB&J and Strawberry Relish

Easy, convenient, healthy, delicious, and colorful. That's how I would explain this Banana Dog. The kids love it and so do I. (I devoured mine while waiting for this picture to load)

Banana Dog with PB&J and Strawberry Relish

• whole wheat hot dog bun
• banana
• PB and J, mixed (I used Simply Fruit Black Raspberry) about 1 T. each
• 1-2 diced strawberries

Smear PB&J mix on both sides of hot dog bun. Add banana and diced strawberries on top. Wrap tight in plastic wrap and then foil.

Sides: Banana Snack Cake

This snack cake is so simple, so few ingredients, so moist. Frosting is not even required!

This is another great after-school snack or side to stick in a lunch box. Or both! Since it's made in a 9 x 13 cake pan, you'll have enough for a couple of days, easy.

I found this recipe on www.allrecipes.com but made some changes according to reviews.

Banana Snack Cake

• 1 yellow cake mix
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 tsp baking soda

Mix all three ingredients well. Pour mix into a 9x13 pan that has been spraying with nonstick cooking spray. Bake at 350° for about 35 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. May be served as is or topped with whipped cream.

The frosting pictured is 4 oz. cream cheese (softened), 8 oz. whipping cream and 1 box of sugar free banana pudding. Can use regular pudding. Whipped together until creamy.

Sides: Nut Butter, Bran & Banana

I adore banana & peanut butter. Adore it! I love it in sandwiches, but it makes a great snack too. To make this a side in a lunch box, I put peanut butter in a small container with a spoon and banana, and detailed (just kidding) instructions on adding a scoop of nut butter per each banana-bite. I also added All~Bran Bran Buds which not only adds a crunch (if it were only about the crunch, crunchy peanut butter would do) but fiber!

My 19 year old son always heads the opposite direction when he finds food in my kitchen that brags about being high in fiber.

But fiber is so good! It helps for more reasons than what many (my 19 year old son) think. Fiber can help our lunch box carriers feel full longer (which might help them focus in school better), fiber helps keep blood sugar levels in check, fiber helps with cholesterol, can help prevent cancer and gallstones and kidney stones and can help prevent diverticular disease.

Here is the simple, nutritious and delicious lowdown-

Nut Butter, Bran & Banana

• 1 banana
• 1 T.  Nutter Butter, I used peanut butter with real maple syrup
• 1 heaping teaspoon All~Bran Bran Buds

Add tablespoon nut butter to a small container. Pour Bran Buds on top and cover with lid. Send in lunch box with spoon, banana and instructions.

Almost Famous Sandwich

I am a huge fan of Elvis (huge!) and I am certain it stems from the sweet memories of hearing my dad happily sing Elvis songs while riding in the car with him. Things just felt good and right in the world when my dad was singing Blue Suede Shoes.

Do you know what else is good and right? Elvis sandwiches. Are we all familiar with the Elvis Sandwich? Peanut butter, banana, grilled with butter? Oh so warm and deliciously naughty and completely inappropriate for the lunch box.

This sandwich isn't quite as good as the real deal (obviously) but it's almost as good as the famous Elvis Sandwich, which is why it's appropriately called Almost Famous. I've been experimenting with Banana Jam recipes and I am still searching for the perfect one. (I want one without sugar because by golly if Polaner can make a fruit spread only using fruit, why can't I?) I have successfully tried this recipe using half the sugar (and it is good!) and plan to try this recipe next.

Almost Famous Sandwich

• peanut butter
• banana jam
• sandwich bread

Spread peanut butter on one slice of bread, the banana jam on the other. Join the two and enjoy!