Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Loaf

Preheat oven to 325 degrees

1c. Sugar

8 Tbsp. unsalted butter, room temp

(or microwave for 11 seconds in non-metallic wrapper)

2 Large Eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed w/ a fork

1 Tbsp. Milk (vanilla soymilk works too)

¼ tsp. vanilla

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp pumpkin pie spice

2c. Flour

1 tsp. each:  baking powder, salt, baking soda

1 c. chocolate chips, semi-sweet w/ 1 tsp. flour sprinkled on them

(to prevent them from sinking to the bottom of the batter as it cooks)

Cream the butter and sugar til light n fluffy.  Add eggs 1 at a time, beat well after add each.  Add milk & vanilla, mix.  Lightly blend in the mashed bananas.

            In another bowl, mix together the lightly layered flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and pumpkin pie spice.  Add in ½ the flour mixture, blend, stir in the other ½ to just mixed in.  Add the chocolate and stir to combine.

            Prep a Loaf pan w/butter and lightly floured.  Pour batter into prepped pan.  Bake 60-75 minutes until toothpick comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack, for 15-20 minutes, then if you wish you can invert pan to remove and finish cooling on a wire rack.  Cool completely before slicing. 

            If wish bake w/ streusel topping of:

1 Tbsp. butter, 1 c. granola, 1 Tbsp. brown sugar, and 2 Tbsp. chocolate chips – mix in a mini food processor til fine and slightly moist.  Sprinkle all over the top.

Enjoy J

White Chocolate M&M popcorn

Check out this recipe.
Enjoy this tasty treat tonight!
Popcorn and Chocolate, add a few mini M&Ms oh yes, what a yummy snack.
Cute idea to bag up and hand out for Easter too!
Make a triple batch - you'll need it.
Enjoy! :)

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Slow-Cooker Swiss Steak over Mashed potatoes

Serves 4-6
1 1/2 lbs. Chuck Steak or round steak, cut into 1 inch pieces
1/2 onion - then cut in half and separate
1 c. sliced celery
1-2 c. sliced carrots (we didn't do as see in picture) BUT definitely add - we be so GOOD!
1 Tbsp. Minced garlic
1 can diced tomatoes (kids don't like tomatoes, me either - puree them, then they are so good!
1 can tomato sauce
1/2 c. low sodium beef broth stir with ! Tbsp. flour, 1/2 tsp pepper, 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
1/2 Tbsp. Worcestershire sauce
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp pepper
In slow cooker combine onion, celery, garlic and carrots. Add beef and top with the salt and pepper and worcestershire sauce. In a medium bowl combine tomatoes(or puree) and tomato sauce, and the beef broth mixture. Pour over the steak mixture. Cover, set cooker on low for 8-10 hours or high for 6 hours. Serve over mashed potatoes and with a green side salad.
Mashed potatoes - peel and cube at least 1 potato per person cover with water, bring to boil then reduce heat a little for a gentle boil till done, about 20 minutes {( I season the water with garlic and onion powder and some pepper :)} Drain water (you'll know done when fork tender) put back in hot pot - add either a little milk and unsalted butter or add low sodium chicken stock. Mash with a potato masher. Take it easy on the liquids as you can always add more, but you can't take out what you've put in :)

Food Network Recipe & Celebrity Fan Club: Sloppy Joes

Food Network Recipe & Celebrity Fan Club: Sloppy Joes

Sloppy Joes

SLOPPY JOES (can easily be doubled) This serves makes about 4-6

1 Tbsp EVOO
1 lb. ground turkey or lean ground beef
1/2 onion, chopped ( we grated and used red)
2 gloves garlic, minced or 1 tsp from jar
1/2 Tbsp chili powder
3/4 tsp paprika (used sweet, but smoked is fine)
1/2 tsp allspice
1/2 pinch of cloves
1/2 tsp each of mustard powder, mustard, brown grainy mustard
1 tsp. Mrs. Dash, table blend or Trader Joes salt-free blend
1/2 tsp dried Oregano, crush in fingers to release flavors
1 1/2 Tbsp tomato paste
1 Tbsp packed, brown sugar
1/2 Tbsp Worcestershire sauce
1 c. chicken stock
1/2 tsp cornstarch
1/2 c. tomato sauce
4-6 hamburger buns, regular or whole wheat - toasted.
Topping ideas: crushed tortilla chips, fresh cilantro or parsley, shredded light mozzarella pepper jack or cheddar cheese, or raw chopped onions.

Heat EVOO add meat to brown. Drain fat if necessary. Add garlic, onion, and season with Mrs. Dash. Cook until onion softens a few minutes, Then add chili powder, paprika, allspice, cloves, and oregano. Stir to release flavors of spices then add tomato paste, brown sugar, and worcestershire sauce, stirring for a minute or two.

Add the stock with cornstarch and the tomato sauce and bring to a boil then reduce heat to simmer for several minutes to thicken. To bump up protein and fiber can add beans at this point if wish - suggest red kidney beans. Rinse well and drain before adding (eliminates extra salt). Heat through. Serve on rolls with toppings of your choice. ~Enjoy :)

Food Network Recipe & Celebrity Fan Club: Olive Garden Breadsticks...YUM!

Food Network Recipe & Celebrity Fan Club: Olive Garden Breadsticks...YUM!

Click on title to enjoy the recipe

Olive Garden Breadsticks...YUM!

Try these scrumptious breadsticks...easy to make, and you will think you died and went to heaven. ~Enjoy :)