Banana-Raisin Bread

» Mmmm... Banana Bread. The smell always brings me back to being a kid. I remember doing my math at the kitchen table, trying to concentrate while my mother put together one of my favorite treats. No wonder I never was very good at anything more difficult than division, for who could concentrate with the smell of baking bread wafting from the kitchen? Then when it was pulled from the oven and I had to wait in agony until it was cool enough to cut and eat. But it was always worth the wait. Slightly crusty exterior, warm, soft crumb, slathered in melting butter... wow, I'm getting hungry just thinking about it. While I will always love simple, basic banana bread, this is a slightly altered take on the classic.

Banana-Raisin Bread

Makes 3 mini-loaves or 2 regular loaves ~ Preheat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

» 1 1/2 c. all-purpose flour

» 1/2 c. wheat flour

» 1 1/2 t. baking powder

» 1/2 t. cinnamon

» 1/4 t. salt

» 2 eggs, lightly beaten

» 2-3 bananas, mashed

» 1 c. sugar

» 1/2 c. melted butter

» 1 c. raisins

Preparation:

» Grease loaf pans.

» In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt.

» In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar, and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir until just combined; mixture will be lumpy. Fold in raisins. Dump batter into pans, being careful not to fill over 2/3rds full.

» Bake for 30-35 minutes for mini-loaves or 40-45 if using regular loaf pans. Use the toothpick/fork test to determine if done. (If you're a major food rookie, insert a toothpick or clean fork into the center of the loaf and pull it out. If no batter sticks to it, the bread is done!) Cool on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove loaves from pan and cool completely. Wrap and store. Freeze extra bread to keep it fresh, or give it to a friend :)

Enjoy!

» Original recipe from Better Homes and Gardens New Cookbook, 15th ed.

Coconut Macaroons Deluxe

» Hullo people who actually read my blog *coughSaracough*. I have not deserted you (but maybe desserted you... yuk yuk yuk). I moved out, which means my life has been crazy, plus getting used to a new kitchen. Terribly missing my mother's lovely gas range (ummm... and my mother too, of course *cough*), but making it work. It has been far to long since I last posted on this blog. But believe me, the wait was worth it for this recipe. I made these macaroons a couple of days ago on a craving whim, then realized I no longer live with a dad and brother who used to eat all my food, and these are impossible to resist. Had to take them to my small group so I wouldn't eat every last one of them myself. This recipe calls for a double-boiler, but believe me, it can be done without it. I just put a small pot inside a larger pot, fill the larger pot with water, and hey presto! double boiler. I usually toss some metal cookie cutters in the bottom pan so the top pan can rest on them and not bounce around as much. A metal bowl would work as well... but I like the nonstick properties of the saucepan. Anyhow, without further ado:

Coconut Macaroons Deluxe

Makes about 5 dozen ~ Preheat oven to 350°

Ingredients:

» 1 16-oz bag of shredded coconut (sweetened is fine)

» 1 c. sugar

» 1 T. cornstarch

» 6 large egg whites (using Allwhite works well too, if you don't want leftover yolks)

» 1 t. vanilla

» 1-2 c. semi-sweet chocolate chips

» Parchment paper (absolutely necessary, or you'll have a horrible sticky mess on your hands)

Preparation:

» Combine the coconut, sugar and cornstarch in a medium bowl and toss to mix.
» Combine the egg whites and vanilla in the top of a double boiler (or upper saucepan if you're using my method described above - in which case put the heat on medium-high, then decrease to medium once the water in the lower pan starts boiling). Before the egg starts cooking, add the coconut mixture. Cook, stirring often, for about 20 minutes until thickened. Remove from heat and let cool for 5 minutes.
» Cover cookie sheets with parchment paper and spoon 1-inch "haystacks" onto it, 1 1/2 inches apart. Bake for 12 minutes, or until lightly browned. Transfer paper to wire racks to cool.
» Melt chocolate chips (you can use your double-boiler if you wash the pan or use a new one - it's the best way to melt chocolate. Otherwise, a microwave works, too). Once the macaroons are cooled, dip the bottoms into the melted chocolate and dry upside-down. If dipping doesn't work very well, sometimes it's easier to spread the chocolate on the bottoms. Let cool.


Enjoy!


» Original recipe from Gregg R. Gillespie's 1001 Cookie Recipes 

Green Eggs and Ham

» Not just for Dr. Seuss anymore. I admit, there's no ham in the photo above (and the broccoli is a garnish) but I've made it before with ham included, and it's pretty darn yummy. You could also use bacon if you prefer, but I like the whole "green eggs and ham" idea. (Also notice the coffee mug in the background... a Christmas prezzie from my grandma who had no idea I'd been ogling it in Caribou just last week. It describes my view of the dangerously addicting caffeinated beverage perfectly!)

Green Eggs and Ham

Ingredients:

» dash of olive oil

» 2 green onions, chopped

» 1-2 pieces deli ham, in small pieces

» 1/2 c. broccoli florets, chopped

» 3 eggs

» 1 T. feta cheese

» salt and pepper to taste

Preparation:

» Heat the oil in a frying pan, and add onions and ham. When they begin sizzling, toss in the broccoli and cook for a few minutes, stirring occasionally.

» Meanwhile, crack eggs into a bowl. Add cheese and salt and pepper. Beat with a fork until combined. When the mixture in the pan is well-cooked, pour eggs on top.

» Here's a secret to an easy omelet. Stir the egg mixture around in the pan with a spatula like you're doing scrambled eggs. When it begins to form soft pieces, spread around into a flat circle shape like an omelet. Once browned on the one side, it's easy to flip over and brown the other side.

» Remove to a plate and fold in half. Serve with coffee and wheat toast for a well-rounded breakfast :)

Enjoy!

*Recipe entirely my creation.

Italian Sausage Bread

» Mmmmm Sausage Bread. This has become quite the legend in our house. Some of the best nights include sitting in front of a great movie eating sausage bread and grapes, with malted milk balls for dessert. Oh yes, I'm no gourmet chef and can certainly appreciate the simple things :) This is not the easiest dinner to make - if you're doing it alone. My mom and I usually collaborate so one person can mind the sausage while the other prepares the dough. If you're doing both yourself, be careful not to let the spices burn. 

» This is a wonderful potluck dish, or something to put out for Christmas Eve dinner (that is, if you do buffet-style like my family). It's a great appetizer or main dish.

Italian Sausage Bread

Preheat oven to 375° - Makes 1 pan

Dough Ingredients:
» 1 pkg. dry yeast
» 6 1/2 t. sugar, divided
» 1/2 c. warm water
» 3 T olive oil
» 2 T dried minced onion
» 2 t. dried basil
» 1 t. dried oregano
» 1 t. rubbed sage
» 1 t. garlic powder
» 1/2 c. cold water
» 3 c. flour

Topping Ingredients:
» 1 lb. Italian sausage, cooked and drained (I use the hot kind, but if you don't want it that spicy, go with mild)
» 1 c. shredded parmesan cheese
» 1/2 c. chopped black olives
» 1/2 c. chopped onion
» 1/2 c. minced fresh parsley
» 1/4 c. olive oil (I usually use less, depending on how greasy the sausage is)
» 2 garlic cloves, minced

Preparation:
» Start the sausage cooking (medium heat, frying pan, etc). If you're not the multitasking sort, it's ok to cook the sausage all the way beforehand, it's fine setting while the dough is prepared. Drain the sausage and set on paper-towel-covered plate.
» While the sausage is browning, dissolve yeast and 1/2 t. sugar in the warm water; set aside. In a small saucepan, combine oil, onion, basil, oregano, sage, and garlic powder. Cook over medium heat for one minute. Remove from heat and stir in cold water.
» In a mixing bowl, combine flour and remaining sugar. Stir in oil and yeast mixtures until just blended. Turn onto a lightly floured surface and knead for three minutes.

 » Place dough on a greased cookie sheet. Cover with a damp cloth and let stand for 15 minutes.
» Combine topping ingredients.
» Once the 15 minutes is up, pat the dough evenly into the pan and let set 2-3 minutes. Sprinkle the topping mix over the dough.

» Bake at 375° for 25-30 minutes or until well-browned. Remove from oven and let set 5 minutes.


Enjoy!




» Original Recipe

Gingerbread Men

» This recipe makes spicy, stiff little gingerbread men. If you're looking for those giant fluffy sort of gingerbread cookies, find one of those recipes with sour cream in them. These are crispy and delicious, and the perfect little cookie to satisfy that need for a bit of Christmas sweet. This recipe comes from a selection my mom got out of the newspaper a while ago that starts with a base which can be edited to any of 12 classic cookies. So far they have all been amazing, which I credit to the use of actual butter instead of Crisco or margarine. I'll most likely be posting more of these delicious cookies at a later time. But for now, enjoy the gingerbread.


Gingerbread Men
Chills for 2 hours - Makes 42 3-inch men


Ingredients:
» 2 3/4 c. flour
» 1/2 t. baking soda
» 1/4 t. salt
» 2 t. cinnamon
» 2 t. ginger
» 1/2 t. nutmeg
» 1/4 t. cloves
» 1/2 c. butter, softened
» 3/4 c. dark brown sugar
» 1 egg
» 1 t. vanilla
» 1/4 c. dark molasses


Preparation:
» Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and spices. 
» With an electric mixer on medium speed, combine butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, then molasses. (Oh gosh, I love molasses!) Beat until well-mixed.
» Reduce to a low speed and gradually add flour mixture until just blended. This is where having a stand-up mixer comes in quite handy. It's so much easier to add in a mixture when you're not dealing with just one hand!
» Split dough into three discs, wrap in plastic wrap and place in the fridge. Chill for at least 2 hours. I made the dough the night before, and chilled it all night. When I went to roll it out it was surprisingly easy to work with.
» After the dough has chilled, preheat oven to 350°. Remove one disc from the fridge and roll out on a lightly floured surface with a rolling pin. I'm not great with inches, but I'd say about a quarter inch thick. Use a cookie cutter to make lots of happy little ginger-buddies. Bake for 11-13 minutes, until just browned around the edges. 
» Feel free to add red hots before baking, or use icing for decoration. Just be careful not to use last year's red hots, as they might create these sort of ginger-creatures:

Gingeroedipus Rex                            Gingerpolyphemus

     Gingerdarth Maul                 Gingergirl-without-hands

                                                                   (it's a real fairy tale! Read it!)

Enjoy!




» Original recipe from my mom