Banana Breakfast Muffins

(pardon the yellow hue to my photo)
I'm NOT a banana fan. So when I have bananas turning the corner to yuck street, I usually throw them in a baggie and put them in the freezer for smoothies. This morning, however, I made muffins. And I was short on time. So I grabbed me a yellow cake mix, and when they were done, I wondered WHY? it took me so long to think of this?!

These babies are moist and delicious, and not so heavy (one of the reasons I don't make banana breads so often).

Gather:
one box classic yellow cake mix (I used Pillsbury)
1/2 cup applesauce
over-ripe bananas (I used five (!) small ones)
three eggs
1/2 cup water

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Peel bananas and throw in the kitchen-aid mixer.
Add applesauce, eggs and water.
Pour in cake mix, and mix until there are no lumps.
Pour by 1/3 cup measures into paper-lined muffin tins.
Sprinkle 1 TBSP streudel topping over batter in tins. (see below)

Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes. Tops should look slightly browned.

Streudel topping:
1/2 stick margerine or butter
1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar

cut butter into dry ingredients until mixed together.

It's Meat and 'Taters.

It isn't so pretty, but MAN! does it taste good and fill the belly.

I like to call this MAN FOOD.

Hunting and Gathering:

-Red potatoes. Enough to feed your brood.

-Smoked sausage (or kielbasa) One package should do it.

-Some oil (your preference) and salt and peppa.

Meal prep:

Wash and cube potatoes. Skins on.

Cut sausage into bite-sized pieces.

Liberally sprinkle some oil onto a cookie sheet to prevent sticking.

Dump meat and potatoes onto pan. Spread uniformly.

Bake at 325 F for about 50-60 minutes.

Turn once, about half way through baking.

Salt and Pepper to taste.

You'll know they're done when the potatoes are soft and slightly browned, and your kitchen smells like man-food.

We like this with a green salad or an alternate choice of applesauce.

Open Face (Insert) Sandwiches

It's what was for dinner last night.

And I didn't take pictures.

And I didn't even plan on posting this.

But Bon-bon's pushy.

Collect:

~Enough French (or Italian) bread for your crew.

~Cold cuts you like (we favor turkey breast, but roast beef is divine)

~Cheese (our favorites are swiss and provolone)

~onions (thinly sliced)

~red peppers (thinly sliced)

~sliced olives (opt.--it's all optional, actually. this is design-your-own-meal)

Mix:

1 cup sour cream

1/8 cup taco seasoning

SLICE bread lengthwise in halves

SPREAD sour cream mix (or your spread of choice) on open slices of bread

COVER with meat, onions, peppers, or whatever your heart desires and layer the cheese on last.

Put open sandwiches on cookie sheets and into the oven, under the BROILer until cheese is melted and bread slightly browns on the edges.

EAT warm, accompanied by slices of fresh pineapple. (That's how we do it)

the end.

Homemade Mac-n-Cheese

(this was Kaleb's birthday dinner request)

1/4 stick butter

1/4 c flour

2 c half and half

(or milk if you want less fat)

salt and pepper

16oz sharp cheddar cheese

(or whatever cheese you like)

12 oz. noodles

Cook noodles until done. Melt butter in sauce pan over medium heat, add salt and pepper. Add in flour until a soft paste forms. Slowly whisk in the milk. Mix until the white sauce is slightly starting to thicken. Add in the cheese. Turn off the heat and mix until cheese is melted. Put the noodles into a 11x9 glass baking dish and pour cheese mixture over the noodles. Slightly mix the cheese with the noodles. Cover with aluminum foil and bake at 375 for 30 minutes or so. If you like a crunchy top, you can add buttered crackers or breadcrumbs or take the foil off the last 10 minutes and let the top brown.

It's YUMMY and it's WHAT'S FOR DINNER!!! :)
Bon Bon

White Trash

(white trash...get it???)

I'm feeling snacky.
And I like the name of this stuff.
And when in Rome, right?!

WHITE TRASH

4 c. Golden Grahams

4 c. Cheerios

4 c. Crispix

1 can peanuts

1 can mixed nuts

1 bag pretzels sticks

2 lbs white chocolate plus 2 tbs cooking oil

or

2 lbs almond bark (I like the almond bark)

I also like to add dried cranberries.

Use one of the bigger bags (of craisins).

Melt almond bark over double boiler (or 2 minutes in microwave).

DO NOT OVERCOOK.

Stir frequently while melting.

Immediately pour over dry ingredients, mixing thoroughly.

Spread out on wax paper. When cool break into smaller pieces.

Chocolate Mint Brownies

This is my all time favorite crowd dessert! I'm sharing the recipe courtesy of Chef Oh-La-La, but since she lost her copy, and has never made it, I'm claiming all rights, privilegs and comments. I double the recipe, and use a cookie sheet. I've only used cocoa in the brownie layer. The picture's kind of washed out, for this I apologize, but it's better than none! Chef 'gas

Brownie Layer:
4 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 c. sugar
4 sq. unsweetened chocolate or 3/4 c. cocoa
1/2 c. butter
1 c. flour (scant)
3/4 c. walnuts

Beat eggs until fluffy, add sugar and vanilla and beat. If cocoa, mix in with butter. If chocolate, melt with butter and then add in. Add flour (and nuts). Pour into a greased and floured 9x13 pan. Bake 375 for 20 minutes. Cool in pan.

Middle Layer Frosting:
2 c. powdered sugar
4 T. butter
drop peppermint oil
1-2 drops green food coloring

Melt butter and add remaining ingredients. Frost brownies and chill for one hour.

Top Layer:
4 T. butter
6 oz. chocolate chips

Melt the two together and pour over the top. Chill and cut into squares.

It's the frosting that got me...

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Moist Pumpkin Spice Muffins (W/Cream Cheese Frosting)
(Courtesy of the Pioneer Woman)

Muffins:
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 tablespoons butter, cut into pieces
1 heaping cup pumpkin puree
1/2 cup evaporated milk
1 egg
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 cup golden raisins (optional!)
2 tablespoons sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.
Generously grease 12 muffin tins.
Sift flour, sugar, baking powder, cinnamon, ginger, nutmeg, and salt. Cut in butter with two knives or a pastry blender until all incorporated. In a separate bowl, mix together pumpkin, evaporated milk, egg, and vanilla. Pour pumpkin mixture into the flour mixture. Add raisins. Fold gently until mixture is just combined. Pour into greased muffin pan—batter hardly ever fills all twelve unless you keep it down to 1/2 full. Sprinkle generous amounts of cinnamon-sugar over the top of each unbaked muffin.
Bake for 25 minutes. Allow to cool in pan for 15 minutes, then remove and allow to cool.
Ice with cream cheese frosting.

Cream Cheese Frosting:
1/4 cup softened butter
4 ounces cream cheese
1/2 pound powdered sugar
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Mix all ingredients on high until soft and whipped. Spread onto completely cooled muffins, or place into a large pastry bag with a large star tip and go crazy!
Store in fridge, as icing will soften at room temperature.

QUICHE

Otherwise known as "Egg Pie" in my house. Apparently men don't eat Quiche...atleast that's what my husband tells me. It's NOT manly. (whatever) The thing I LOVE about this recipe, is that you can throw WHATEVER ingredients in that you like. The possibilities are endless. Trust me on this. This is the way I like it:

QUICHE
1 pie crust
(see below)
6 eggs

1 cup cream

8oz shredded swiss

1 16 oz bag frozen broccoli

nutmeg

Layer frozen broccoli on the bottom of the pie crust. Add the cheese to the broccoli. Beat eggs and cream, pour over broccoli and cheese. Sprinkle with a dash of nutmeg over the top. Bake at 375 for close to an hour.

*****

NO MESS PIE CRUST

1 1/2 cup flour

1 t salt

3 T milk

1/3 cup oil

Add the flour and salt to empty pie plate. Mix in milk and oil with a fork. When combined, pat down the dough around the whole pie plate until completely covered. (there is NO rolling out of the dough with this pie crust - EASY!)

*****

You can add sausage, ham, bacon, spinach, zucchini, eggplant, tomatoes, swiss, cheddar, or feta. (need I go on?)

Add WHATEVER floats your boat.

Enjoy! I certainly do. :)
Bon Bon

White Chocolate Chip Macadamia Nut Cookies

Oooooh, La la.

(Heaven!)

Preheat oven to 375.

Cream together:

1 cup butter flavor crisco

1 cup butter (I use unsalted)

1 cup granulated sugar

2 cups brown sugar

Add:

3 eggs

2 tsp vanilla

Mix following dry ingredients together and add to creamed mixture:

2 tsp salt

2 tsp baking soda

5 cups flour (just about 1/8 of a cup short of 5 cups is what I use)

Finally, add the following just until mixed:

one package classic white chips (11 oz)

one bag macadamia nuts (8 oz or 2 cups)

Scoop medium size balls of dough onto UNGREASED baking sheet.

Bake 9 minutes (really! they might not look quite done, but they are)

Allow to cool one minute on pan, and then lift by spatula onto foil lined counter top to cool.

Makes MANY cookies (we eat them so fast, I've never counted).

Once cooled, store in airtight container up to a week, or freeze longer.

WELCOME!

to our newest contributors:

Chef Ou-La-La

~and~

Chef Smorgasbord

Prepare to be WOW-ed by their

amazing culinary creations!