STUFFED BANANA RECIPES

Steps:

• Mix sausage, cheese, bread crumbs, salt and pepper, and egg together in mixing bowl. Season to taste. Adjust mixture with additional cheese and bread crumbs if too dry or moist - medium moisture for stuffing desired. Make a radial slice around the top of the banana pepper leaving the top intact. Pull back top and remove seeds if so desired. Gently stuff mixture into peppers. Place olive oil in hot saute pan. Gently place peppers in the pan and fry each side until browned. Place marinara sauce in middle of plate. Arrange peppers on top of marinara and grate the dry ricotta cheese on top of the hot peppers.

Steps:

• For the banana bread: Position an oven rack in the bottom third of the oven and preheat to 325 degrees F. Generously spray a 9-by-5-inch loaf pan with nonstick spray and dust with flour.
• For the cheesecake swirl: Combine the cream cheese, granulated sugar, sour cream and egg in a large bowl and beat with a hand mixer until well combined; set aside.  
• For the banana bread: Whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; set aside. Mash the granulated sugar and bananas in a large bowl to a paste. Whisk in the oil, vanilla and egg. Whisk in the flour mixture until just combined. 
• Reserve 3/4 cup of the bread batter. Spread the remaining batter in the bottom of the prepared loaf pan. Spoon the cream cheese mixture over the batter and put the reserved 3/4 cup batter in a line down the center of the pan. Insert the tip of a paring knife into the batter and drag it through and up to swirl 5 to 6 times. 
• Bake until the top is cracked and a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then carefully invert onto a platter or cake stand and then flip upright. Cool completely, at least 1 1/2 hours. Dust with confectioners' sugar and serve.