Banana Bread and Muffins

This banana bread is a staple at our house. I also like to freeze it! The muffins can be put in a gallon size ziploc to freeze as well! I like the bread best on the second day, after it has been in the plastic bag for several hours. The top gets a chewey carmel texture. Yum!

This recipe can be doubled and even trippled.

In a large mixing bowl smash:

3 bananas

Add and mix:

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 T oil

1/3 cup milk

1 egg

Now add and mix well:

2, 1/2 cup flour (I use 1/2 cup wheat and 2 cups white)

3, 1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

Now you can add 1 cup chocolate chips.

At this point you can make 2 loaves of bread or 2 batches of muffins. Use muffin sleeves for fast clean up.

For bread - grease bottom and 1 inch up the sides of the pans. Bake for 55 minutes at 350. Let sit and cool for 15 minutes, then remove from pan.

For muffins bake at 400 for 20 minutes.

Chicken 'N Dumplings

I have only about 3 months until my little bundle gets here. I want to post a few recipes in the mean time. Then I will take another break. Hopefully by Christmas I will feel up to holiday baking and kitchen fun again!

The chicken I used in this recipe was from the crock pot garlic chicken. I'll post that soon.


Bring to a boil:

6 cups chicken broth

Add to the chicken broth and simmer for 10 minutes:

1 heaping cup chopped carrots
2 celery sticks

While the vegetables are simmering prepare the dumplings.

Dumplings:

Mix in medium bowl:

1, 1/2 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt

cut into the flour and mix well:

3 T shortening

Using a fork slowly add:

3/4 cup milk

Now add 3 cups diced, cooked chicken to the simmering carrots and celery. Then add the dumpling mixture one tablespoon at a time. The dumpling mixture will completely cover the soup pot. Keep the stove top on low and put the lid on the soup. Let it cook on low for 30-45 minutes.

The dumplings will cook together, but when you serve it up the serving spoon will break them up.

Yummy!!

Special Bundle

Christmas time is my busiest month in the kitchen. But this year I have something extra special in the oven...and it won't be ready until the first part of July. Until then I have NO desire to be in the kitchen.

Honey Butter

Next time you take fresh rolls out of the overn try glazing (drenching) them in honey butter!

In your mixer dump and mix on high speed for 3 minutes:

1/2 cup real butter

1/2 cup honey

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

Shepherds Pie

This is one of the very few recipes I have that calls for cream of chicken and boxed stuffing, but it is goooood! This is a great way to use your left overs in the fridge. I hate heating up 6 different tupperwares after Thanksgiving. This makes an easy and yummy dish!

In a small mixing bowl mix:

2 cups cooked, shredded turkey or chicken
1 can cream of chicken

In a 9x13 baking dish layer:

turkey/soup mix
1 can green beans, drained
1 package chicken stuffing, prepared
2 cups mashed potatoes (REAL mashed potatoes)
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded

Cover with foil. Bake at 350 for 30 minutes.

Easy Yummy Pizza

I usually make this for General Conference because it is a satisfying meal that takes just minutes.

Buy a loaf of french bread at the grocery store and cut it in half length-wise. Then cut them in half cross-wise. This will give you 4 pizzas. Top them with pizza sauce, peppers, pepperonis, provolone cheese, parmesan cheese, and oregano and basil.

Place the pizzas on a foil-lined cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 12 minutes.

I served this with a pre-made salad with crumpled blue cheese and blue cheese dressing.

Grandpa's Cough Tonic

I have been running a fever of 100 to 102 for the past 3 days with a realy bad sore throat and cough. I finally went in to the doctor this morning to rule out Strep. No Strep. It's a viral infection. Doc said there is nothing we can do about it except drink tea and honey. I dropped by the store to pick up the ingredients for my Dad's cough tonic. This stuff really works! Since my parents don't "measure" I tried to get my measurements as close to theirs as possible. Also, I don't think my parents use lemon juice, but I thought I would just throw it in there. Lemon juice is a natural dissinfectant and stimulates the liver to creat bile. This makes it easier for you to digest your food. It is also high in Vitamin C. If you can dissinfect your countertops with vinegar and lemon juice, then you should be able to dissinfect your throat with it, too. Am I right?!

Here is what I did. I made up a strong hot tonic, at the recommendation of my Mother. Then I filled a water bottle with a cold drink. I sipped the hot drink until it was all gone and have been sipping the cold drink throughout the day. Be prepared with a box of tissues or a handkerchief with the hot drink. It was really loosen up all that junk. If you are too wimpy to drink the hot drink, at least smell it. Just smelling it clears up your sinuses! But, seriously, don't be a wimp. Just drink it.

Hot drink

juice of one lemon
*2 T Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar
5 T honey
1/2 cup water
2 sprinkles Cayene Pepper

mix the above ingredients over the stove top until steamy. Sip.

Cold drink (not near as strong, thus you can sip it throughout the day)

juice of one lemon
*2 T Heinz Apple Cider Vinegar
2 T honey
1, 1/2 cups cold water

*don't buy the generic brand. Get the good stuff by Heinz.