Julia's Banana Bread

We have a staple banana bread that we use - but, yesterday I didn't have one ingredient, and the bananas were perfect for bread. So, I found this recipe. It was a hit with everyone! Here's the link (courtesy of Cannella Vita):

http://www.cannellavita.com/2013/03/julias-banana-bread.html

Enjoy.

Shelley's Chicken Enchiladas

We baked these for Mother's Day - so good, and super easy. I also love that you don't have to use cream of anything! Here you go:

http://www.eatcakefordinner.net/2012/10/shelleys-chicken-enchiladas.html

Easy Cupcakes & Chocolate Frosting

I was looking for a cupcake recipe that you could use a mix with (so it tasted a little more homemade). I found one on Tidy Mom - I used a yellow cake mix. And we used this recipe from Lauren's Latest for the frosting. Super easy and yummy. Here you go:

Perfect Cupcakes (using a mix)
http://tidymom.net/2007/the-perfect-cupcake-using-a-mix/

Chocolate Frosting
http://www.laurenslatest.com/the-best-and-easiest-chocolate-frosting-birthday-cake/

Brownies with White Frosting

Brownies courtesy of Saltbox House
(http://www.saltboxhousecreations.com/2008/12/have-brownie.html)
Frosting courtesy of The Pioneer Woman
(http://tastykitchen.com/recipes/desserts/thate28099s-the-best-frosting-ie28099ve-ever-had/)

I made these brownies awhile ago for a baby shower. I don't really like chocolate, so I decided to try a different frosting with them. They turned out AMAZING. My favorite combination by far. Here you go:

Lunch Lady Brownies

Ingredients:
1 cup of Butter (I use unsalted)

1/2 cup of Cocoa (I used unsweetened)
2 cups of All Purpose Flour
2 cups of Sugar
4 Eggs

4 teaspoons of Vanilla

1 cup of Chopped Nuts (optional)

Directions:

Melt the Butter in the microwave and put into my mixing bowl, then I add cocoa and mix together until smooth.

Add flour, and sugar. Beat together and then add eggs, vanilla, and nuts (I didn't use nuts). Mix until combined. Do not over stir.

Pour into greased, floured  9x13 baking pan*. 

* An additional part of this recipe said that if you want to double the recipe, use a large baking sheet.

Additional Note * This batter will not be runny like a cake mix. You might have to spread it out over your pan with a rubber spatula.

Bake 20-25 minutes @350 F or until done. I would check at it at 20 minutes. Wait only about 10 minutes to frost brownies. Frost them while they are warm (not hot).

Frosting

Ingredients

• 5 Tablespoons Flour
• 1 cup Milk
• 1 teaspoon Vanilla
• 1 cup Butter
• 1 cup Granulated Sugar (not Powdered Sugar!)

Preparation Instructions

Bake your favorite chocolate cake and let it cool.

In a small saucepan, whisk flour into milk and heat, stirring constantly, until it thickens. You want it to be very thick, thicker than cake mix, more like a brownie mix is. Remove from heat and let it cool to room temperature. (If I’m in a hurry, I place the saucepan over ice in the sink for about 10 minutes or so until the mixture cools.) It must be completely cool before you use it in the next step. Stir in vanilla.

While the mixture is cooling, cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. You don’t want any sugar graininess left. Then add the completely cooled milk/flour/vanilla mixture and beat the living daylights out of it. If it looks separated, you haven’t beaten it enough! Beat it until it all combines and resembles whipped cream.

Grab a spoon and taste this wonderful goodness. If there is any left after your taste test, spread it on a cooled chocolate cake.

Cut yourself a piece and put it on a pretty plate. Grab a fork and prepare to experience the most divine pairing you can imagine. This frosting on chocolate cake is to die for. Sure, the recipe sounds strange — it has flour in it — but it’s sublime. Try it, you’ll see. You’ll love it so much you won’t go back.

Zucchini Bread

Courtesy of Pam Miller

This is my favorite recipe for Zucchini Bread. I am making it today for a friend of ours, so I thought it was a good time to post the recipe.

Zucchini Bread
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
2 cups Zucchini, peeled and grated
3 tsp. vanilla
3 cups white flour
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 cup nuts, optional

Mix together eggs, sugar, oil, zucchini, and vanilla.

Add remaining ingredients and mix well. Put in 2 big or 3 small greased and floured bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.

Spinach Fruit Smoothie

adapted from 100daysofrealfood.com
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2010/05/17/recipe-tasty-smoothies/

I have tried many smoothies, this seems to be my favorite. It is pretty close to the smoothie on 100daysofrealfood.com, but we narrowed down to the strawberries and add a little more milk. Hope you enjoy.

1 1/2 cup plain yogurt (I use organic)
1-2 bananas (if using frozen, let thaw - hard to blend when frozen)
1 cup strawberries (I used 3/4 cup frozen and 1/4 cup fresh)
1/4 cup (or less) milk
Handful of spinach (1/2-1 cup)

Mix all in blender. Add ice to thicken.

Whole Wheat Banana Bread

Courtesy of 100daysofrealfood.com
http://www.100daysofrealfood.com/2011/05/02/recipe-whole-wheat-banana-bread/

Since we've had to make a lot of changes around our house because of health problems, I have began following this blog - and I LOVE IT! This is definitely a favorite around our house. I usually try to make it once a week. You will love it - I promise!

Whole Wheat Banana Bread - Lisa Leake

INGREDIENTS

• 2 ¼ cup whole-wheat flour
• ¾ teaspoon baking soda
• ¼ teaspoon salt
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• ¼ cup plain yogurt
• ¼ cup honey
• 2 eggs
• ⅓ cup oil (I used coconut oil)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease pan.
2. Whisk together the flour, baking soda, and salt.
3. In a separate bowl mix mashed bananas with yogurt, honey, eggs, oil, and vanilla.
4. Fold the banana mixture into the flour mixture until blended. Do not overmix.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan.
6. Bake large loaf for 40 – 50 minutes or until it comes clean with a toothpick.