Pineapple Upside Down Cake I

 1/4 cup butter

1/4 cup brown sugar

8 oz. Can of pineapple slices

1/4 cup chopped pecans

Cherries

1 1/2 cup biscuit mix (your choice)

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup milk

2 Tablespoon oil

1 teaspoon vanilla

1 egg

Oven 350 degrees. Take iron skillet and sprayed with PAM. Slice butter and lay in pan.  Put in oven until butter melts. Remove from oven.  Sprinkle brown sugar over butter.  Arrange pineapple slices in pan.  Put a cherry in the center of pineapple slice.  Sprinkle pecans over the pineapple.

In a bowl combine the rest of the ingredients.   Mix well.   Pour into the skillet.  Cook for 30 minutes.   Let it sit a few minutes then turn onto a round plate.  Let it cool a few minutes before serving.

Kitchen tips from me...

 Tip #1

When bananas get too ripe. Peal them and drop them in a zip lock freezer bag and freeze.  Perfect for when you are ready to make banana bread or muffins.

Tip #2

When you cook vegetables you sometimes have a small amount left over but not enough to save for another meal.  I take a zip lock freezer bag, add the vegetables  and freeze.  The next time I you have left overs, add to the bag.  When the bag is full you have cooked perfectly seasoned mixed vegetables for your vegetable soup.

Tip #3

Next time you want corn on the cob try microwaving.  Put the ear of corn with the shucks still on in the microwave for 3 to 4 minutes depending on the size of the ear.  Shuck under cool running water so the steam won't burn you.  Silks easily come off with the shucks.  

Tip #4

Cook bacon in the oven.  Spread the bacon out on a large cooking sheet with a rim.  Line with aluminum foil orveven better, parchment paper, for easy clean up.   400 degree oven.  How long you cook depends on how crispy you like your bacon. 

Save the bacon drippings in a jar with a lid in the frig for seasoning vegetables. 

Tip #5

I put my sausage patties in a pan and cook in the oven beside my pan of biscuits.  They get ready at the same time.  Flip them over once to ensure they brown on both sides. Do my country ham the same way.

Tip #6

I make old fashion banana pudding from scratch.  No pudding mix. Instead of a double boiler, place the egg, milk, sugar vanilla mixture in the microwave.   Cook for a minute then stir.  Return to the microwave for another minute then stir again.  Keep repeating this until it reaches the desired thickness.   Quicker and easier. 

Basic Pancake batter

1 1/2 cups self rising flour 

1 1/4 cups milk or buttermilk

1 Tablespoon sugar

1 egg

Mix thoroughly.   Put a splash of cooking oil in a skillet.   Add 1/4 cup of batter.  Cook until golden brown on both sides.   Serve with butter and your favorite syrup. Melt butter and add syrup.  Keep warm on stove until ready to serve.  Learned this from my sister,  Dianne. Makes 8 good size pancakes. 

My Banana Nut Muffins

This recipe is Mrs. Doris Owensby's except I add an extra banana. 

4 very ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup sugar 

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla 

1 stick of butter melted 

2 cups self rising flour

1 cup pecans

Mash bananas.  Add sugar and mix.

Add eggs and mix. Add melted butter  and vanilla and mix.  Then add in flour.  Once that is all mixed well add in pecans.  I prefer to break them into pieces rather that chop. Pieces are bigger that way.  Spray muffin tin with PAM.  Add muffin mix to pan until about 3/4 full.  Bake at 350 degrees for about 20 minutes or until center is firm and muffin is golden brown.  This will also work to bake as a loaf.

Blueberry Muffins

1 1/2 cup self rising flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup oil
1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup blueberries

Mix all ingredients except blueberries until well blended.  Fold in blueberries. Spoon into muffin tins and sprinkle sugar on top. Bake at 400 till golden brown.

Candied Jalepenos (Cowboy Candy)

3 pounds jalepenos
2 cups cider vinegar
6 cups sugar
1/2 teaspoon tumeric
1/2 teaspoon celery seed
3 teaspoons  granulated garlic
1 teaspoon cayenne pepper (I didn't add any because I didn't  want mine as hot.  You adjust according  to your tolerance for heat)
Cut the stems off the peppers  and discard.  Slice the peppers  in 1/8 to 1/4 inch slices and set aside.  In a large pot add the rest of the ingredients.   Bring to a boil then lower the heat and simmer for 5 minutes.  Add the peppers and bring back to a boil.  Lower the heat  again and simmer for 4 minutes.  With a slotted spoon add the peppers to a jar.  When the jar is full ladel the liquid from the pot into the jar until the peppers are covered.   Put the top on and store in the refrigerator  for 2 to 3 weeks.

Old Fashion Cobbler the easy way

Take about a half gallon on fresh fruit diced and peel. (Strawberries, peaches, apples, etc.)
Add 1/2 cup sugar and half stick of butter.  Put in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes
Get a pack of refrigerated pie crust, the ones that are rolled up in a box.  Take one of the crust and place it over the fruit mixture.  Poke holes in it with a fork.  Sprinkle about half of a 1/4 cup sugar over the crust.  Then drizzle half of a 1/4 cup melted butter over crust.   Place back in the oven until it's lightly browned.  Remove from oven.  Push the pie crust down into the fruit and let the fruit rise.  Lay the second crust on top and repeat what you did to the first crust.  Place back into the oven until it's golden brown.  You will think your Grandmother made it!

Top with vanilla ice cream.