Tuesday, March 17, 2009
MARTHA'S BANANA BREAD WITH MY TWIST!
Martha Stewart's Banana
1/2 c butter (1 stick), at room temperature
1 c sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 c very ripe bananas, mashed (~3 bananas)
1/2 c sour cream
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 c chopped pecans or walnuts (optional)
My twist is simple, make the above recipe and add Cinnamon chips( can get at Albertsan's)
and a streusel topping you can use any recipe you choose but here is mine.
For the streusel topping
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup flour
6 tablespoons cold butter, cubed
2 teaspoons cinnamon
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9x5x3 inch loaf pan; set aside. With an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat to incorporate. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Add to butter mixture and mix until just combined. Add mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts (I didn't put this in) Add the Cinnamon chips and pour into pan put the streusel on top. Bake until cake tester inserted into center of loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool.
Sorry about the pictures, I'm having to take some of them with my phone camera.
Sunday, March 8, 2009
Scandinavian Almond Cake
www.lefsetime.comYou have to try this yummy cake. Its so good that I can eat a whole cake all by my self!!
Scandinavian Almond Cake
1 1/4 c sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 tsp almond extract
2/3 c milk
1 1/4 c flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1 stick melted butter
Beat together sugar, egg, extract and milk. Stir in flour and baking powder. Then add butter. Mix well. Spray cake pan with cooking spray. Sprinkle slivered almonds into bottom of pan if desired. Pour into a greased pan( I used an 8 inch round cake pan). Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 50 minutes or till edges are golden brown. I checked on it after 35 min. Cool cake in pan completely before removing. Dust with confectioner sugar if desired.
Saturday, March 7, 2009
Rocky Road Cake!
Rocky Road Cake
2 sticks butter
1cup water
2 cups sugar
2 cups flour
4 Tb. Coco
1/2 cup butter milk
2 eggs
1 tsp. baking soda
1/3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla
Bring to boil in pan 2 sticks butter with 1 cup water boil til blended together pour over 2 cups sugar 2 cups flour 4 Tb. coco "blend them all together" Add: 1/2 cup butter milk, 2 eggs "Slightly beaten" Baking soda, vanilla, baking powder.Before baking add chocolate chips on the top of the cake- Then:
Bake in large Pan "oil/flour pan" Bake 30 Min's in 350' oven.

Frosting:
1 stick butter
1 box powdered sugar
4 T Cocoa
2 t vanilla
6 T Milk
1 Cup nuts
1 cup mini marshmallows
*beat the 1st five til smooth
add nuts and marshmallows;
Spread on while cake is hot! Then cover cake while it's still hot with tin foil let cool!
Thursday, March 5, 2009
Do-Ahead Ravioli Sausage Lasagna!

1/4
lb bulk Italian pork sausage(I used jimmy dean)
1
jar (26 to 28 oz) tomato pasta sauce (any variety)
1
package (25 to 27 1/2 oz) frozen cheese-filled ravioli(I used fresh from the pasta/cheese section at the store and cooked it before hand)
I also add a large container of cottage cheese in between layers, my favorite.
2.
In ungreased 13x9-inch (3-quart) glass baking dish, spread 1/2 cup of the pasta sauce. Arrange single layer of frozen ravioli over sauce; evenly pour 1 cup pasta sauce over ravioli. Sprinkle evenly with 1 1/2 cups sausage and 1 cup of the mozzarella cheese. Repeat layers with remaining ravioli, pasta sauce and sausage.
Success Let pasta casseroles stand a short time after baking for easier cutting and serving.
Serve with thick slices of garlic bread and a tossed green salad. If you still have room for dessert, offer scoops of raspberry and chocolate sorbet.
Wednesday, March 4, 2009
Sweet Cinnamon Rolls!!
Sweet Recipe:
3 Tbsp. Yeast
4 cups milk (Warmed)
2/3 cup sugar
12 to 14 cups of Flour
3 to 4 tsp salt
4 eggs
2 sticks butter (Melt butter)
1 cup warm water
Cover with a cloth in a warm place, let it rise until doubles in size..Then pinch it down and the roll it out like the photo below and spread "Butter" half melted over it then sprinkle it with "Cinnamon and brown sugar" roll it up like a long bat and then cut about 3" thick rolls and put them on a pan like below and let them rise again for about 35 mins!



Ingredients:1/2 cup butter, softened
2 cups sugar
3 eggs
1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
Dash salt
FROSTING:
1 package (8 ounces) cream cheese, softened
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups confectioners' sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
Directions: In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in the eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; stir into creamed mixture just until blended. Transfer to a greased 15-in. x 10-in. x 1-in. baking pan. Bake at 350° for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. For frosting, in a small bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy. Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars. Yield: 3 dozen.
I'm more of a pumpkin, carrot cake, or zucchini bread fan. I like banana bread a lot too. These are more like dessert bars though!Sunday, March 1, 2009
Birthday FOOD

1 chicken breast fillet
1 tbsp vegetable oil
2 tbsp minced red bell pepper
2 tbsp minced green onion
1/3 cup frozen corn
¼ cup canned black beans, rinsed and drained
2 tbsp frozen spinach, thawed and drained
2 tbsp diced, canned jalapeño peppers
½ tbsp minced fresh parsley
½ tspn cumin
½ tspn chili powder
¼ tspn salt
dash cayenne pepper
3/4 cup shredded Monterey Jack cheese 5 x 7" flour tortillas
2. Rub chicken breast with some vegetable oil then grill it on barbecue for 4 to 5 minutes per side or until done. Lightly salt and pepper each side of chicken while it cooks. Set chicken aside until it cools down enough to handle.
3. Preheat 1 tbsp of vegetable oil in a medium-size skillet over medium-high heat. Add red pepper and onion to pan and sauté for a couple minutes until tender.
4. Dice cooked chicken into small cubes and add it to pan. Add corn, black beans, spinach, jalapeño peppers, parsley, cumin, chili powder, salt, and cayenne pepper to pan. Cook for another 4 minutes; stir well so that spinach separates and is incorporated into mixture. Remove pan from heat and add cheese; stir until cheese is melted.
5. Wrap tortillas in a moist cloth and microwave on high temperature for 1½ minutes or until hot.
6. Spoon approximately one-fifth of mixture into center of a tortilla. Fold in ends and then roll tortilla over mixture. Roll tortilla very tight, then pierce with a toothpick to hold together. Repeat with remaining ingredients until you have five eggrolls. Arrange eggrolls on a plate, cover plate with plastic wrap and freeze for at least 4 hours or overnight.
for avocado-ranch dipping sauce :
¼ cup smashed, fresh avocado (about half of an avocado)
¼ cup mayonnaise
¼ cup sour cream
1 tbsp buttermilk
1 ½ tspn white vinegar
1/8 tspn salt
1/8 tspn dried parsley
1/8 tspn onion powder
dash dried dill weed
dash garlic powder
dash pepper for garnish :
2 tbsp chopped tomato
1 tbsp chopped onion
2. Preheat 4-6 cups of oil to 375°F. Deep fry eggrolls in hot oil for 12-15 minutes and remove to paper towels or a rack to drain for about 2 minutes. Slice each eggroll diagonally lengthwise and arrange on a plate around a small bowl of dipping sauce. Garnish dipping sauce with chopped tomato and onion

2 English muffins, toasted( I used left over focaccia bread I would recommend it)
4 strips bacon, cooked crisp
1/2 ripe avocado, peeled and sliced
4 eggs 3 tbsp.
Directions
Prep time: 15 minutes, Cook time: about 15 minutes total Top muffins with avocado and bacon; set aside. To poach eggs, break into buttered custard cups and set in a pan filled with 2 inches of simmering water. Cover and cook for 3 to 5 minutes or until eggs are cooked as you like. Alternatively, poach in 4 inches water with a little rice vinegar.
Hollandaise Sauce
4 egg yolks
1 tablespoon freshly squeezed lemon juice
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted (1 stick)
Pinch cayenne
Pinch salt
I also used some basil.
Directions
Vigorously whisk the egg yolks and lemon juice together in a stainless steel bowl and until the mixture is thickened and doubled in volume. Place the bowl over a saucepan containing barely simmering water (or use a double boiler,) the water should not touch the bottom of the bowl. Continue to whisk rapidly. Be careful not to let the eggs get too hot or they will scramble. Slowly drizzle in the melted butter and continue to whisk until the sauce is thickened and doubled in volume. Remove from heat, whisk in cayenne and salt. Cover and place in a warm spot until ready to use for the eggs Benedict. If the sauce gets too thick, whisk in a few drops of warm water before serving.
Spoon sauce over eggs and top with pepper. Makes 2 large or 4 small servings.



