What to do with your Flax Seed? SUPER Flax Seed Banana Bread with Stevia and Kefir

So I have been thinking a LOT lately on how to really take advantage of my FLAX SEED, which I get from Trader Joes (of course).  I alternate between buying flax seed meal and whole flax seeds.  I was afraid to try them at first, but they make everything taste SO DANG good.  Like a very delicious nut. 

Benefits are:

(HealthCastle.com) Its high content of alpha linolenic acids has made the ancient flax seed become our modern miracle food. Alpha linolenic acid (ALA) is a type of plant-derived omega 3 fatty acid, similar to those found in fish such as salmon. Benefits of flax seed as shown in many studies include lowering total cholesterol and LDL cholesterol (the Bad cholesterol) levels. Other benefits show that flax seed may also help lower blood triglyceride and blood pressure. It may also keep platelets from becoming sticky therefore reducing the risk of a heart attack.

Other Benefits of Flax seed

Aside from alpha linolenic acid, flax seed is rich in lignan. Lignan is a type phytoestrogen (antioxidant) and also provides fiber. Researches reveal that lignan in flax seed shows a lot of promise in fighting disease — including a possible role in cancer prevention especially breast cancer. It is thought that lignan metabolites can bind to estrogen receptors, hence inhibiting the onset of estrogen-stimulated breast cancer. Recent studies also showed positive benefits of flax seed oil in IBD (Crohn’s Disease and Colitis). Flax seed oil seems to be able to heal the inner lining of the inflamed intestines.
Moderately include flax seed in your diet. Indeed, a lot of food products contain flax seed such as bread, cereal and bakery goods. Bakers may use flax seed flour or include flax seed in baking.
Note: Flax seed oil is not the same as flax seeds. Flax seed oil is a concentrated source of ALA, which has been questioned for its potential association of increasing prostate cancer risk.

Here is the one I have fine tuned to perfection.

1 large egg
1/4 cup smart balance butter blend (or butter)
1/3 cup kefir (makes the texture SO moist and delectable)
1 tsp stevia
2 ripe bananas
2-3 TBS Molasses
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp allspice
1/2 tsp sea salt
1 2/3 cup Oat Flour (just blend up oats in the blender until fine)
3 TBS flax seed (blend with the oats if you have a vita mix or super speed blender) – or use flaxmeal
2 TBS black sesame seeds (opt) (blend with the oats if you have a vitamix or super speed blender)
2 TBS raw almonds (opt) ( blend with the oats if you have a vitamix or super speed blender)

Preheat oven to 350. Blend Oats, flax seed and black sesame seeds in blender until fine flour.  I have a Vitamix – which I LOVE.  That thing grinds ANYTHING.  Anyway, then you add to the dry ingredients – allspice, cinnamon, baking powder, and sea salt

In a clean blender, add egg, banana, molasses, stevia, kefir, egg and butter and blend.  Combine ingredients.

Spray breadpan with olive oil spray or pan spray, and dump the batter in.

Bake for 1 hour and WHALAH!  Its not assaultingly sweet, but its a pleasant sweetness.  Have with some butter or smart balance – SO DANG GOOD!!  The Kefir makes everything super moist.  You can add more if the batter seems dry.  And the flax seed is great for ALA and an AWESOME nutty flavor.  The black sesame seeds I find at China Town here in Chicago, but you can find them around.  They are FANTASTIC for making the eyes brighter.  Raw almonds pack a ton of calcium.  Baking them with other ingredients robs them less than roasting them of their properties.

And my family is used to my food experiments.  Some are good, some are…just VERY OK…some are…um…anyway (those are fewer and farther between anyway).  So my husband had a thick slice last night and said, “Babe, Good bread!”  So – if HE says it – then I know its true.  He just doesn’t say anything when they are NOT successful.  But I firmly believe that old standbys such as “banana bread” etc can be remade into superfoods – depending on what ingredients you substitute in.

I will post my homemade flax seed peanut butter another day (but YUM!!)
What are you favorite things to do with flax seeds? SHARE!