Belts and Buckles: A Fine Beginning

First off! Heart-warmed thanks to all that came - we know the importance of showing up and hope you continue to do so. For those that couldn't make it, tomorrow is another day and Sunday the 20th is another chance to come. More details to come.

Danrae, in all her glorious wonderment, facilitated our first get-together by teaching us how to finger knit (belts) and bake a delicious vegan desert, called a buckle!

Here is the recipe for a Buckle:

1/2 cup whole almonds (~2.5 ounces) *optional
1.5 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup (2 sticks) vegan butter substitute, room temp. (Earth Balance is awesome and way better for you and cheaper than butter)
3/4 cup sugar
1 or 2 bananas (depending on size of banana and consistency)
1/2 teaspoon extract (vanilla, almond, etc.)

1.25 pounds fruit, cut into chunks or slices
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon or nutmeg

PREHEAT oven to 350 and lightly grease your pan(s)

Finely grind almonds in processor or blender (if you don't have one, try putting almonds in a plastic bag and mashing by hand with brass knuckles or a mallet). Transfer all dry ingredients to a bowl. Use your hands to mush the butter/EB into the flour mixture. Add the sugar, mush. Add bananas, mush mush. Stir in extract and mix until you have achieved a gooey, moist consistency. Transfer batter to pan; spread evenly and smooth out with spatula. Gently press in your fresh fruit, flesh side down, skin side up. Place them close together, have fun making patterns! Sprinkle cinnamon and or nutmeg over top.

Bake until tester/knife/fork/toothpick comes out clean (30-50 minutes)
ENJOY!


HOW TO FINGER KNIT! For super easy instructions and pictures on how to finger knit,
check out:
www.knitty.com/ISSUEsummer06/FEATfingerknitting.html

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