Banana Cake with Coffee Frosting

Banana Cake with Coffee Frosting

This recipe is SO yummy! I found it on www.tasteofhome.com

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
• 1 cup (8 ounces) sour cream
• COFFEE FROSTING:
• 1/3 cup butter, softened
• 2-1/2 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons instant coffee granules
• 2 to 3 tablespoons milk

Directions

In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add

eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in

vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed

mixture alternately with bananas and sour cream, beating well after

each addition.

 

Pour into a greased 13-in. x 9-in. baking dish. Bake at 350° for

35-40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes

out clean. Cool completely on a wire rack.

 

 

For frosting, in a small bowl, beat butter and confectioners' sugar until smooth. Dissolve coffee granules in milk; add to butter mixture and beat until smooth. Spread over cake.

 

 

I've started a written recipe book to hand down to my kids. I always love things I find in my Grandparents handwriting. So I decided that I needed to make sure my kids have my favorite recipes in my handwriting. :) Hopefully someone will appreciate it someday. haha.

 



Movie Night Treats

 

We had a little movie night and I couldn't figure out what to make. I had been working all day and needed something quick and easy. So I looked in my fridge and saw fruit... fruit is ALWAYS good! But what to do for a dip? I had vanilla Greek yogurt (I am ADDICTED to the stuff). I looked in my freezer and saw a container of whipped cream. AWESOME! Mixed a half cup of each together and sprinkled cinnamon on top... IN LOVE!!! This is the most delicious fruit dip EVER!

 



 

These little babies I saw on my most FAVORITE cooking show in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD... The Pioneer Woman. I Love Miss Ree Drummond so much, I even wrote her a letter. My husband thinks I am crazy, but I had to tell her how much she makes my day when I get to watch her show. She is my role model. :)

 

All these cookies are is store bought peanut butter cookie dough, and Reese's mini cups.

 

You slice up the dough and put them into a muffin tin. Let them bake for 9 or 10 minutes, pull them out and push some mini Reese's peanut butter cups in. These cookies are SOOOOO good, they are dangerously addictive. 

Fresh Peach Pie

FRESH PEACH PIE

INGREDIENTS:

1 (9 inch) pie shell, baked 1 cup white sugar 1/2 cup water 3 tablespoons cornstarch 1 tablespoon butter

2 cups fresh peaches, pitted and mashed 1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg 1 teaspoon vanilla extract (I was lucky and had a fresh vanilla bean that I used... that doesn't happen very often!) 4 cups fresh peaches - pitted, skinned, and sliced

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Combine sugar, water, cornstarch, butter or margarine, mashed peaches, and nutmeg in a saucepan. Cook over medium heat until clear and thick. Stir in vanilla.
2.	Fill pie shell with sliced fresh peaches, alternating with the glaze. Refrigerate. I found this recipe on www.allrecipes.com  :)

The perfect lunch

I have been really trying to eat healthier. One of my most favorite things is salmon. It's easy, fast and delicious! Now if I could just get my sugar addiction under control!

Baked Salmon

* 2 to 4 oz frozen fillet of salmon (I buy them in a bag in the freezer section. They are portioned all individually! I love this!)
* 1 large lemon
* 1 tsp dried or fresh dill
* Salt and Pepper to taste
* Olive Oil

Take a piece of aluminum foil and set the fish in the middle.

Add salt, pepper, and dill. Then drizzle some olive oil on top. Slice lemons and lay on top of the fish. Wrap tightly to make a pocket. Bake @ 375 degrees for 20 to 30 minutes depending on how big the fillet is, and if it was frozen or not. Fish should flake apart easily when it is done.

I had this with a bed of spinach with lots of fresh fruit on top. Grapes, strawberries, and apples... there was no need to dressing! Also about 1/2 cup of cottage cheese.

Yummy Green Gazpacho

Green Gazpacho. I saw this on the show "Extra Virgin" on Cooking channel. (One of my favorite channels to watch). I loved the idea of a gazpacho without tomatoes... don't get me wrong, I love tomatoes. But every time I have made gazpacho in the past, I feel like I need tortilla chips with it. haha. I made this today and I LOVED it.

1 cucumber peeled and cut into chunks
big handful of green grapes
big handful of cilantro
1/2 of an avocado
juice of one big fat juicy lime
salt & pepper
1 Tbsp Olive Oil + some for drizzling on top
1/2 cup ice
1/2 cup cold water
1/4 cup toasted sliced almonds


Put everything except almonds into a blender, food processor, or if your cool like me *wink* *wink* into your Nutri Bullet. :) Blend away until smooth and creamy. Garnish with toasted almonds and olive oil.

Sweet Orange Glazed Easter Ham

Ingredients:

4 lb. boneless ham
1 jar of sweet orange marmalade
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 cup water
1/2 cup Dijon Mustard
1/4 cup chopped onion
Salt & Pepper

1. Pre-Heat oven to 350 degrees. Place ham in a shallow roasting pan.

2. In medium sauce pan heat the remaining ingredients over Medium- High; stirring occasionally. Keep watching it, if it starts to boil, it will boil over.... (I speak from experience.... yes it makes a sticky mess) Heat for about 5 minutes.

3. Pour over top of ham. Place uncovered into pre-heated oven. Bake for 1 1/2 hrs. Every half hour take out and use a big spoon to spoon the juices over the ham.

4. Let cool for 15 minutes before slicing.

Baked French Toast

I love Sunday Mornings. We usually end up eating brunch instead of breakfast. It's such a nice relaxing day.

This recipe is quickly becoming a regular favorite around our house.



Baked French Toast

Ingredients:

2 cans of Cinnamon Rolls

1/4 cup butter

6 eggs

1 cup of heavy cream or milk

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp vanilla

1/2 cup of chopped pecans (if desired)

frosting that comes with the rolls

Maple Syrup

1. Pre-Heat oven to 375 degrees. Melt butter. Cut each cinnamon roll into 8 pieces. Pour melted butter into a 13x9 inch casserole dish. Lay in pieces of cinnamon roll.

2. In a medium bowl mix eggs, cream, cinnamon, and vanilla until well combined. Pour Mixture over roll pieces. Sprinkle on nuts and pour 1 cup of maple syrup over the top.

3. Bake for 25 to 35 minutes until top is browned.

4. Heat frosting in microwave for 15 seconds and pour over the top of the french toast.

EASY AND SO FREAKIN' GOOD!!!!  You can easily cut this recipe in half.



BEST BBQ CHILI!

This is one of my favorite recipes. It's SO easy and SO delicious! I found it in one of my Pillsbury Cook books.

Ingredients:

1 medium size onion, red or white diced  (I seem to always have a red one around)
1 lb. ground beef or turkey
2 garlic cloves finely minced
1 can of Bush's Baked Beans Southern Pit Style
1 can of diced fire roasted tomatoes (15 oz)
1 can of tomato sauce (15 oz)
3 tsp chili powder
1 tsp Cumin
1 cup frozen corn
salt and pepper
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese (if desired)
1 bag of Frito's

1. In a large pot brown meat, onions, & garlic till there is no pink left. (salt & pepper)
2. Add Beans, tomatoes, tomato sauce, chili powder, cumin, and corn. Cover and let simmer for 15 minutes.
3. Serve with Frito's on top and shredded cheddar cheese.


This is such a crowd pleaser. We love it! My oldest son doesn't like beans, but he likes this chili.

Summer Time Iced Peach Mint Tea

Ingredients:

*8 cups water

*8 Peach Tea Bags

*Big Handful of Fresh Mint Leaves

*1/4 cup honey

*1/4 cup sugar

*1 large grapefruit

*1 large lemon

Bring water to a rolling boil in a pot.

Take off heat and add tea bags and mint leaves. (You can use any flavor of tea you like)

Cover and let steep for 30 to 40 minutes.

Add honey and sugar. You may like to add more if you like sweeter tea.

Juice grapefruit and lemon and add into tea.

Pull out Mint and tea bags and strain to remove any leaves or seeds.

Chill in refrigerator. Serve over ice and garnish with fresh mint leaves.

Summer time... and the livin's easy... OH YEAH!! 

Baked Ziti with Mini Meatballs and Mushrooms

Ingredients:

* 1 box of tube like noodles
* 1 jar of favorite marinara sauce
* 1 jar of favorite Alfredo sauce
* 1 lb. ground beef
* 1 carton of baby portebello mushrooms (or button) sliced
* Salt & Pepper
* 2 Tbsp Italian seasoning (herb blend)
* 2 Tbsp Worcestershire Sauce
* 2 Tbsp Butter
* 1 Tbsp Olive Oil
* 2 cups of Italian blend cheese
* 1/2 onion finely minced

1. Boil noodles as directed on package & Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees.

2. Put ground beef in a bowl with Italian seasoning, salt & pepper, and Worcestershire sauce and mix well. Roll into tsp size balls.

3. Melt Butter and Olive oil together in a deep frying pan over med-high heat. Add sliced mushrooms, onion, and meatballs. Let everything saute together and meatballs brown on all sides.

4. After meatballs are browned, pour in both the marinara sauce and Alfredo sauce. Turn heat down to low and let simmer.

5. Drain pasta and add to pan with meatballs, mushrooms, etc.

6. Pour mixture into a 13x9 inch casserole dish and cover with cheese.

7. Bake for 20 to 30 minutes until cheese is melted and bubbly.

I served this with a Caesar salad and fresh fruit. It was delicious!

BROWN SUGAR BACON

The FAMOUS Brown Sugar Candy Bacon

Use your favorite brand of bacon. I usually try to do a thicker cut. But really any bacon is good when you do it this way.

Lay them out on a cookie sheet lined with aluminum foil. Sometimes I will double line it (both ways). You could use a wire rack to set them on top of, which I have done before, but there is something about doing it this way that makes them ... better...

Pre-heat oven to 375 degrees.

Take a handful of brown sugar and sprinkle it over the top of the bacon (DO NOT PAT IT IN! I don't know why, but it just isn't as good if you touch the brown sugar after it is sprinkled on.
BE GENEROUS!

Pop it in the oven for 15 min. Drain off excess grease into a foil lined bowl. ( I have my sweet husband help me with this part, and he doesn't mind in the slightest since this is his most favorite thing in THE WHOLE WIDE WORLD)

Place back in the oven for 3 to 6 more min, watching carefully. It will look like it is not crisp, but once you let it rest it will be like hard bacony candy. DO NOT PUT IT ONTO A PAPER TOWEL!!! You will be eating paper towel if you do this. Immediately after you remove from the oven place directly onto a glass plate to cool.

Get a piece fast, because it will be gone in minutes!

Don't be afraid if your oven smokes a little, open a window... it's well worth it!

40 Days of Freezer Meals?!?!

So I have been infatuated with the idea of 40 meals all ready to go in my freezer at a moments notice!! Wouldn't you be? I saw this on Pinterest.... the new bible for how to do / cook / make anything. And I am dying to get busy and fill my freezer with lots of delicious meals so that I can get more done at night.. spend more time with my kiddos.... or just be lazy and enjoy laying on the couch instead of trying to figure out the answer to a question not yet asked, "What's for dinner?".

I started my quest yesterday afternoon. I made Chicken & Mushroom Manitcotti, Pizzangna, & Mushroom and Caramelized Onion stuffed chicken breasts. It's not 40 by any means, but it's a start. They are all nicely tucked away in my freezer for one of those days when the kitchen and the dishes are not calling my name.

Chicken & Mushroom Manicotti

1 lb Ground Chicken
8 baby portebello mushrooms, diced into small chunks
1/4 cup finely chopped shallot
2 Tbsp of Olive Oil
1 Tbsp garlic
1 16 oz tub of ricotta cheese
1 tub of Philadelphia Cooking Creme Italian Herbs Blend
3/4 cup cottage cheese
2 cups shredded Italian blend cheese
1 jar of your favorite spaghetti sauce
1 box of Manicotti
salt & pepper (of course)

1. Brown the chicken in a preheated deep frying pan with the olive oil, mushrooms, shallot & garlic over medium high heat. Stirring occasionally but making sure everything is getting a nice caramelized color.
2. Remove from heat and cool.
3. Cook Manicotti for 6 minutes and cool on a sheet of tin foil to prevent them sticking together. You want them tender, but still firm.
4. In a medium bowl mix ricotta cheese, cooking creme, cottage cheese, and 1/2 cup of the Italian cheese blend. Add the chicken mixture and salt and pepper to taste.
5. In a gallon size freezer bag Spoon your mixture into the corner. You will want to do about 1/3 at a time. Cut a hole about 3/4 of an inch from the corner.
6. I bought some disposable pans from Family Dollar, so that I could freeze them. Spray with non stick cooking spray OR spoon a little spaghetti sauce into the bottom of the pan to prevent sticking. You could do an 8 x 8 and put 7 mannicottis in 2 pans, or put them all into a 11 x 9 baking dish. Depending on how large your family is.
7. Take your cooled Manicotti noodles and fill them with your mixture using the bag. This make it so much easier and less chance of breaking the noodles.
8. Line them into your pan, cover with spaghetti sauce and the rest of the cheese.
9. Wrap with plastic wrap and foil and write instructions:
Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Remove Plastic Wrap and Foil. Bake for 30 to 40 minutes until hot and bubbly.

I am not done with my Freezer meal Crusade. I am determined to have a freezer full of healthy delicious home-cooked meals, so that I can watch TV for once! Or... do laundry, scrub bathrooms, organize closets, pay bills, file paperwork, shovel driveways, WORK OUT?! ..........never mind!


P.S. The other 2 recipes are coming shortly... with pictures!

Rice Crispy Ranch Chicken Nuggets

My kids have been loving Eggo waffles, strawberry oatmeal, and pop-tarts lately. So I was about to throw out an old box of Rice Crispy Cereal that no one was going to eat when I thought.. hmmm I bet I could make chicken nuggets with this! So here they are:

Rice Crispy Ranch Chicken Nuggets

2 to 3 large Chicken Breasts
1 packet of Ranch seasoning
1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
2 cups of Rice Crispy Cereal
2 eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Cut chicken into strips. Crack 2 eggs onto a plate and mix thoroughly with a fork. In a bowl mix ranch seasoning, cheese, and cereal. Dip chicken into egg and then into the cereal. Make sure chicken is coated. Put onto a greased cookie sheet.

Bake for 25 minutes. Chicken is done when you stick a knife in and the juices run clear. Careful not to overcook the chicken, you don't want dry chicken! :)

I served these with boxed Au gratin Potatoes (hey we all need shortcuts once in a while!) Veggies and yes, those are pomegranate seeds. Carson and Canon saw the odd shaped fruit in the store, and wanted to know what is was.... they were way more happy about cauliflower and cottage cheese then they were with the seeds, but Jesse and I loved the sweet juicy treat. :) I think if they didn't have that little seed in the middle, they would be WAY more kid friendly.

 

 

 

Grammies Rolls

 

Ingredients:

2 T. yeast

¼ cup warm water

3 cups Buttermilk

3 cups flour
½ cup sugar, divided
3 eggs

2 tsp. salt
1 stick of unsalted real butter, melted
1 tsp. baking soda

5 cups flour + more if needed to make it not sticky

Directions:

In a small bowl dissolve yeast and 1 tablespoon sugar in ¼ c. warm water and let proof a few minutes until it's bubbly. Add the buttermilk & 3 cups of flour. Mix until well combined and no lumps remain. Cover and let this stand at room temperature until double in size, about 2 hours.

Add the rest of the sugar, eggs, salt, melted butter, baking soda and 5 cups of flour. Knead on a floured service until well combined. put in a big bowl, cover with a clean kitchen towel, and put it in the fridge the night before you are going to bake them. Every few hours you will need to get up and punch down the dough. Remember this is a labor of love... ;)

The next morning divide the dough into 4 separate sections. Take one section and roll it over a floured surface into a circle. Cut the dough with a knife or a pizza cutter just like a pizza. I try to get 12 triangles out of each section of dough. Then take the triangles and roll them from the widest side to the thinnest. Put on a greased cookie sheet, cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rise until double in size.

Bake at 350° for 10-12 minutes until golden brown. Brush with butter...... OH YEAH BABY!

I have made these with gramma so many times, yet there is just something about her touch that made them extra special. :) I miss her cooking and sleeping over at her house and making all of her yummy chocolates and rolls with her. Keeping her traditions alive is really important to me. She is the greatest. :) Grandma always let them rise overnight in the fridge like that...that was one of my favorite memories getting up with her to punch down the dough. :)

Double Peanut Butter and Milk Chocolate Chip Cookies

Found this one on the Hershey's Chocolate Chip bag. :) My family loved them!

1/2 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1/3 cup Creamy Peanut Butter
1 egg
1/2 tsp vanilla
1 1/4 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 cup milk chocolate chips
1 cup peanut butter chips

Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Beat butter, sugar, and peanut butter in medium bowl until creamy. Add egg and vanilla; beat well. Stir together flour, baking soda, and salt; add to butter mixture, blending well. Stir in both cups of chips. Drop by rounded teaspoons onto a cookie sheet lined with parchment paper.

The recipe says to bake for 12 to 14 minutes.... I only bake them for 6. Take them out of the oven and let them cool before you try to move them to a plate. This way, they stay soft and chewy for WAY longer. I like my cookies soft and chewy, not crispy. :) Must have got that from my grammie.

My little boys helped me make these.... as usual. :) They love to help me in the kitchen.

Pumpkin Poppers

Okay, I found this one on Pinterest and can I just say .... OH MY WORD!!!! These right out of the oven dipped in butter, rolled in cinnamon sugar.... there isn't much better.

PUMPKIN POPPERS

1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp, baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp allspice
1/8 tsp ground cloves
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
3/4 cup pure pumpkin
1/2 cup milk

Coating:

1 stick butter, melted
2/3 cup sugar
2 tbsp cinnamon

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Spray mini muffin tins with non-stick spray.

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, & spices in a bowl and whisk to combine.

In another bowl, mix oil, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, pumpkin, & milk. Pour in the flour mixture and mix until just combined. Fill mini muffin tins until almost full & bake 10 to 12 minutes.

Melt butter in a small bowl. Mix sugar & cinnamon in a separate bowl. After poppers cool, dip in butter & roll in cinnamon sugar. They are like little donut holes.... SO GOOD!

Cowboy Caviar

I have made this recipe for poker night COUNTLESS times. Everyone loves it! And it is so easy!

2 cans of black beans (drained & rinsed)
2 cans sweet corn (drained)
2 cans of rotel diced tomatoes and green chiles
2 ripe avocados (diced)
1/2 diced red onion (minced)
3/4 cup zesty Italian dressing
2 Tbsp of freshly squeezed lime juice
1/2 tsp of salt
Tortilla Chips

Mix everything together except chips in a big bowl, and devour with tortilla chips! YUM YUM!