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.