Banana Bread

Mr. Sir, our fat cat, has always been abnormally smart.
Seriously, more than just biased cat mom...he does things that are just amazing to convey his wants/needs.

His biggest pain in the butt? He can open doors!!!
He made it out the front door once, luckily a neighbor noticed him.

He WILL NOT leave the linen closet alone. That is where food and treats are kept.
He will open the door and then chew through the bags.
Seriously, tons of fresh food waiting in the kitchen for him, he wants the BAG.

Hubby had to go get a hook and eye latch so that the door stays shut.
He watches us very carefully as we open and close it.

I would NOT be surprised if he freaking learned how to climb up to it and unlatch it.

Ingredients:

3 or 4 Ripe bananas (mashed)

⅓ Cup melted butter

1 Cup sugar

1 Egg (beaten)

1 Tsp vanilla

1 Tsp baking soda

Pinch of salt

1 ½ Cup all purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350

2. Mix butter into mashed banana

3. Mix in sugar, egg, and vanilla

4. Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and mix in

5. Add the flour a bit at a time, mix well

6. Pour into a prepared loaf pan

7. Bake 1 hour

Print

Yeah, that unattractive black blob on the right? Those would be my previously frozen, defrosting bananas. mmm.

Adapted from: Simply Recipes


Come party with me HERE

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Cranberry and Walnut Rolls

When I first saw this recipe on the Brown Eyed Baker site, I thought to myself "this would be the perfect treat to make and send to my mother!"

She is a walnut junkie....and being a native New Englander, she is all about some cranberry!

Well, you know what they say about the best laid plans?

My dough looked awful odd...but I kept trucking along.

Not sure what went wrong and where...but I think I might rename these "Cranberry Walnut FLATS".

They taste alright, there is just no "roll" action going on.

Ingredients:

1 Cup coarsely chopped walnuts

3 ½ Cup bread flour

1 Tbsp light brown sugar

1 ½ Tsp quick rising dry yeast

1 ½ Tsp salt

1 ½ Cup whole milk

2 Tbsp vegetable oil

1 Egg

1 Cup dried cranberries

Nonstick cooking spray

1 Egg (beaten for glaze)

Raw sugar

Directions:

1. Stir the walnuts in a dry skillet over medium heat until toasted

2. Mix 3 ½ cups bread flour with the brown sugar, yeast, and salt.

3. Warm the milk in a small saucepan over low heat until thermometer reads 95 degrees

4. Add oil to milk and remove from heat

5. Add milk mixture and one egg to the flour.

6. Mix on low speed until a wet, coarse ball forms

7. Add nuts and cranberries

8. Mix dough until elastic and tacky, add TBSP of flour as needed.

9. Transfer dough to a floured surface and knead for about 2 minutes

10. Lightly oil a large bowl. Shape dough into a ball and place in bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and let rise at room temperature for 2 hours.

11. Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.

12. Transfer the dough to an unfloured surface, divide into 12 equal pieces.

13. Shape each piece into a smooth round ball. Transfer balls to prepared baking sheet.

14. Spray rolls with non stick spray. Cover loosely with plastic wrap. Let rise at room temperature about 1 ½ hours.

15. Brush rolls with egg and sprinkle with raw sugar.

16. Position rack in middle of oven and preheat to 425

17. Place rolls in oven, reduce temperature to 400 and bake for 7 minutes

18. Rotate baking sheet and cook for 7-8 more minutes

Print

Come party with me here!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Blogging for Books: TREAT by Stephanie Banyas

Can a book that is all about Krispie Treats, the original no bake dessert, really be called a "cook book"?
I think so!

This book just jumped right out at me! I mean, who doesn't love Krispie Treats?
I have made the original, but never got too wild and crazy with them....until now.

Oh the options! This book shows you how to make cookies-n-creme, peanut butter cup, berry cobbler and more!

The girl child and I immediately headed to the grocery to stock up. In one day's time, we made key lime, lemon poppy, original with sprinkles, and snickerdoodle.

They bring back such childhood memories, but now with a more grown up twist.

**Note: This book was provided to me by www.bloggingforbooks.com in exchange for my unbiased opinion

Pizza Steak Sandwiches (Crock Pot)

Last night hubby and I were sitting outside and heard some booms in the distance.
After a bit of looking, we realized we could see, just barely, through the trees, some fireworks being lit off.
Which, of course, are not allowed in the city here.

I found it funny (probably too funny) that then we heard sirens
Then we heard no more fireworks
He he he!

Our local papers do have "fire and police briefs" but the stuff you really want to know about is never included.
I will know how many random animals were seen walking around...but I bet there will be no firework info.

Inquiring minds want to know!

I lead a very very boring life. Sigh LOL

Ingredients:

1 ½ Lbs round steak, skirt steak, or other cut

6 oz Pepperoni

1 Onion (chopped)

1 Green pepper (chopped)

1 Red pepper (chopped)

28 oz can crushed tomatoes (drained)

2 Cloves garlic (minced)

2 Tsp oregano

1 Tsp basil

Salt/Pepper to taste

Buns

Provolone Cheese

Directions:

1. Place meat in crock pot

2. Stir other ingredients (other than bread and cheese) and pour over meat

3. Cook on low 7-8 hours

4. Shred meat with forks

5. Serve on buns topped with cheese slices

Print

Come party with me here!
Adapted from: Eat at Home Cooks

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Cinnamon Vanilla French Toast Nuggets

I have fantastic neighbors. We get along great and are always looking out for one another. I really have a hard time imagining living next door to anyone else.

Yesterday they were headed into Chinatown and asked if I needed anything. I wasn't so sure I did. No big deal, thanks for asking though.

We got home from being out and about all day and I found a bag on my front door. Enclosed was this.

O.M.G. The recipes are floating around in my head right now! I think...I see a red sauce in my future!

A jar of minced garlic and a TUB of fried shallots. Then, to top, it off, a card...a really nice one...from them. 

I heart my neighbors.

Ingredients:

4 Eggs (beaten)

2 Tbsp Powdered french vanilla creamer

2 Dashes cinnamon

8 Hot dog buns (sliced in half and then into 3 or 4 pieces)

Maple Syrup

Directions:

1. Mix creamer with 2 tbsp warm water until dissolved

2. Mix egg, cinnamon, and creamer together

3. Dip bread pieces in egg mixture

4. In a skillet on medium heat, cook bread, flipping when browned

Print

Come party with me here!

Adapted from: a Hungry Girl recipe in a magazine that I cannot locate exactly online!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/

Green Chile Enchiladas

A friend of mine has a cutie patootie little girl named C.
C is like a little old lady trapped in a 6 year old body. So much of what comes out of her mouth just proves she is wise beyond her years.

Said friend is a waitress and, therefore, runs into people of all type of demeanor. The other day, she had a grumpy sort who was all bent out of shape because his water glass was only half full (does anyone else see the irony here?)

Waitress friend said to her mother "Some days I wish I could look at these people and say "my husband just died two weeks ago, I am trying to support my baby" "
C overheard this all and got a panicked look on her face!
"Don't say that Mama, that's bad karma"!

Well, from the mouths of babes.
She is right.
We should all try to be a little more karma friendly.
Thanks for the lesson C!

Ingredients:

1 Onion (diced)

2 Tbsp butter

1 (15 oz) Can green enchilada sauce

2 (4 oz) cans chopped green chiles

12 Corn tortillas

2 Cups shredded cheese

Sour cream

Salsa

Directions:

1. In small skillet, saute onion in the butter until they are golden brown

2. In small saucepan, combine enchilada sauce with green chiles and heat until warm

3. In the oven, melt cheese all over the top of each tortilla

4. Stack three cheesy tortillas on top of one another

5. Spoon green sauce over top

6. Add salsa and sour cream

Print

All the toppings! 

Recipe adapted from Tasty Kitchen

Come party with me here!

http://celebrateanddecorate.com/