Shanthi Appelö is a registered dietitian and health and wellness spokesperson for Blue Cross Blue Shield of Michigan based in Detroit. Passionate about the science of nutrition and behavior, Shanthi has experience working in clinical nutrition, public health and teaching in the university setting. She earned her Master of Science in Public Health Nutrition from the University of Tennessee and has a research background in maternal and child health nutrition and public health, as well as a Certificate of Training in Obesity Interventions from the Commission on Dietetic Registration. In her free time, she enjoys experimenting in the kitchen, exploring the outdoors, working on art and spending time with family.
Healthy Paczki Recipe: Battered Banana Paczki Bites
Serving Amount
Ingredients
11⁄3 cups all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. sugar or sweetener
1 Tbsp. baking powder
1⁄2 tsp salt
11⁄4 cups milk
1 egg
1 Tbsp. butter, melted
2 tsp. vanilla extract
4 bananas
2 Tbsp. confectioner's sugar
1⁄4 cup raspberry preserves
Instructions
Step 1
Combine together the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a mixing bowl. Make a well in the center and add the milk, egg, melted butter and vanilla.
Step 2
Use a whisk to mix wet ingredients in the well together first before slowly folding them into the dry ingredients. Mix together until smooth. Add more milk if the batter is too thick. It should be able to pour out of a ladle.
Step 3
Slice bananas ½ -inch thick and add a few to the batter, making sure they are completely covered.
Step 4
Heat a nonstick pan over low-medium heat. Lightly grease pan with butter. Add battered banana slices, leaving space in between.
Step 5
When the underside is golden and bubbles begin to appear on the surface, flip with a spatula and cook until golden. Repeat with remaining banana slices.
Step 6
Add confectioner’s sugar to a sieve and dust over the banana bites.
Step 7
Add finished bites to a serving plate. Put raspberry preserves in a plastic bag and cut off a small corner. Squeeze the preserves over the bananas in a fine drizzle. Enjoy!
