Monday, August 22, 2011

Mini Gingerbread Banana Muffins


I had a gingerbread mix in the cupboard from some deal I found somewhere.....  Not really wanting to make gingerbread I went to the Betty Crocker website and found this recipe.  I love having fresh muffins to snack on.  They make a great breakfast on the go or a good after school snack.  They also are very "freezer friendly".

You'll need

1 Betty Crocker gingerbread mix
2 mashed bananas
2 eggs
3/4 cup quick oats
3/4 cup water

Pre-heat oven to 350.  Mix everything together and spoon 2/3's full into mini muffin tins.  Bake for about 12 minutes.  Makes 48 mini muffins.

Have you every searched for recipies that use "mixes" for starters?  

Sunday, August 21, 2011

Chocolate Covered Banana Bites


These are just FANTASTIC!!  So simple to make.  I'd suggest making them when the kids aren't around...  They are a great late night or after school snack.

You'll need:

2 bananas
1/4 cup chocolate chips
1 big spoonful of peanut butter (crunchy or creamy)

Slice the bananas thick

Melt chocolate chips and peanut butter in microwave for about1 minute, stir till smoothe. dip bananas in chocoate mixture (toothpicks help) and place on wax paper.  Flash freeze for about 1 hour then place in large ziplock bag or freezer container.  Double or tripple the recipe....Yes they go that fast!

Proscuito Basil Chicken

This recipe came from my email box.  I get a weekly email from Rachael Ray's show with her recipies......     Like always when I find a recipe that sounds good my menu planning goes right out the window and I have to make it now.  The recipe calls for Sage but I didn't have any so I used Basil leaves from our plant. I didn't have Marsala so I used Merlot....

The original recipe is called Chicken Samboltica

You'll need:

Boneless Skinless Chicken Breasts
Procuitto
Basil leaves (or Sage)
toothpicks
flour for dredging
Olive oil
Garlic
Baby Portabella Mushrooms
Angel hair pasta
1 cup Merlot (or Marsala)
1 cup chicken broth (optional in my opinion)


Cut your chicken breasts in half and pound til 1/4 in thick. (I fed a family of 5 with 3 breasts). salt and pepper each side. Lay procuitto on top of breast. top with basil leaf and secure with toothpick. Heat a couple of tablespoons of oliv oil in skilled (med high).  dredge chicken (both sides) in flour and place in skillet.  You will need to do this in batches.  turn when brown, remove to plate and cover with foil when both sides are brown. 

When second batch goes in, drop pasta into boiling water and cook al dente. Strain pasta and set aside, reserve 1 cup of starchy water.  

When chicken is done keep warm under foil on a plate. Reduce heat on stove to med.  Add Sliced mushrooms (as many as you want, the more the better) and garlic (I used 4 cloves minced) to skillet.
Cook for a few minutes then add the wine.  Once reduced a bit ad chicken broth. loosten all the brown bits from the pan with a wooden spoon. Ladel some sauce over the chicken on a serving plate. Toss pasta into the sauce, ad some starchy water if needed. Serve alongside the chicken.

This got a thumbs up from everyone in the family!


Both dishes by themselves are fantastic!!  I'll definately be making this one again.



Crescent Sausage Casserole

I came up with this idea one morning when I wanted to make a special breakfast.  Definately not the most original idea but it can be tweaked to what you have on hand and makes a nice weekend breakfast.

1 tube crescent rolls
1 pkg link sausage
8 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1/cup shredded cheddar cheese

Spray a 9X13 casserole dish with cooking spray.  Unroll and smoosh the crescent rolls to cover the buttom and up the side just a bit.  Brown sausage in skilled and cut up into little bits, sprincle on crescent rolls. Scramble the eggs and the milk in a bowl then cook in skillet until the consistensly of a really thick stew.  Pour over sausage, spreading to the edges of pan. Top with cheese.  Bake at 350 for about 20 minutes.   Serve with maple syrup.