Banana Blueberry Muffins

I found this recipe online and made a few adjustments (i.e. wheat flour, larger batch). They turned out delicious and very filling.

1 3/4 c. wheat flour
2 c. white flour
3 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
3 ripe bananas, cut in chunks
3 eggs
1 c. brown sugar
1/2 c. softened butter
1 tsp. vanilla
Blueberries (maybe 3/4 cup)

Preheat oven to 375. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon. Cut bananas into chunks and puree in a blender. Add eggs, brown sugar, butter, and vanilla. Blend again. Pour this mixture into flour mixture and stir well to combine. Gently fold in blueberries. Spoon mixture into greased muffin tins and bake for 25 minutes until risen and golden brown. Cool in tins for 10 minutes, then put on a wire rack to finish cooling.
Makes 24

Best Ever Chocolate Sauce

1/2 c. butter
1/2 c. dry cocoa
2 c. sugar
1 can evaporated milk
1 tsp. vanilla

Mix butter, cocoa, sugar, and evaporated milk in sauce pan and bring to a boil. Boil 4 minutes. Add vanilla. Serve over ice cream or use as a fondue dipping sauce.

(Mine was a little lumpy which could be because of my cheap cocoa, so I think next time I'd melt the butter with the cocoa first, then add the milk and sugar.)

Orange Rolls

This recipe was given to me by one of my favorite roommates in college. It was her Grandma Karnely's recipe for dinner rolls or cinnamon rolls. I've always used it for the latter. Just recently, though, I tried it with the Lion House recipe for orange rolls and added part wheat flour. They turned out really nice!

Rolls:
4 T. yeast
1/2 c. water
4 c. scalded milk
1 c. sugar
4 t. salt
1 c. shortening (I use half butter)
4 eggs
12+ c. flour (I used 6 c. wheat, mixed in first)

Raise yeast in warm water with a little sugar. Let milk cool to lukewarm. Add shortening to milk. Then add sugar, salt, eggs, yeast, and 6 cups flour. Beat with mixer. Add other 6 cups and mix/knead to a soft dough. Cover and let rise to double. (Dough should be soft but not sticky.) Shape into rolls. Let rise. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes. Makes 2+ jelly roll pans.

Orange Filling:
3/4 c. butter, melted
Zest of 3 oranges
6 Tbsp. sugar

Stir together butter and zest. Divide dough in half. Roll one part to rectangle shape about 1/4-inch thick. Brush dough with half of the orange butter and 3 Tbsp. sugar. Cut and roll like cinnamon rolls. Place on greased jelly roll pan. Repeat with 2nd half of dough. Let rise to double. Bake at 375 for 15 minutes (til top is slightly brown). Cool 10 to 15 minutes, drizzle with icing.

Orange Icing:
3 c. powdered sugar
4 Tbsp. orange juice, squeezed from zested oranges
4-8 Tbsp. milk or cream

Mix together. The hotter the rolls are when frosted, the thicker the frosting needs to be (add 1 to 2 tsp. of orange zest, if desired).

Jojo's Bread

I love this recipe from Jojo. It's simple and fast. I have the smaller Kitchen-Aid, so I just make half of this recipe which yields 2 loaves.

Mix on low in Kitchen-Aid:
5 c. hot water
1 c. honey
5+ c. wheat flour

Add as mixing:
1 Tbsp. + 1 tsp. salt
2 heaping Tbsp. yeast
2 Tbsp. oil

Optional ingredients:
1/3 c. dough enhancer
1/2 c. gluten
1/3 c. dry milk

Last add:
6-9 c. wheat flour

Mix for 6 minutes on high. Pour a few tablespoons of oil on counter-top. Take dough out of mixer and using the oil, form into 3 or 4 loaves. Place in sprayed pans. Let raise until doubled. Bake @ 350 for 25-30 minutes. Cool on cooling rack. Can slice with electric knife and freeze.

Low-Fat Banana Bread

1 c. applesauce
2 c. sugar
4 eggs
1 c. sour cream (or yogurt)
2 tsp. vanilla
2 tsp. lemon juice
3 c. flour (1/2 wheat)
2 tsp. soda
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
1 small pkg. instant vanilla pudding (optional)
2 c. bananas (5 or 6)
chocolate chips/nuts (optional)

Mix applesauce, sugar, eggs, sour cream, vanilla, and lemon juice. Add dry ingredients and mix. Fold in bananas, then chocolate chips and nuts. Spray 2 loaf pans with Pam and pour in batter. Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes, until toothpick inserted in middle comes out fairly clean.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

3 c. flour
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
4 eggs
2 c. sugar
2 c. pumpkin
1 1/4 c. oil (I use half applesauce)
1 1/2 c. chocolate chips

Beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil. Add dry ingredients and mix. Stir in chocolate chips. Pour into 2 8x4x3 loaf pans. Bake at 350 for 60 - 70 minutes. Cool for 10 minutes and remove from pans.

Pumpkin Bars

1 small can pumpkin
1 cup oil (I used half applesauce)
4 eggs
1 3/4 c. sugar
2 c. flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking powder

Mix together pumpkin, oil, eggs, and sugar. Add other ingredients and mix. Spread on ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 20 minutes.

Frosting:
1 cube butter
1 tsp. vanilla
4 oz. cream cheese
2 c. powdered sugar
Cream well and spread on completely cooled cake.

Orange-Pumpkin Cake

1 yellow cake mix
3 egg whites
1 1/4 c. canned pumpkin
1 c. orange juice
1/3 c. sour cream
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/2 tsp. allspice

Glaze:
1 1/2 c. powder sugar
1/4 tsp. vanilla
4-5 Tbsp. milk (to desired consistency)

Preheat oven to 350. Mix cake ingredients all together for about 2 minutes with electric mixer. Pour into well greased and floured Bundt pan. Bake 35 to 40 minutes. While hot, invert cake onto serving platter. Cool, frost with glaze, and enjoy!

Grandpa's Enchiladas

Brown:
1 lb. hamburger
1 med onion
Season with salt and pepper.

Mix:
1 heaping Tbsp. chili powder
1 tsp. oregano
pinch garlic
1/2 tsp. cayenne pepper
1 glug salsa
1 can tomato soup
Add water or tomato juice to thin to right consistency--I use about a pint of tomato juice.

Pour a little sauce in 9 x 13 pan. Mix a little sauce with meat to make juicy. Warm flour tortillas and fill with meat mixture and shredded cheese. Roll and place in pan. Cover tortillas with remaining sauce and sprinkle with cheese. Cover and cook at 350 for 30 minutes.

Grilled Bacon-Wrapped Chicken

6 chicken breasts
12 slices bacon
4 oz fresh mushrooms, thinly sliced
Red or yellow pepper, thinly sliced

Prepare chicken breasts by washing and slightly flattening so they're evenly proportioned. (Not quite sure how to explain this, but here goes...) Place a few mushroom and pepper pieces on each side of the chicken breast and wrap the bacon around it securing it all with toothpicks. Grill.

Homemade Burritos

Fill flour tortilla with refried beans, cheese, and taco meat (beef or chicken). Fold in the top, bottom and sides and secure with toothpicks. Spray cookie sheet with butter-flavored Pam. Place burritos on pan. Then spray burritos with butter-flavored Pam. Cook at 350 til they start to brown. (Maybe 15 minutes) Turn burritos, spray with Pam again and cook 10 more minutes. Tortillas should be slightly crispy.

Marinara Sauce

1 chopped onion
1/2 c. finely chopped carrots
2 large cloves garlic, minced
1 lb. hamburger
1 28 oz. can chopped tomatoes
3 oz. tomato paste
1 tsp. sugar
1 tsp. oregano
1/4 tsp. salt

Brown hamburger with onion, carrots, and garlic. (can also add mushrooms and zucchini) Salt and pepper to taste. Stir in tomatoes, tomato paste, sugar, oregano, salt, and dash pepper. Bring to boil. Reduce heat. Simmer, uncovered, about 30 minutes.

Homemade Noodles

2 eggs
1/4 c. milk
1 tsp. salt
2 c. flour

Beat together eggs, milk and salt. Add flour to make a stiff dough. Use food processor or heavy-duty mixer if available. Let rest for about 10 minutes. Roll and cut into noodles with a pasta machine or roll VERY thin and cut by hand. Drop immediately into boiling, salted water. Cook approx. 5 minutes. They cook quickly so don't overcook!

Skillet Lasagna

Brown:
1 lb. hamburger
1 medium onion, chopped

Mix together:
1 1/2 c. cooked macaroni
1/2 tsp. oregano
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 c. grated cheese
12 oz. tomato sauce (can add more if wanted)
Cooked hamburger

Put in casserole dish and sprinkle with Parmesan cheese. Cook for 30 minutes at 350.

California Pizza Kitchen Dough

1 T. yeast
1 1/2 c. + 3 T. warm water
4 1/2 c. flour
2 T. sugar
1 T. salt
3 T. olive oil

Dissolve yeast in water, sprinkling sugar on top. Place flour and salt in bowl. Make a well and pour in yeast mixture and oil. Mix and knead. Should be tacky. Coat bowl/dough with a little oil and let rise until doubled. Place pizza stone in oven and preheat at 500. Punch dough down and divide in half. Roll out one portion to the size of pizza pan. Sprinkle pizza peel with cornmeal. Place dough on top. Cover with desired toppings. Using peel, transfer pizza to stone in oven. Cook 8-10 mins. Remove with peel. Make second pizza following the same steps.

Note: If you do not have a pizza peel, DO NOT preheat stone. Make pizza on stone and then place in oven.

Makes 2 pizzas

Chicago Stuffed Pizza

3 1/2 c. flour
1 pkg. yeast (1 tbsp)
2 tsp. sugar
2 T. vegetable oil
1 tsp. salt
1 c. luke warm water

Dissolve yeast into water. Add sugar and oil, mix. Add flour, mix. Knead on floured surface fro 8 - 10 mins. Place in a greased bowl and roll around to coat all sides. Cover and let double in size. Divide into 2 parts (bottom part needs to be a slightly larger portion). Roll out larger ball on pizza stone, making it one inch larger than the stone. Put filling on, leaving 1/4 inch clearance from edge of stone. Roll out remaining dough. Put on top and roll edges together to seal. Top with sauce and cheese. (1/4 lb. mozzarella and 1/2 c. grated parmesan) Bake at 400 for 20-25 mins.

Filling:
3/4 lb. mozzarella
1/3 lb. probalone
1 lb. sausage (browned)
3 med. onions (diced)
1 lg. green pepper
1/2 lb. mushrooms
1 lb. pepperoni

Mix in pan and put on pizza. (confession: I use less cheese and onions than called for in recipe)

Sauce:
16 oz. can whole tomatoes (mashed to pulp and drained)
1/2 tsp. crushed rd pepper
1/2 tsp. oregano
1 T. italian seasoning
1/8 tsp. salt
16 oz. tomato sauce
1/2 tsp. sugar
1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/4 tsp. pepper

Heat to boil. Reduce heat and simmer. (approx 20 mins)

Peppermint Meltaways

This is my new Christmas favorite- I found it in a magazine!!

Cookie:
Cream together until light and fluffy:
1 cup butter
1/2 cup confectioner's sugar

Beat in:
1/2 tsp. peppermint extract

Gradually add and mix well:
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 cup cornstarch

Shape dough into 1 inch balls (dough will feel a bit sticky). Place on ungreased baking sheet 2 inches apart (or they run into each other as they cook).

Bake at 350 for 10-12 minutes or until bottoms are lightly browned.
Remove to wire racks and cool completely before icing.

Frosting:
2 tbs. butter softened
1 1/2 cups confectioner's sugar
2 tbs milk
1/4 tsp peppermint extract
2-3 drops red food coloring

Mix together and spread over cooled cookies

Sprinkle cookies with crushed peppermint candies

Makes about 3 1/2 dozen

Farrell's Coffee Cake

This is sooo easy and soooo yummy- I generally have this on hand at all times for quick, yummy breakfasts. Named for my mother-in-law who made it up!

Mix together
1 box yellow cake mix (poweder only)
1 box small vanilla pudding (powder only)
1 cup sour cream (low fat works great)
1/2 cup oil
4 eggs

Mix until smooth

Add mini chocolate chips- I use 3/4 of the bag.
(minis work best- regular size seem to sink and clump together)

Grease a bundt pan

In a plastic baggie combine 1/2 cup sugar and 1 Tbsp cinnamon- shake to mix

Cover bundt pan bottom and sides with some of the sugar mix
Add 1/2 of the cake batter
Sprinkle more of the sugar mix over batter
Add rest of the cake batter
Sprinkle the rest of the sugar mix over batter

Bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes

Let cool for 10 min then remove from bundt pan- ENJOY!!

Mouth-Watering Punch

12 oz. can orange juice concentrate
12 oz. can lemonade concentrate
10 cups water
1 1/2 cups sugar
1 Tbs. almond flavoring
1 Tbs. vanilla

Add a 2 liter bottle of 7-Up before you serve. Such a refreshing, mouth-watering combination of tastes. I can never get enough of this stuff.

Chicken in Milk

LOVE this recipe, especially for Sundays! Looking at the ingredients, you just have to go on faith that the flavor is amazing :)

1 whole chicken
1 stick butter
1/2 cinnamon stick
handful fresh sage, leaves picked
2 lemons, zested
6 garlic cloves, skin left on
1 pint whole milk

Preheat oven to 375 degreesF(190degrees C) and find a snug-fitting pot for the chicken. Season it generously all over with salt and pepper, and fry it in the butter, turning the chicken to get it golden brown everywhere you can. Remove from heat, put chicken on a plate, and throw away the butter left in the pot. Put the chicken back in the pot with the rest of the ingredients, and cook in oven for 1 1/2 hours. Baste with juice if you remember, or not, whatever. The lemon zest will split the milk, so it looks a little curdled, but it makes a fantastic sauce. To serve, pull the meat off the bones, pile it onto a platter, and pour over the juice, curds and all. You're welcome.