Whole Wheat Banana Muffins

Ingredients:

2 c. wheat flour

2 c. white flour

6 tsp baking powder

2 tsp cinnamon

2 c. milk

1/2 c. oil

2 eggs

1 c. sugar

(up to) 2 c. mashed banana

Preheat oven to 400*

Mix dry ingredients in large bowl.

In separate bowl mix wet ingredients.

Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.

Batter will be slightly lumpy.

Bake for 20 minutes.

Jalapeno Jelly

Here is the recipe as I found it on All-Recipes. Be sure to read my notes at the end to see what small changes I have made when I make this recipe.

Ingredients:

1 large green pepper

12 jalapenos

1 1/2 c. apple cider vinegar

pinch of salt

4 1/4 c. sugar

4 oz liquid pectin

4 jalapenos seeded and finely chopped

Directions:

1. Combine green pepper and 12 jalapenos in food processor until finely chopped.

2. Transfer to large saucepan, stir in cider vinegar. bring to a boil and let simmer 15-20 minutes.

3. *optional: at this point you can strain it and put the liquid back in the sauce pan if you want. I do not strain.

4. Stir in salt and sugar until dissolved. Bring to a boil over medium-high heat. When mixture comes to a rolling boil (one that cannot be stirred down), boil for one minute, then stir in liquid pectin.

5. Stir in remaining jalapenos, and ladle into sterile jars leaving 1/4 inch headspace. Seal jars in hot water bath.

Here are the notes for what I do to this recipe:

1. Add a couple drops of food coloring.

2. Do ALL the peppers and don't strain... end up with 2 cup and use 3 oz of pectin

3. Add Tbsp. butter just before pectin

4. Do 6 c. sugar and boil 3-5 minutes after adding the pectin.

Serve with a block of cream cheese and crackers or pretzels! Yum!

My Mother's Day Menu

I'm too lazy to type out the recipes. They came, mostly, from one blog (it's one I haven't seen before, but I think I will go back to it again!). I will post the link and say that I thoroughly enjoyed ALL of it. But, Shelley, I don't think even you could eat more than one piece of this cake.

Chicken Cordon Bleu

Perfect Roasted Asparagus

Honey Lime Fruit Salad

Hungarian Seven-Layer Cake

This cake is a little tricky. I did take some photos and if anyone wants to attempt to bake it, I'll be happy to share the little things I learned while making it. The chocolate frosting is so smooth. It's like eating a chocolate truffle. The cake layers are delicious too! It did take 3-4 hours from start to finish, but if you make it, I don't think you'll be disappointed!

Whole Wheat Bread

This recipe is my adaptation of a recipe that I got from my friend Jen. Thank you, Jen!

Pure, unadulterated, whole wheat bread.

Brew~ I do this part in a coffee mug and set it to the side to 'cure'.

1 Tbsp. Yeast (I use Instant Dry Yeast bought in bulk at Sam's)

1/4 c. warm water

1 Tbsp. sugar

The next steps I do in my 4qt KitchenAid mixer. Use the dough hook and don't go above speed 2... it will burn out your motor.

Mix the following before adding the yeast mixture:

3 cups warm water

1 tsp. salt

1/2 cup oil (i use canola oil but you can use olive oil)

1/4 to 1/2 cup sugar or honey

3 Tbsp. wheat gluten

4 cups whole wheat flour

Add yeast to this mixture.

While the mixer is on add about 4 more cups of whole wheat flour half a cup at a time (you might need 1/2 cup less or 1/2 cup more). You will have enough flour when the dough is clinging to the hook and cleaning the sides of the bowl. The dough will be slightly sticky. Continue to let it knead on speed 2 for about 2 minutes.

At this time I dump it onto my kitchen counter and knead it one or two rounds just to make the dough soft and round. Spray the inside of a large bowl with cooking spray and plop that dough right into it. Cover with a towel and set somewhere warm (with no draft) to rise. I put it on my dryer while I'm doing laundry.

Let it rise 1 hour. Or until doubled in size.

Punch down the dough. Separate into 3 equal parts and form each into a loaf. Place them into loaf pans that have been lightly sprayed with cooking spray.

Cover again and let rise another hour. It should be doubled in size or just over the rim of the pan.

Place in a preheated 350* oven. Cook for about 45-50 minutes.

I melt some butter and brush it on top of the loaves so that the crust is soft. And then I cut it into slices with my electric knife.

THEN... we inhale every piece.

note:

This bread can be made just as easy by hand if you do not have a mixer... that's how I did it for a long time. After adding 2 or 3 additional cups of flour dump it on the counter and add the remaining flour by kneading it in. Knead for 5 to 10 minutes.

Easy Peasy Chicken Pot Pie

Ingredients:

2 refrigerated rolled pie crusts

1 can of cream of chicken soup

1 can of cream of celery soup

1-2 cups cooked chicken

1 cup of frozen mixed veggies

Directions:

-set out crust until room temperature.

-line a deep dish pie plate with one crust.

-mix soups, chicken, and veggies in bowl.

-pour mixture into pie crust

-cover mixture with other pie crust.

-crimp sides of crust.

-cut small slits in top of crust.

-bake at 350* until brown; about 30 minutes.

Cowboy Cookies

LOVE these!!! Found the recipe on Pioneer Woman's Tasty Kitchen!

Ingredients:

1 C. white sugar

1 C. brown sugar

2 whole eggs

1 C. butter

1 tsp. vanilla

2 C. all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking powder

1 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2-1/2 C. rolled oats

2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350*

In a large bowl mix with blender: white sugar, brown sugar, and eggs. Melt butter and pour in bowl with the sugar mixture. Add vanilla and mix on medium speed. In a separate bowl sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients. Mix well. With a sturdy spoon mix in oats. Then add chocolate chips.

Roll into walnut size balls and bake for 15-17 minutes.

OR

Do what I do: grease an oversized cake pan and pat the dough into the pan. Cook for about 30 minutes.

Sweet & Sour Meatballs

I remember making these several years ago for New Year's Eve with the Capeners. I remember that Shelley and I thought it would be awesome to make our own meatballs. Awesome? Not so much. I just remember that it took a long time and we wished that we had just bought them pre-made.

This year for New Year's I dug out the recipe again. This time I was smart and bought a giant bag of meatballs at Sam's.

They turned out great! So great, actually, that I've made them four times since the first of January for various activities and they have been an absolute hit! They are a mainstay in our family now!

I've shared the recipe just how it is shown on allrecipes.com. But remember I do not make the meatballs... if you want to make them, knock yourself out!

Ingredients

For meatballs:

2 pounds lean ground beef
1 cup dry bread crumbs
1/2 cup finely chopped onion
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1 teaspoon seasoning salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce
2teaspoons granulated sugar

For sauce:

1 (20 ounce) can pineapple chunks, drained with juice reserved
1/3 cup water
3 tablespoons distilled white vinegar
1 tablespoon soy sauce
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
3 tablespoons cornstarch
1/2 teaspoon ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon seasoning salt
1 large carrot, diced
1 large green bell pepper, cut into 1/2 inch pieces

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C). Lightly grease a large, shallow baking sheet.

For meatballs:

In a large bowl, thoroughly mix the ground beef, eggs, bread crumbs and onion. Sprinkle with ginger, seasoning salt, pepper, Worcestershire sauce and sugar. Shape into one inch balls.
Place meatballs in a single layer on prepared baking sheet. Bake in preheated oven for 10 to 15 minutes; set aside.

For sauce:
Mix enough water with the reserved pineapple juice to make 1 cup. In a large pot over medium heat, combine the juice mixture, 1/3 cup water, vinegar, soy sauce, and brown sugar. Stir in cornstarch, ginger and seasoning salt, until smooth. Cover and cook until thickened.
Stir pineapple chunks, carrot, green pepper and meatballs into the sauce. Gently stir to coat the meatballs with the sauce. Simmer, uncovered, for about 20 minutes, or until meatballs are thoroughly cooked.