Banana Nut Bread

I have been wanting to make these Banana nut breads for awhile, I was either out of bananas or something. These are made with sour cream. They are really good, I made them to send to the Soldiers that we have adopted.

Lemonade

This was really good lemonade, I sliced up six lemons and mixed 1 1/2 cups sugar and let it sit for awhile. Then I used a potato masher and mashed the sugars and lemon mixture, I added about 8 cups of water to it. It was perfect lemonade.

Pies

I was trying to come up with something ew to make for the Teen Cafe', I was going to make regular size pirs and but them in 8th then I figure I would just make mini ones. These are Chocolate Cream, Banana Cream and Coconut Cream.

Kim's birthday cake.

My daughter Kim likes Reeses Peanut butter cups so it got me think about making a cake with peanut butter in it. I then melted the peanut butter cups to decorate the cake. It was really good.

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 eggs
1 (18.25 ounce) package butter
cake mix
2/3 cup water

1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/3 cup heavy cream

Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.

Combine 1/2 cup peanut butter and 1/2 cup butter or margarine. Cream until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at time, mixing well after each one. Add cake mix alternately with the water. Stir until just combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake at 325 degrees F (165 degrees C) for 25 minutes or until cake tests done. Allow cakes to cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a cooling rack to cool completely. Assemble and frost with Peanut Butter Frosting once cool.

To Make Peanut Butter Frosting: Combine 1 cup peanut butter, and 1/2 cup butter or margarine cream together until light and fluffy. Add the confectioner's sugar. Mix in enough cream to make the frosting of a spreading consistency. Apply to cool cake.

Cook Books!

I am trying to help the teens in our church attend Youth Conference so I thought of this idea. I have put together a cookbook with almost 100 of my families favorite recipes. I am offering them for $8.00 each and $3.00 for shipping. All the money will go for the kids. I am paying for the ink and all the paper to do these. Once I get the first one done I will try to post a picture.
If you would lke to help he teens you can either leave a post here with your email adderss or email me at April@comcast.net and I will give you instructions on where to send a money order or you may pay by paypal. It is for a great cause and I know you will love these recipes.

I still need to get the rings on these to put them together, I just wanted you to have an idea what they were going to look like.

Thanks for helping our teens.

The best Granola ever!

The finished product!



INGREDIENTS:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup blanched slivered
almonds
1/4 cup wheat germ
6 tablespoons pure maple
syrup
6 tablespoons packed dark
brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt


I added dried cherries, banana chips, slice toasted almond, pecan pieces, cranberries with orange, and I chopped up some dried apricots and threw them in. I never measure anything.


This is so good you really need to try it either alone like we were eating it last night or our favorite way is with fat free vanilla yogurt.

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a cookie sheet with sides, or a large cake pan with cooking spray.

In a large bowl, toss together the oats, almonds, wheat germ, coconut, and sunflower seeds. In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, oil, water and salt. Pour the liquid over the oat and nut mixture, and stir until evenly coated. Spread out on the prepared cookie sheet. If you want some chunky bits, squeeze some small handfuls into little clumps.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally until evenly toasted. Mix in raisins. Cool, and store in an airtight container at room temperature.

Scones

INGREDIENTS:
1 cup sour cream
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon cream of tartar
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter
1 egg

I scrapped the inside of two vanilla pods and added poppy seeds to the sour cream mixture

DIRECTIONS:

In a small bowl, blend the sour cream and baking soda, and set aside.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a large baking sheet.
In a large bowl, mix the flour, sugar, baking powder, cream of tartar, and salt. Cut in the butter. Stir the sour cream mixture and egg into the flour mixture until just moistened.
Turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface, and knead briefly. Roll or pat dough into a 3/4 inch thick round. Cut into 12 wedges, and place them 2 inches apart on the prepared baking sheet.
Bake 12 to 15 minutes in the preheated oven, until golden brown on the bottom.

Mother's Day

I made Chicken Fried Chicken for dinner today and an apple crisp. To me this is the best recipe for Chicken fried chicken and it is so easy do make. I will post some pictures later for the apple crisp.

Chicken Fried Chicken,

This is enough for 12 people, or if you live in my house 8

INGREDIENTS:
60 saltine crackers
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 cup dry potato flakes
2 teaspoons seasoned salt
1 teaspoon ground black
pepper
2 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
12 skinless, boneless chicken
breast halves
DIRECTIONS:

Place crackers in a large resealable plastic bag; seal bag and crush crackers until they are coarse crumbs. Add flour, potato flakes, seasoned salt, and pepper to bag and mix well.
Beat egg in a shallow dish or bowl; heat oil in a large skillet over medium high heat.
One by one, dredge chicken pieces in egg beat, then place in bag with crumb mixture, seal bag and shake to coat.
Reduce heat to medium and cook coated chicken in skillet for 15 to 20 minutes, turning frequently, until golden brown and juices run clear.
1/2 cup warm water (110
degrees F/45 degrees C)
1/2 cup warm milk
1 egg
1/3 cup butter, softened
1/3 cup white sugar
1 teaspoon salt
3 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 (.25 ounce) package active
dry yeast
1/4 cup butter, softened
DIRECTIONS:

Place water, milk, egg, 1/3 cup butter, sugar, salt, flour and yeast in the pan of the bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select Dough/Knead and First Rise Cycle; press Start.
When cycle finishes, turn dough out onto a lightly floured surface. Divide dough in half. Roll each half into a 12 inch circle, spread 1/4 cup softened butter over entire round. Cut each circle into 8 wedges. Roll wedges starting at wide end; roll gently but tightly. Place point side down on ungreased cookie sheet. Cover with clean kitchen towel and put in a warm place, let rise 1 hour. Meanwhile, preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes, until golden

Apple Crisp
10 cups thinly sliced apples
1 cup white sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 cup water
1 cup quick-cooking oats
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 cup butter, melted
DIRECTIONS:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degree C).
Place the sliced apples in a 9x13 inch pan. Mix the white sugar, 1 tablespoon flour and ground cinnamon together, and sprinkle over apples. Pour water evenly over all.
Combine the oats, 1 cup flour, brown sugar, baking powder, baking soda and melted butter together. Crumble evenly over the apple mixture.
4Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for about 45 minutes

Sunday Dinner May 4th

We figure we would celebrate the 5th on the fourth I don't have recipes for most of these but thought I would share the pictures.

Having a granola day!!

Granola is the type of recipe you add anything yu like to it. I never follow a recipe because there is always something I do not like in it.
So just have fun and toss in a handful of this and a handful of that.

Ingredients:
•
2/3 cup Jif® Creamy Peanut Butter
•
2/3 cup honey
•
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
•
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•
4 cups uncooked rolled oats
•
1 cup raisins I added Banana chips
•
1 cup peanuts I added Chocolate chips
•
1/2 cup dried figs, snipped I did not add these to mine
Directions:
1.
HEAT oven to 300ºF. Combine peanut butter, honey and cinnamon in small saucepan; heat through. Remove from heat and stir in vanilla.
2.
PLACE oats in a large, shallow roasting pan or a 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan. Pour warm peanut butter mixture over oats and stir gently until oats are coated. Spread evenly in pan.
3.
BAKE 35 to 40 minutes, stirring occasionally. TURN OFF OVEN.
4.
While granola is baking: PLACE raisins in small bowl; cover with boiling water. Let stand 10 minutes; drain well.
5.
REMOVE pan from oven. Stir raisins, nuts and figs into baked mixture. Return to oven and let dry 1 1/2 hours, stirring occasionally. Store in covered containers

Peanutbutter Granola before chips
I just felt it needed something else so I kept thinking what goes good with peanutbutter...Chocolate so I added chips.

Banana Granola

INGREDIENTS:
2 bananas, peeled and diced
1 1/4 cups dates, pitted and
chopped
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1/4 cup hot water
1 tablespoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
8 cups quick cooking oats
Almonds
Pecans

I also added some tropical fruit to get it to taste better. It was just too bland for me.

DIRECTIONS:
1.
Preheat oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C).
2.
Puree the bananas and dates in a food processor. Add the brown sugar, hot water, vanilla and cinnamon; mix well.
3.
Pour mixture into a large mixing bowl, add oatmeal and mix well.
4.
Spread onto large baking sheets and bake at 250 degrees F (120 degrees C) for 1 to 1 1/2 hours stirring frequently. Cook longer for crunchier if desired. Once cooled add the dried fruits and nuts, as little or as much as you want, and mix.

Mapel, fruit and nut? Picture follows the recipe

INGREDIENTS:
3 cups rolled oats
1 cup blanched slivered
almonds
1/4 cup wheat germ
1 (14 ounce) package flaked
coconut
seeds (optional)
6 tablespoons pure maple
syrup
6 tablespoons packed dark
brown sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
2 tablespoons warm water
1/2 teaspoon salt
I added dried cherries and orange cranberries.
I also added pecans and Almonds
DIRECTIONS:
1.
Preheat the oven to 250 degrees F (120 degrees C). Lightly grease a cookie sheet with sides, or a large cake pan with cooking spray.
2.
In a large bowl, toss together the oats, almonds, wheat germ, coconut, and sunflower seeds. In a separate bowl, whisk together the maple syrup, brown sugar, oil, water and salt. Pour the liquid over the oat and nut mixture, and stir until evenly coated. Spread out on the prepared cookie sheet. If you want some chunky bits, squeeze some small handfuls into little clumps.
3.
Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes in the preheated oven, stirring occasionally until evenly toasted. Mix in raisins. Cool, and store in an airtight container at room temperature



This is my favorite of the three I made. I have not come up with a name for it yet...
Maybe Maple fruit and nut.


We adopted a Soldier and are getting a box ready to be shipped off to him. We are adding things he would need for everyday care and some homemade as well as store bought goodies. But most important is going to be a Bible and a tract for him to read. We pray if he does not know the Lord he will open up his heart and read the tract and come to know the Lord as her personal Saviour.


His name is Frank and he looks like a little kid. His wife's name is Savannah and his son's name is Cameron.


I will post some pictures and recipes as I bake them. I am also going to be making cookies and other goodies for my Mexican Fiesta tomorrow.