Banana Cake

4 medium bananas mashed

3 cups self rising flour

1 teaspoon cinnamon 

3/4 cup softened butter

1 cup sugar 

1/2 cup brown sugar

3 eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1 1/2 cups buttermilk 

Mashed bananas in 1 bowl, 3 cups flour with 1 teaspoon cinnamon wisked together in a second bowl, and in 3rd bowl cream together butter, eggs, vanilla and both sugars.  Beat on medium speed 3 minutes.  Add in the bananas.  Then add the flour mixture and the buttermilk.  Alternate until all is combined.   Bake in 350 degree oven for 45 minutes.  Allow cake to cool on a rack.  Meanwhile make the icing.

8 oz cream cheese softened and 1 stick butter softened, creamed together.   Add 1 teaspoon vanilla and 1/8 teaspoon salt.  Slowly add 3 cups of confectioners sugar and mix until all is incorporated.  When cake is cool top with icing. 

Roasted potatoes

 Ok,  not as healthy but good!

I like the little red or gold potatoes that you buy in bags.  Instead of olive oil, toss them on mayonnaise.  Then season with whatever you like.  I personally like salt,  pepper and garlic.  Sometimes I add parmesean cheese.  Roast at 425 till they are fork tender.  

Strawberry Cheesecake Dump Cake

 1 box white cake mix

1 can strawberry pie filling

8 oz cream cheese-softened

1/3 cup sugar

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

1 stick butter melted

1 cup sugar

Cream together the softened cream cheese, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 egg and 1 teaspoon vanilla and set aside.  Prepare cake mix according to directions and pour into a greased 9x13 pan.  Dollop the creamed cheese mixture on the cake mixture.  Gently swirl with a knife.  Spoon the strawberry pie fill on top and gently spread over the cake.  Mix the stick of melted butter and the cup of sugar together and sprinkle on last.  350 degrees for 40-45 minutes.   Let it set at least 15 minutes before serving.   

Easy Oven Baked Ribs

Slab of ribs

Mustard 

Your favorite rub

Your favorite BBQ sauce 

Rise ribs and pat dry.  Remove the membrane on the back side.  Apply Mustard as a binder.  Add a generous amount of rub.  Flip over and do the same on the other side.  Wrap in aluminin foil.  Make sure you seal it up.  Place on a baking sheet and bake at 275 degrees for 21/2 to 3 hours.  Apply your favorite BBQ sauce.  Leave the aluminum foil open and cook under a low broiler for 3-5 minutes to let the BBQ sauce caramelized.  They will literally fall off the bones.  So good and SO easy. 

Elvis' favorite pound cakes

2 sticks softened butter

3 cups sugar

6 eggs

3 cups plain flour

1 cup heavy cream

1 tablespoon vanilla

Cream butter and sugar together.  Start slow then move to medium for 2-3 minutes. Add eggs one at a time beating 30 seconds after each egg. Alternate adding the flour and cream.  Add vanilla last. 325 degrees for 1 hour and 15-20 minutes. Bake in a prepared large pound cake pan.  This is a tall cake.

Pasta-no red sauce.

 12 oz angel hair pasta 

1 lb ground beef

2 Tablespoons butter

4 Cloves minced garlic

1 cup beef broth 

1 cup heavy cream 

1 cup cheddar cheese

1/2 cup parmesan cheese

1/2 teasppon each 

salt, pepper,  italian seasoning and paprika.

Brown ground beef in olive oil then drain

Add butter and garlic an cook 30 seconds

Add broth and simmer 2-3 minutes

Add cream and seasonings.  Add both cheeses.

Stir until it thickens. Meanwhile cook noodles and drain.  Add to sauce and serve.

Homemade coffee creamerer

 Note: I used all organic ingredients but you do what suits your lifestyle 

1 1/2 cups heavy cream

1/4 cup maple syrup

1 tablespoon vanilla 

Sprinkle if search salt optional

Add all ingredients to a jar and shake.

Store in the refrigerator. Shake each time before using. 

If it's not sweet enough add more maple syrup.

Easy Small batch Chocolate chip cookies

 1 1/2 cups self rising flour

1 stick butter softened 

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup light brown sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla

Chopped pecans are optional

Cream together sugar and butter.  Add brown sugar.  Add egg, then vanilla. Finally add flour. Fold in chopped pecans at the end if so desired. Use cookie scoop to drop onto parchment lined baking sheet.  Bake at 375 degrees for 10 minutes.   Allow to set a couple of minutes before moving to a cooling rack. 

Easy holiday appetizer

 Boursin cheese spread with garlic and herbs

Fig preserves 

Pistachios

Spread Boursin on a dish.  Spread with fig preserves.  Top with pistachios that have been crushed or finely chopped.  Serve with crackers.   It was so easy and a big hit. 

Fall Salad and dressing

 Mixed greens

Apple

Dried cranberries 

Crumbled feta

Toasted pecans

Toasted pumpkin seeds

Dressing...

2 tablespoons maple dressing

1/4 cup olive oil

3 tablespoons balsamic vinegar

2 teaspoons Dijon mustard

1/4 teaspoon Garlic powder 

1/8 teaspoon each of salt and pepper 

Chocolate Cherry Cake

 1 box Duncan Hines Devil Food cake mix

1 can Duncan Hines cherry pie filling

3 eggs

Mix all together and pour into a 9x13 pan that's bern sprayed with PAM.  Bake at 350 for 35-40 minutes.  

I used the easy chocolate icing recipe already found in my blog as the icing. 

Butter swim fruit biscuits

2 Martha White muffin mix, your choice.  I used blueberry cheesecake.

1 1/2 cups buttermilk 

Stick of butter

Heat oven to 450 degrees.  Melt butter in pan you plan to cook in, in the oven as it warms up.  I sprayed with PAM before I started.   Mix muffin mix and butter milk.  When butter is melted, add the muffin batter and spread with spatula.  Bake for 20 minutes.  Let cool 15 minutes. Mix confectioners sugar, a little milk and a little vanilla flavoring until it is the consistency to drizzle.   Drizzle over the baked biscuits.

Short cut Cinnamon Rolls

 Pack of Hawaiian rolls sliced in half horizontally

2/3 cup brown sugar

1 stick butter

2 teaspoons cinnamon

Pinch of salt

Cream together and spread 3/4 on the bottom half of rolls.  Put the top half on and spread the rest on top.  Bake 20 minutes in 350 degree oven.

Meanwhile take 3 oz of softened cream cheese, 2 tablespoons softened butter, 1 cup powdered sugar, 1 teaspoon vanilla and a pinch of salt.  Cream together.   When rolls come out of oven let them cool 5 minutes then spread icing on top.  Eat them while they are warm. 

Cinnamon Roll in a Mug

1/4 cup self rising flour

2 tablespoons sugar

3 tablespoons milk

1 teaspoon oil or melted butter

1/4 teaspoon vanilla

Stir together.

1 tablespoon brown sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Stir together and pour around the edge of the mixture in the mug.  Take a knife tip and swirl the cinnamon mixture into the batter.  Microwave for 1 1/2 minutes.  

Meanwhile mix 2 tablespoons confectioners sugar and a drizzle of mix to make an icing.  When muffin has cooled a little, drizzle icing on top.

You could add raisins and/or pecans to the batter.  

Caramel Pudding

1 1/2 cups self rising flour

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 cup milk 

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar

1  1/2 cup boiling water

Heat oven to 350 degrees.  Place 2 sticks of butter in a 9x13 and place into oven till melted.  Meanwhile combine flour, sugar, milk and vanilla.  Pour this mixture over the melted butter.  Do not stir.  Sprinkle the brown sugar on next.  Don't stir.  Slowly pour the boiling water on last.  Place in the oven for 30-40 minutes or until golden brown.  Serve alone or with ice cream.  I served it with butter pecan ice cream. 

Pound Cake Cookies

2 cups all purpose flour

1/4 teaspoon salt

3/4 cup butter, softened 

4 ounces cream cheese, softened 

1 cup sugar

2 teaspoons vanilla 

Cream together cream cheese and butter, then add sugar.  Beat 3-4 minutes till fluffy.  Add egg and vanilla.   Mix flour and salt.  Add a little at a time and mix on slow speed.   Line baking sheet with parchment paper.  Drop cookie mix onto baking sheet with cookie scoop.  Leave at least an inch between cookies since they will spread some.  Bake at 350 degrees for 16-18 minutes.  Let cool 5 minutes before transferring onto cooling rack to cool completely. ly.transferreserving.

Chibatta bread

 5 cups flour (I used bread flour)

1 tablespoon active dry yeast

1 tablespoon course salt 

2 1/4 cups warm tap water

1 tablespoon olive oil

1. Combine flour, yeast, salt and then add warm water.  Stir with dough wisk until fully combined.  Drizzle with Olive oil and shape into a round ball. Cover with plastic wrap and let rest for 1-2 hours. (I sat in oven with light on for 1 hour)

2.  Preheat oven to 450 degrees.  Line baking sheet with parchment paper. 

3.  Turn dough onto floored surface.  Sprinkle with flour until manageable 

4.  Stretch dough into a rectangle. With a bench scraper I cut dough into rolls.

5. Transfer to sheet pan.  Cover with clean kitchen towel and let rest for 20 minutes. 

6.  Bake for 15 minutes.  Let cool and enjoy. 

Second try I used King Author regular plain flour and I let it rise for 2 hours.  Both work fine. 

Cake mix that taste like its made from scratch

This is perfect for the caramel icing.  Use these ingredients instead of the ones on the box.

1 box yellow cake mix

1 cup melted butter

1 cup milk

4 eggs

1 tablespoon vanilla

Bake according to directions on cake box

Chocolate Chip Muffin in a mug

4 Tablespoons self rising flour 

2 Tablespoons brown sugar

3 Tablespoons milk

1/8 Teaspoon vanilla

1/2 Tablespoon oil

2 tablespoons chocolate chips

Dump all in mug and stir.

Microwave for 1 minute.

Apple Muffins- my original recipe

 1 1/2 cups peeled and diced apples 

1/4 cup light brown sugar

1 teaspoon cinnamon

2 eggs

1/2 cup white sugar

1 1/2 cups self rising flour

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 stick melted butter

1/2 cup buttermilk

Peel and dice apples to small pieces so they will cook. Add brown sugar and cinnamon and toss to coat apples.   Add rest of ingredients and stir.  Scoop into a muffin tin that has been well sprayed with pan.  Cook at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick comes put clean.   Serve warm with butter.

This makes 6 large muffins.