Banana Bread Muffins

 

Around my house we are banana lovers, so it's not often that we have a whole bunch of browned bananas at once.  So, I'll let you in on a little secret, just in case you don't already know.  Anytime you have a banana that turns brown, throw it in the freezer.  Create a stash and once you have enough saved up for a batch of banana bread, take them out of the freezer to thaw and then throw into your recipe.  

They will be a little mushy to work with, but they still work great!  This is the only way I can make banana bread cause we just eat too many bananas too fast!

Follow along and I'll show you how to make these tasty muffins, or if you prefer, you can make 2 loaves of banana bread! P.S. I also like to make double or triple batches and freeze the extras. 

Bread Machine Wheat Rolls

This is my favorite go-to bread machine roll recipe.  I love using my bread machine to make any kind of bread or roll.  You use the "dough" cycle which does all the mixing for you and even takes care of the first rising.  From there it only takes minutes to finish up these fluffy part wheat dinner rolls!

Follow along and I'll show you how easy it is to make these easy, delicious dinner rolls:

Crispy Parm-Crusted Fillet Of Fish

So, for those of you who visit my blog regularly... I LOVE YOU!  You make me happy.  And for those of who who just found my blog, keep coming back.  I love you too!  

I've got to tell you all that I've been a bit flustered about something.  I am going back to school for nursing, starting NOW.  I got into a great program and I'm very excited to be on my way to what I love doing... but I have another love in life, which is my cooking and baking, plus this blog.  So, with the beginning of this new journey, I don't want to slack on the blogging and let you all down.

So here's what I've been doing.  I'm hoarding (no, not like those houses on TLC that make you want to puke).  I'm hoarding recipes.  I have cooked up some real treasures these past few months and I have reserved them for posting in the next few months while I study away on things like "acetocholine being released in the synaptic cleft of the pre-synaptic neuron to continue the electronic current to the post-synaptic neuron".  Sounds important right?  This way, you all still get new recipes and I can sleep at night knowing that my blog and homework are both getting done.  Yay us!

So I hope you enjoy everything I've put together for you and I'm sure as the semesters drag on you will see a slight change in the style of my recipes... like when I'm searching for something super easy and fast.  Hopefully you all will enjoy the change.  

Now that we got all of that taken care of, follow along and I'll show you how to make this crispy, seasoned tilapia that I'm sure your just dreuling over:

Ham Tetrazzini

I frequently like to make my favorite Chicken Tetrazzini for dinner, but when I saw this simpler version of a tetrazzini made with ham, I had to try it.  This tasty dish was simple to put together and had the tetrazzini flavor I was looking for.  

If your looking for a simple pasta dish for dinner that has great flavor, then here it is.  Follow along and I'll show you how to put this dish together:

Hamburger Cookies (Fudge Filled Tea Cookies)

This is another Christmas favorite of my family.  My grandma would make these every year!  They are a soft tea cookie filled with delicious fudge.  And they look like cute little hamburgers.  Does it get any cuter than that? 


Follow along as I show you how to make these tasty treats:

Old Fashioned Fudge

Ok, so I have to tell you a quick story.  Since we are talking about making fudge today, lets talk about candy thermometers. If you don't have one, buy one!  Unless of course you're an expert at reading the soft ball in cold water.

Not sure what I'm talking about?  Let me explain.  There is a way to tell if fudge is done without a candy thermometer.  I'm just not very good at it.  

In previous years I did not always have a thermometer and I would do the "cold water" test.  For this test you set up a glass of water with ice in it, ready for the fudge.  And when you think your fudge has cooked long enough, you drop a small amount into the cold water to see if it "balls" up.  It should then flatten as you remove it from the water.  

Well,  I thought at one time that I was capable of determining fudge this way.  But instead I learned something new!  If you perhaps tested your fudge wrong, like I may or may not have done in the past...  and it does not set up, you can pour in back into a pan and RE-cook it.  The problem is it may come out a bit dry, but it works.  (you also can't use this method if you used nuts, they get weird, just saying).  

So I'm telling you people, a candy thermometer is your friend.  They are relatively inexpensive and can save you some stressful candy making over the holidays!  

Ok, so now let's get to the recipe.  Follow along to learn how to make this amazing Old Fashioned Fudge:

Dad's Sugar Cookies

It just wouldn't be Christmas around my house without some good ole sugar cookie cut-outs to decorate with the kids.  My kids really went nuts with these babies!

My dad has been making these sugar cookies for years and he was kind enough to share the recipe with us.  I know, he's a pretty nice guy!

We make these every year at Christmas time but this sugar cookie recipe can be used for any occasion with any style of cookie cutter.  Use it for valentines day, Easter, birthdays, Halloween, or whatever.  So follow along as I show you how to make these tasty sugar cookes:

Star Cookies (Snowflurries)

These star shaped snowflake looking cookies have been a favorite of mine since I could eat real food (I'm talking about as a toddler).  When I learned to talk I always asked my grandmother for a "DAR" cookie (since I couldn't pronounce STAR).  

Today, these are still my favorite cookie.  This recipe has been in the family a long time and I hope my children will make this every year for their own children when they are older.  I think Santa is adding me to the "nice" list just for sharing this recipe with you.  Aren't I nice?

If you take the time to try these cookies, you may just make them an every-year tradition like we did.

Follow along as I show you how to make these amazing jam filled star cookies:

Chocolate Covered Oreo Cookies

I'm not sure if there is any Christmas treat that is easier to make than this one!  I absolutely have to make these every year because they take so little time, look so festive, and taste great!  Plus they only take 4 ingredients.  It doesn't get much easier than that. 

Follow along and I'll show you how to make these fantastic, tasty cookies:

Chocolate Covered Cherry Cookies

There's something so impressive about a cherry covered in chocolate.  And when you bake it inside a cookie, you're just on a whole new level of cherry loving chocolateyness!  I may have just made up that word... chocolateyness?  

Anywho... this is a great treat to impress your friends and family for the holidays.  I make these every year for Christmas!

Lets learn how to make them:

Peanut Butter Cups

Peanut butter cups are one of my favorite treats to make at Christmas time.  These cute little guys are easy to make and taste great!  I like to make mine in individual mini muffin cups or petit four sized paper cups.  

You can find colorful mini muffin cups at places like Michaels, Roberts and Hobby Lobby to wrap these cuties in to give away to neighbors and family.

Follow along and I'll show you how to make these tasty treats:

German Pfeffernusse (Pepper Nut) Cookies

It's always fun to make traditional cookies that have been in the family for years.  This is my grandmother's Pfeffernusse cookie recipe.  The Pfeffernusse cookie is a German pepper nut cookie containing several spices such as allspice, nutmeg and cinnamon along with anise extract that makes a tasty cookie that goes wonderfully with tea or coffee.  This is a well known Christmas cookie among Germans. 

I crave these now every Christmas.  I couldn't wait to get my batch made for the holidays!   One batch makes approximately 100 cookies and these will last all month on the kitchen counter in an airtight container.  They actually taste (get this) BETTER after sitting on the counter for a few weeks.  

Follow along as I show you how to make these tasty, spiced Christmas cookies:

Traditional Pumpkin Pie with Braided Crust

My 7 year old has an obsession with Pumpkin Pie, so we have to have it around during the holidays.  The rest of us like it too of course!  This is a traditional style pumpkin pie made with a Classic Pie Pastry Crust. It's always a hit at a family gathering.

If making a regular pie crust, make a single-crust Classic Pie Pastry for this pie or use a store bought crust.  If making a decorative pie edge or using cut-out decorations, make a double-crust Classic Pie Pastry.  Follow along and we'll learn how to make it:

Christmas Caramel Corn

Who doesn't love caramel corn at Christmas?  It's especially tasty when it's colored red and green, right?  

This recipe is very easy and fun to make.  You could make it any color you like or no color at all like in my previous post of Caramel Corn.  But I thought I would jazz it up for the holidays.  What a fun neighbor gift this would be!

Follow along as I show you how to make this tasty treat:

Cherry Cranberry Pie

This Cherry Cranberry Pie has the perfect blend of sweet and tart with that holiday cranberry flavor we love.  This pie works great for Thanksgiving or Christmas and it's simple to make.  You only need 4 ingredients for the filling.  I made this pie with a Classic Pie Pastry, recipe found HERE, or just use your favorite pie crust.  Follow along as I show you how to make this tasty pie: