Zucchini Banana Chocolate Chip bread

Bowl 1
1 & 1/2 cups flour
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp cinnamon

Bowl 2
1 cup peeled, grated zucchini (or 1 med zucchini up to 1 &1/2 cups)
1/2-3/4 cup chocolate chips

Bowl 3
1/2 cup oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 bananas, mashed
1 tsp vanilla


Preheat oven to 350.  Combine ingredients in bowl 1.  Add to ingredients in bowl 2.  In kitchen aid, mix all ingredients for bowl 3 until well mixed.  When well mixed, add the other dry ingredients from bowls 1 & 2.  Pour into a greased and floured bundt pan.  Bake for 40-45min or until toothpick comes out clean.

Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Popcorn

2 & 1/4 c brown sugar
1c karo
1 c butter
1/2 tsp salt

boil for 2-3 min, remove from heat and add

1 can sweetend condensed milk
1 tsp vanilla

return to heat and stir til barely boiling.  Drizzle over 2 bowls of popcorn (12 cups)

Whipped cream cheese frosting

Ms. Humble's Whipped Cream cheese Frosting

8oz cream cheese, room temp
3/4 c powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2c heavy cream

Beat the cream cheese, sugar and vanilla until smooth and fluffy.  In a separate bowl, beat the cream til nearly stiff peaks.  Add the whipped cream into the cheese mixture and briefly beat to combine.  Do not over beat.

Use on top of cinnamon rolls, or just to dunk graham crackers in.

Chocolate Caramel Brownies

Chocolate Caramel Brownies

1 box german chocolate cake mix
3/4 c butter, melted
1/2 c evaporated milk
1 c milk chocolate chips
1 bag caramels
1/3 c evaporated milk

Mix cake mix, butter and 1/2 c evaporated milk together.  Press 1/2 of batter into 9x13" pan.  Cook at 350 for 7 minutes.

While crust is baking, melt caramels with 1/3 c evaporated milk in microwave.  When crust has cooked for 7 minutes, pour melted caramels over top.  Sprinkle with chocolate chips.  Dot top with reserved crust.

Bake for 11min.  Cook and serve.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Cookies

Mix together:
1c pumpkin
1c sugar
1/2 c applesauce

Then add the dry ingredients:
2 tsp baking powder
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp ground cloves
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1/4 tsp ground ginger
1 tsp baking soda dissolved in 1 tsp water

(Instead of cloves, nutmeg, & ginger, you can add 3/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice)

Then add:
1tsp vanilla
2c flour
2c semi-sweet chocolate chips

Bake at 350 for 11-12min

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

2 bananas
3/4 c brown sugar
2 Tbsp butter
1/2 c oil

Mix these together well, then add;
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 3/4 c flour
1/4c milk
1 c chocolate chips

Fill muffin tins 3/4 full and bake at 350 for 24-26 minutes.

*These are really dense muffins. They are really yummy and a great way to use leftover bananas!*

Lion House French Bread

Lion House French Bread

2c hot water
2 Tbsp butter flavored shortening
2 Tbsp sugar
4 tsp salt
2 Tbsp yeast
1 c lukewarm water
7-8 c flour

Directions:
Combine 2c hot water, shortening, sugar and salt in a large bowl. Stir to dissolve sugar and salt, and to soften shortening. (I never get mine to dissolve) Set aside to cool til lukewarm.

Dissolve yeast in 1c lukewarm water. When proofed, add to cooled shortening-sugar mixture.

Mix in 4c flour and mix until well blended. Add remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough. (You want the dough to barely stick to your finger).

Cover and place in a warm spot to rise until doubled. Punch down and shape into 4 balls. Pat into a rectangle shape and roll up like a jelly-roll. Shape and seal the ends. Score the tops with a knife. Place on greased cookie sheet. Spray with PAM.

Cover and allow to rise for 1&1/2 hrs, or until doubled. (I put in an oven preheated to 110- it takes about 20min)

Bake at 400 or 25min. Brush with butter, or just eat as is!

This makes really good rolls or hamburger buns. My all-time favorite bread dough.

Sugar Cookies

Sugar Cookies (Egg-free)
1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened
3/4 c butter, softened
1 c sugar
2 tsp vanilla
3 c flour
1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:
Beat cream cheese, butter, sugar and vanilla until well blended. Add baking soda and flour and mix well. Place in the fridge for 30min (if you plan on cutting out shapes) Dust counter with powdered sugar, and roll out dough to 1/2" thick. Cut out shapes and place on a parchment paper lined cookie sheet. Bake at 350 for 10-12min.

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Egg Free)

Chocolate Chip Cookies (Egg Free)

1/2 c butter, softened
1/2 c sugar
1/2 c brown sugar
1/4 c water
1/4 c canola oil
1 tsp vanilla
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 & 1/2 c flour
1c chocolate chips


Directions;
Cream together butter and sugars. Beat in the water, oil and
vanilla. Add the baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Then add the flour. Mix well. Stir in chocolate chips. Drop by rounded teaspoonful onto greased baking sheet. Bake at 350 for 9-10 minutes.

These make really good white chocolate chip cookies.

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

Sweet and Sour Meatballs

(adapted from The Open Pantry)

Meatballs:

7 Tbsp soy sauce

6 Tbsp sugar

1 tsp garlic salt

1/4 c water

1 tsp ginger

1 tsp fresh cracked pepper

2 lbs ground beef

2 c panko bread crumbs

Sauce:

1 c brown sugar

2 Tbsp soy sauce

1 & 1/2 c water

1 tsp ginger

1 & 1/2 c ketchup

1/3 c pineapple juice

1/3 c vinegar

salt and pepper to taste

Directions:

Whisk together all the sauce ingredients and set aside. To make the meatballs mix together all ingredients except the ground beef and breadcrumbs. Place ground beef in a large bowl and make a well in the center. Pour the breadcrumbs in the well, then pour the soy sauce mixture over the crumbs. Blend together with hands. Shape into meatballs and place in a 9x13 foil lined pyred dish. Pour the sauce over the top and bake at 300-325 for 50min-1hr. Serve over rice.

Caramelized Carnitas

Caramelized Carnitas

1&1/2 lbs pork shoulder
salt and pepper
2 cloves garlic, chopped
4 tbsp brown sugar
2 Tbsp molasses
1/3 c water
green onions for garnish
limes

Cut pork into 1 inch cubes. Place pork in saute pan and season with salt and pepper. Brown meat on all sides, then add the garlic, brown sugar, molasses, and water. Stir once, reduce heat and let simmer (on medium) for about 35min. (This is the perfect time to make tortillas and black beans to go with it!) After about 35min, then sauce will be thick and will start sticking to the meat, caramelizing it. Serve on warm tortillas with a squeeze of lime juice and cheese.

Homemade Tortillas

Homemade Tortillas (Our Best Bites)

2 1/2 c. flour

1 c. very hot water

1 tsp. Kosher salt

1/4 c. shortening

Mix flour and salt in a bowl. Cut in the shortening until it looks like little crumbs. Add the hot water (put tap water in the microwave for 30-45 sec) a little at a time until dough forms. Roll into balls (about 8-10). Then on a slightly floured surface roll them out from the middle to form circles. (notice mine aren't circles....this is the part I let the kids help with. They roll their own and I always make sure to ask them if they make good tacos...they always say "yes!") Place on a hot griddle to cook. Look for big bubbles. When they appear, flip it over and cook other side for 30-45 sec. Store wrapped in tin foil, in a tortilla warmer, or just stacked up while warm. They are really yummy!

Brazilian Stroganoff

Brazilian Stroganoff

1&1/2 lbs filet mignon (I used stew meat)

1/2 onion, chopped

2 Tbsp butter

1 Tbsp mustard

1 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce

3 Tbsp Ketchup

1 can creme de leite (creme media)

Saute beef and onion in butter. Add mustard, ketchup and worchestershire sauce, then put in the crock pot for 2-3 hours on high. The last 20min of cooking, add the can of cream. Serve over rice with potato chip sticks on top.

The cream can be found in the mexican aisle of the grocery aisle. It's in a blue can. If you can't find it, then you can use heavy cream.

Chicken Croquettes

Chicken Croquettes (Susan Hogan)

1/4 c celery, chopped

1 can mushrooms, drained and chopped

1/4 c onion, chopped

2 Tbsp butter .....3/4 c grateed cheddar cheese

4 Tbsp flour .......1/2 c crushed corn flakes

1/4 tsp pepper....... 1 & 1/2 c cooked rice ..... 1/3 cup sour cream

1 c milk ..... 1 & 1/2 c cooked chicken ..... 1 can cream of chicken soup

4 chicken boulion cubes

Saute celery, onion and mushrooms in butter until tender. Blend in flour and poultry seasoning (to taste, about 1-1&1/2 tsp) and pepper. Add milk and boulion cubes, stir until thickened. Cool.

In large bowl combine rice, chicken and cheese with cooled sauce. Using about 1/3 c of mixture, form a ball (croquette) and roll into crushed corn flakes. (I use crushed up Stove Top for extra flavoring).

Place on greased cookie sheet and bake at 425 for 30min. While it is cooking combine cream of chicken soup with sour cream and poultry seasoning to taste. Heat til warm. Use as a dipping sauce for the crouettes. Makes about 10 croquettes.

French Toast

FRENCH TOAST

2-3 bananas

3/4 c milk or soy milk

1 1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp pumpkin pie spice (opt)

1 tsp vanilla

Blend all ingredients together in blender. Use this as you would use the egg mixture on regular french toast and cook on a hot griddle. I halved the recipe and still got 10 pieces of toast.

Banana Chocolate Chip Waffles

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP WAFFLES

1 2/3 C water, milk, or soy milk

6 Tbsp oil

2 Tbsp water

1 c mashed bananas (about 2)

2 c flour

2 Tbsp brown sugar

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

1/2 c chocolate chips

Preheat waffle iron. Whisk together all liquid ingredients in a small bowl. (Water, oil, bananas) In a medium bowl combine the dry ingredients. When mixed, add the wet ingredients to the dry ones and stir til just combined. Stir in chocolate chips. Cook til light brown. Eat with just butter or butter and syrup.

Chewy Granola Bars

CHEWY GRANOLA BARS

2 1/2c rice crispies

2 c oatmeal

1/2 c craisins

1/2 c nuts of choice

1/4 c sunflower seeds

1/4-1/2 c chocolate chips

1 c brown sugar

1 c peanut butter

1 c karo syrup (or 1/2 c agave nectar+1/2c karo)

In a large bowl mix rice crispies, oatmeal, craisins, nuts, and sunflower seeds. (Wait to add the chocolate chips because they will just melt) In a small saucepan place brown sugar and karo (or karo and agave nectar). Bring to a boil. As soon as it boils, remove from heat and add the peanut butter. Once incorporated, pour over top When all oatmeal is covered add the chocolate chips and stir. Spray a cookie tray with PAM and press the mixture into the pan. It should cover about 3/4 of the pan. Press down hard. Wait til they are cool, then cut into bars.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread

(recipe to follow shortly)

Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins

Oatmeal Chocolate Muffins

1 & 1/4 c flour

1 c quick oats

1/2 c chocolate chips

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 c buttermilk

1/2 c honey

1/4 c oil

1 tsp vanilla

1/4 c applesauce (1 individual cup)

Topping:

1/3 c sugar

1/4 c wheat flour

2 Tbsp cocoa

2 Tbsp butter, melted

Directions: Preheat oven to 400.

Mix together topping ingredients in a small bowl and set aside. To make muffins, mix flour,oats,chocolate chips, baking powder,

baking soda, and salt in a big bowl.

Mix the wet ingredients in a

seperate bowl (buttermilk,honey,oil,vanilla & applesauce) then

add to dry ingredients. Stir just until moistened.

Spoon batter into greased or lined muffin tins, and cover with topping and nuts if desired. Place

in oven and immediately reduce oven temperature to 325.

Bake for 20-25min.

*My kids love these muffins. It is a moist, dense muffin that is really yummy. Of course it has chocolate chips (but not too many) to get that chocolate craving out of the way early in the day!*

Pancakes

Pancakes

1 c flour

1/2 tsp baking soda

2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp salt

2 Tbsp sugar

1 c Milk, Soy Milk, or water

1 &1/2 Tbsp oil

1 tsp vanilla

Mix all dry ingredients together in a large bowl. Mix the wet ingredients together, then add to dry ingredients. Mix well. Cook on hot griddle til brown on both sides. This batter is a good consistency to make shapes with (ie: mickey mouse, ghosts, alphabet letters, etc)

This recipe is compliments of Kylie's Blog.