Frozen Banana Bites

If it is hot and almost unbareably muggy where you are, you wont want to miss this treat!
      Okay okay... there are much more humid climates. But you see, Utah is supposed to be dessert.  And for the last few weeks the humidity levels have been abnormal to say the least.  Example: I walk outside turn the hose on, stand there holding the hose watering my hopeless veggie plants that I transplanted from the old house to the new house drinking my Diet Pepsi and before I know it I've got what seems to be a river running down my back, my hair is almost instantly wavy from the sweat on my neck, and now I need yet another pointless shower for the day.
Anyways... Here is a super simple treat for you to make that may just help you through those rivers.

You will need:

• 4 large bananas
• 3/4 cup milk or dark chocolate chips depending on your preferance
• 3/4 cup peanut butter
• Optional- course sea salt, coconut flakes, Oreo baking crubms

Melt chocolate and peanut butter together stirring freaquently to avoid burning the chocolate.
Lay a piece of parchment paper on a plate that will fit somewhere in your freezer.
Peel and cut the bananas into bite sized pieces or about a 1/2 inch.
Using your fingers dunk each banana piece into the melted goodness and set on the parchment paper.  When all of the pieces are covered lick your fingers! Don't burn yourself like I did though!.

Spoon the remaining chocolate over the top of the bananas, you wouldn't want to waste in now would you.
 If you have any optional ingiedients to sprinkle over the top now is the time to do that. 
Now place in the freezer.  You will want to let them freeze for 2-3 hours.

I will love having these babies in my freezer from now on!  I get a serious sweet tooth just before bedtime and a couple of these will be perfect.

Tuna Noodle Casserole

This is one of those meals that I throw together when all of the sudden out of nowhere the clock says 5:45 PM and I haven't given supper the teeniest tiniest thought.  It is very fast to prepare and doesn't really need to bake for too long at all.  Just about anyone would have every one of these ingredients at any given time as well.

You will need:

•  2 1/2 cups Egg Noodles (If I don't have egg noodles I just use whatever kind of pasta I have and it works just as well)
• 4 Tablespoons Butter
• 4 Tablespoons Flour
• Pepper
• 1 teaspoon Garlic Powder
• 1 teaspoon Onion Powder
• 2 cups Milk
• 2 cups Colby Jack Cheese
• 2 or 3 cans (small cans) Chunk White Tuna
• Plain Potato Chips Or Ritz style Crackers, Crushed

Preheat oven to 400. Boil noodles until nice and tender. 
In a medium sauce pan on medium heat melt the butter then add the flour and whisk well.  Be sure to incorporate them as soon as you put the flour in. Then add the other seasonings and continue to whisk.  Once well incorporated, pour in the milk, increase heat a medium high and whisk some more.  -I sound like a broken record I know but it truly is important, you want the butter, flour, and milk to become one ingredient and it will also burn quickly-
Once the mixture starts to boil it will start to thicken.  Once thick remove from heat and stir in cheese and tuna. 
Drain noodles and pour into a sprayed 9x9 baking dish. Pour the cheesy tuna mixture over the top and mix through it a little. 
Now, crumble an even layer of potato chips or crackers over the top and bake uncovered for about twenty minutes or so. 
Serve with a green salad and garlic bread.

Banana or Not - Oat Pancakes

These pancakes are wonderful! They are tasty, healthy, and very filling. I love them!
YIELD: 3 servings - serving size: 4 pancakes
One serving is 9 Weight Watchers points.
Ingredients:
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup quick-cooking or old fashioned oats
1 tablespoon sugar or 3 packets of Truvia
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup nonfat buttermilk or milk
2 tablespoons butter, melted
1  large egg
Cooking spray
2 bananas (optional) - if using, I do not add sugar.
1. Combine the first 7 ingredients in a medium bowl, stirring with a whisk.
2. Combine buttermilk, butter, and egg in a small bowl. Add to flour mixture, stirring just until moist.
3. If using banana, mash it up and stir into batter.
4. Heat a nonstick griddle over medium heat. Coat pan with cooking spray. Spoon about 2 1/2 tablespoons batter per pancake onto griddle. Turn pancakes over when tops are covered with bubbles; cook until bottoms are lightly browned.
If you do not use sugar one serving will be 8 Weight Watchers Plus Points.

Peach Raspberry Berry Good Cobbler

This is by far the easiest dessert ever! But I'm also thinking it just may be one of the best as well. Is all you need is 4 ingredients and a dish to bake it in... yummm!

1 quart peaches, undrained
1 quart rasperries, drained. Fresh berries should work too
1 white or yellow cake mix
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter cut into tablespoons

Preheat oven to 350 degrees fahrenheit. Mix peaches and raspberries into a deep baking dish. Sprinkle cake mix evenly over the fruit. Do NOT mix! Now place butter pats on top of the mix and bake for about 20 minutes but be sure to watch it. You just want it golden.

This would be great with ice cream!

Now I know this picture is not pretty or nice looking but I didn't take a picture until after everyone dug into it. I really hate posting recipes without a picture so here you have it. A very unpretty unprofessional photo I took with my camera phone. I hope is isn't unappetizing!

Don't forget to enter my giveaway that is going right now! http://mealmakinmomma.blogspot.com/2011/05/celebrate101-facebook-followers.html

Raspberry Fizz Punch

I made this drink for my Bunko night last week and it is seriously so dang delicious.  Everyone wanted the recipe.  It is very cold and refreshing for those warm summer days.  Just trust me on this one and try it!

You will need:

•2 liters Sprite, Sierra Mist, Or 7-up


•2 liters Pink Lemonade

•1 1/2 Quarts Raspberry Sorbet

•6 ounces, weight Fresh Raspberries

•1 whole Lime, Sliced, Optional
 
Mix the soda and the pink lemonade in a large punch bowl. Drop tablespoonfuls of the raspberry sorbet right on top of the punch. The carbonation will make the sorbet fizz as it melts. Sprinkle the fresh raspberries across the top. You can garnish with  lime wedges on the rim of your glass.

Shepherd's Pie

This Shepherd's Pie is very normal... I just searched through other recipes for Shepherd's Pie and all of them that I saw was... I'm not gonna lie... a bit weird.  This is a recipe my mother in law has made for years and years and I have never heard anyone complain about anything she has ever made.

Ingredients:

• 4-5 cups mashed potatoes (about 10-12 medium sized potatoes) skinned or not its up to you
• 1 lbs ground beef
• onion (optional)
• about 3 cups frozen green beans
• about 2 cups frozen corn
• 2 cans tomato sauce or soup (I like the sauce)
• 2 cups grated cheese (I always keep Colby Jack cheese in my house so that's what I use)

Here are my mashed potatoes...  kinda a wierd picture, sorry, but that is my masher if you were wondering.

Now brown the ground beef in a medium sized skillet over medium heat.  If you are choosing to use onions, chop them and put them in with the hamburger to cook while browning.  At this point I also like to season the burger with salt, pepper, & garlic powder.

In a medium sized pot fill it with hot water about 1/2 full. Bring to boil.  Once boiling add beans & corn, cover, and bring to boil again stirring a few times.  Once the water begins to boil let cook for about 1 minute and remove from heat. Drain. And cover again to keep warm.

In a dutch oven or a 9x13 baking dish you will add all the ingredients in layers in this order...
First the ground beef then the green beans and corn.  Now you will pour the tomato over the mixture.

 Now spoon the mashed taters on top of that.  The first time I made this I spread them over the top but quickly learned that you DO NOT SPREAD the taters... the correct way would be to spoon globs of taters over the top of the beans and corn.  There is no scientific 'nor logical reason to spoon globs instead spread.  But if you ask my husband life would never be the same, it would knock the earth off it's axis.

Now just sprinkle the cheese over the potatoes and bake for about 15 (if all the ingredients were still good and hot) and until the cheese is ooy gooy and looks delicious...

Serve and be very cautious this stuff is HOT!

Family Sized Baked Burrito

Oh how I love this...

3 cups cooked chicken, cubed

1/2 cup onion, chopped

1/2 lime, juiced

3/4 cup salsa, thick & chunky

1 clove garlic, pressed
1 1/2 cups Colby Jack cheese, shredded & divided
4 burrito-sized flour tortillas (11-11 1/2 inches)
3/4 can refried beans
2 tomatoes, thinly sliced
Optional: Lettuce, Avacodo, salsa, Sour Cream...

Preheat oven to 425. In medium sized microwaveable bowl mix chicken, onion, lime juice, salsa & garlic together.

 Microwave this mixture for about 3 minutes.
Start heating the beans in a small sauce pan.

Arrange tortillas like a plus sign. Starting with the left one, work in a clockwise fashion.  I don't know how else to describe it.  I hope this picture help you.  Be sure to over lap them!

Take your chicken mixture out of the microwave and mix in about a 1/2 cup cheese.

Spread your hot beans over the tortillas in a square shape. Then your chicken mixture over that.

Now close up your burrito starting with the first on the left and work clockwise as well.

 *** Be sure your wee little one is helping!  It makes it taste that much better.



Top it with your sliced tomatoes and the rest of the cheese.

Place it in the oven and bake for about 15 minutes or until the edges of the tortilla starts to brown and the cheese is melted.

Cut with a pizza cutter and serve.

Hoot-N-Nanny Pancakes

These fun delicious pancakes have several different names... My husband's family calls them Hoot-N-Nanny Pancakes. I call them Magic Pancakes, well because I could never remember what my in laws called them and I had no idea they had any other name AND because they really really are MAGIC.  Apparently they are also called German Pancakes. No offence to any Germans (my ancestors are German) but this is a little boring compared to the later options. 

This is by far one of my favorite breakfasts.  BY FAR!  I also love it for dinner too but my hubby doesn't necessarily like breakfast for dinner.

Are you ready for the MAGIC???




No. Really, are you ready?





Okay,  I warned you!

 Isn't it B-E-A-U-T-I-F-U-L???

 LUSCIOUS?

 Okay, the finger just ruined it...

 OH, NO... I'm SO sorry!  This is the kind of crap I have to put up with... all - of - the - time!
This is my brother in law trying to get his face on my blog... It worked.

And here is the recipe cause by now I know your mouth is watering.

Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

For a 9x9 baking dish you will need:

• 4 tablespoons of butter
• 6 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 cup flour
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• Maple Syrup & Powdered Sugar (Optional)

When I took these pictures I made it in a 9x13 baking dish and doubled the recipe so if your amounts of ingredients look a little different don't worry.

Place butter in a microwave safe mixing bowl.

Melt it in the microwave.  It only takes about 20 seconds or so.

 Crack eggs into the butter and whisk.  Then add the dry ingredients.

 Now the milk and vanilla.  Now beat really well.

 Spray your baking dish well and dump the very thin and runny batter into dish.  Place in oven for about 30 minutes.  Be sure the middle isn't too jiggly when you take it out of the oven.

 NOW, MAKE SURE YOU LET THE KIDS SEE THIS!  IT IS MAGIC YOU KNOW~

"Gourmet" Salmon

Now, I am all but gourmet but this salmon is SO gourmet... meaning it is SO SO SO delicious!  But oh so simple and quick!  Really, give it 15 minutes to be on your plate.

Ingredients: 

Salmon ( I buy this individually wrapped "steaks")

Fish & Seafood Seasoning I HIGHLY recommend Spade L Ranch. In my area I find it in Smiths or Albertsons 

Sesame Seed Oil (near the asian food in any grocery store) 

Here is a link to find this amazing seasoning in your area. No, I'm not being reimbursed at all for this I just REALLY like every one of their seasonings!  Click here to find it Spade L Ranch Seasonings

 If you are like me, for whatever reason I have a terribly hard time getting my meat out of the freezer in the morning to thaw it out for dinner and always end up doing it the speedy quick "not recommended" way.  With fish you NEVER want to defrost it in the microwave!  Grab a large bowl, place the fish in it and fill it with luke warm to cool water.  Do not use hot water.  The hot water can cook the fish instead of thawing.  You can thaw a chunck of fish in about ten minutes doing it this way... you may want to add new luke warm water a few different times to speed the process up even more.

Season one side of the salmon.  With this seasoning it takes about 1 1/2 Tablespoons.  Really just a guess though.

 Now drizzle about a Tablespoon of Sesame Seed Oil into a frying pan... this oil has loads & loads of flavor so go easy.  If you think you need more while the fish is cooking I would probably use some olive oil.

 Heat the pan on a medium high heat.  Let it get good and hot before you place the fillets in it.  For beauty purposes set the salmon in with the seasoned side up.

 Depending on the thickness you should let these cook for about four minutes on this side before turning.  You can check the ends to see how it's cooking.  As it cooks the meat will become a light/pale pink.  Wait to turn it until it is just more than half way up.

 To make sure it is thoroughly cooked; check the ends once again it should be that pretty pink color throughout.  Also, it should flake when a fork is inserted into it and pulled back a bit with the grain of the meat.  You do not want to over cook fish, stay close!

Serve with this Pecan Rice  and Cheesy Green Beans.

Thanks!

Ummm Ummm Chewy Granola Bars

I LOVE THESE BABIES!

I have tried a few different granola bar recipes and this is by far the tastiest and easiest I have come up with.  I love that you can add just about anything your imagination can come up with too... So much fun and pretty healthy snack.

I used white chocolate in these.  I must say I like milk chocolate much more.

You will need:

4 1/2 cups rolled oats

1 cup all-purpose flour or whole wheat flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2/3 cup butter, softened

1/2 cup honey

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 cups your favorite chocolate chips

1 cup your favorite peanut butter

Preheat oven to 325.

Mix together all ingredients except chocolate chips.  I've found that a large metal spoon works great to work the honey and peanut butter into the dry ingredients.  Once it is well incorporated stir in the chocolate morsels.

Generously spray a 9x13 pan and firmly press mixture into the pan. Bake for 18-20 minutes or until light brown.  It must begin to brown.

Let cool for about ten minutes or so and cut into bars. 

ENJOY!

Whiskey Glazed Sweet Potatoes

Oh My Heck! These are Soooooooo good! Really, you have got to try these. I could eat them for breakfast, lunch, & dinner.
The alcohol cooks out before you even put the sweet potatoes in the pan so don't be worried about feeding them to grandma or kids, it just adds such an amazing flavor.

You will need:
■1 stick of butter, divided
■2 -3 lbs Sweet Potato, cubed
■1/2 cup your favorite Whiskey
■1 cup Brown Sugar
■1 teaspoon salt
■black pepper to taste

Melt 1 tablespoon butter in a large skillet over high heat. Add sweet potatoes to brown just a little, do not stir around. Remove from skillet.

Pour in whiskey and allow to evaporate 30 seconds (WARNING: if you are using a gas stove remove from burner to pour and never pour directly from bottle. Alcohol is very flammable!).

Reduce heat to medium, and add remaining butter. When butter melts, sprinkle brown sugar over the top. Stir together, then add potatoes to skillet. Cover, and continue cooking for 5 minutes.

Remove lid and add salt and pepper. Continue cooking until potatoes are done and glaze is thick, about 5 more minutes.

Pour into serving dish and enjoy.

I've found a few similar recipes that use carrots instead of sweet potatoes, so I tried it.  It is very good too!!!

Tin Foil Dinners

Okay here is a super easy dinner for you. It's pretty common around here but I know I forget about my favorite meals all the time.
Servings 4
You will need:
■1 lbs Ground Beef, into 4 patties
■1 bag Baby Carrots
■4 Potatoes, cubed into fairly small bite sized pieces
■1 Onion, sliced
■1 Bell Pepper, cleaned out and sliced
■1 package Lil Smokies
■Pepper
■Salt
■Garlic Powder
■Butter
■Tin Foil

*Keep in mind any of this is optional. That is except for the tin foil, it wouldn't be a tin foil dinner if you didn't use the tin foil. You can always add any favorite veggies in with it. The Bell Pepper and Onion give it such a great flavor though.

1.Preheat oven to 400.

2.Rip off 4 good sized pieces of Tin Foil. Don't be afaid to have a little extra, it will be much better than not having enough.

3.Place each hamburger pattie on seperate foils and season. Make a mountain of veggies and Lil Smokies on top of the burger.

4.Season.

5.Place about 1/2 Tablespoon of butter on each mountain.

6.Now your going to fold the foil in half length wise and fold the edges over several times to seal it.

7.Fold the ends very tightly.

8.Place on cookie sheet and place in oven.  Or place directly onto hot BBQ Grill or hot coals of a fire, you choose.

9.Bake for about 40 minutes or so. Cook time depends on the size of you potatoes and carrots so if you need it done quicker cut them smaller.

10.Carefully unfold one end of foil and check potatoes with a fork. Make sure to cook until tender.


See... Very Simple.

Mountain Man Breakfast

This is an all time favorite of mine. Come to think of it, it is a favorite of just about anyone I know that has ever had it. Ummm.... This is so good! I grew up eating it every time we'd go camping. It's always so good on a nice cool morning cooked in a well seasoned Dutch Oven over hot coals. BUT, I've decided it's just as amazing when my husband wakes up and makes it for us on any Sunday morning of any month of the year. You can even make it into a breakfast burrito with just one extra ingredient, tortillas.

Now, before you go on and read the ingredients let me tell you this is a HEARTY meal! And NOT in any way heart healthy. Also, these amounts will feed 8-10 people. But you can easily alter the amounts of the ingredients about however you want and it will still turn out good. You can use one of both meats, less or more hashbrowns, less eggs... You get it right.

Ingredients:
1 lbs bacon, cut into one inch pieces
1 lbs breakfast sausage
1 lbs hashbrowns
12 eggs
1 lbs cheese
Optional: onion, peppers, tortillas

In a large Dutch Oven or pan over medium high heat begin by cooking the bacon pieces. When the bacon is about half way cooked add the sausage. Stir frequently so it does not stick or burn. When the sausage is browning add the hashbrowns to the meat. The bacon and sausage grease in the pan will keep the hashbrowns from burning and also give them great flavor. Stir together well and cover, still stirring often. As the hashbrowns begin to brown crack the eggs into the mixture and stir. When the eggs are cooked through mix half of the cheese in and top with the other half. Then, ENJOY! I like mine just plain but my husband and kiddos like theirs with sour cream and salsa.

Light Crisp Waffles

Makes about eight four inch waffles.

3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
4 eggs, separated
1 cup milk
1/2 cup butter, melted

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking powder and salt. In a small bowl, whisk egg yolks, milk and butter. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened.

In a small bowl, beat egg whites on medium speed until soft peaks form. Fold into batter.

Cook as you would any waffles on a waffle iron. Top with whatever you like. Fresh friut, syrup, powdered sugar, or my favorite peanut butter then hot syrup to melt it... So Good!

Five Can Casserole

Mmmmmm.... This is a recipe that may seem to be a bit weird and unusual but it is SO delicious.  You will love it!  It's very simple and also quite fast.  It's called five can casserole I am assuming because it is supposed to use five cans of ingredients to build... but it's not exactly five cans.

You will need:

1 or 2 cans of chicken, drained (found by tuna in your supermarket) or 2 chicken breasts boiled and cut into chunks
2 cans Cream of Chicken or substitue 1 can Chicken & Rice soup
1 bag Hard Chinese Noddles
1 can Mushrooms, sliced or chopped (OPTIONAL)
1/2 cup milk
Pepper to taste

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In dutch oven or casserole dish combine soup and chicken.

Add Chinese Noddles

Pepper

Now add about 1/2 cup of milk, the milk is only to moisten the dish so if you feel like you need more then just add more milk.

Bake covered for about 30 minutes or until heated thoroughly. 

Salt & Pepper to taste and enjoy one of my favorite simple dishes.

MUFF NUTZ or French Breakfast Puff

The name Muff Nutz you ask? Simple... Its a Doughnut & a Muffin mixed, but not fried.

I found this recipe on The Pioneer Woman's blog.  When I find something I like or want to make I normally find a few other similar recipes and take a little something from each and put it together how I want it... Well I just couldn't see anything I wanted to change with this one, it is pe pretty much perfect in every way. REALLY! Okay except I do like to add more Nutmeg, but you can be the judge of that.
Please take my advice though and double or triple the recipe while you're making it now because these babies are good and they freeze wonderfully after they are cooled completly.  When you're ready for one just nuke it for 30 seconds or so.

Ingredients:
3 cups Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 teaspoon Salt
1 teaspoon Ground Nutmeg
1 cup Sugar
⅔ cups Shortening (Crisco)
2 whole Eggs
1 cup Milk
Coating:
1-½ cup Sugar
3 teaspoons Cinnamon
2 sticks Butter

Preparation Instructions
Preheat oven to 350°. Grease 12 muffin cups.
In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a different bowl, cream together 1 cup sugar and shortening. Then add eggs and mix again.
Add flour mixture and milk alternately to creamed mixture, beating well after each addition.
Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full. Bake at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes or until golden.
In a bowl, melt 2 sticks butter. In a separate bowl combine remaining sugar and cinnamon. Dip baked muffins in butter, coating thoroughly, then coat with cinnamon-sugar mixture.


Goes great with Hot Cocoa or Coffee!

Tyrel's Hop, Skip, & Go Naked Slush

This is our favorite party drink! It's one you can furnish for a good sized party (about 20 people) and not go broke. It was introduced to us by one of our favorite people too, our cousin Tyrel. Tyrel loved to make this drink!

Now, I am not a beer drinker in fact I hate beer but I love love love this drink, so give it a try. It tastes like juice.

You will need:
1 Standard sized cooler/ice chest, washed with soap well
30 cans of cheep beer (we use Natural Light)
1.75 L Rothschild Vodka, Rothschild because that was Tyrel's Vodka
5-7 cans frozen juice concentrate. We mix two, different flavors, one is always some sort of mixed berry
5-10 lbs dry ice, broke into chunks with a hammer or breaking it on concrete should work too. Just be very very careful, dry ice burns!

Empty Vodka, beer, and somewhat thawed juice concentrate into clean cooler and mix together well. Carefully add one our two chunks of Dry Ice, this will eventually create a slushy type drink. Stir often, you will need to add more dry ice to achieve the consistency of the slush and possibly throughout the night to keep it.  Never close the lid of the cooler... this will create a bomb.

Egg In The Hole SANDWICH

This the traditional Egg In The Hole but easily turned into a breakfast sandwich... We love this at my house!

You will need:

Two pieces of bread

Butter/Margarine

Egg

Sausage Pattie or any other breakfast meat, cooked and hot

 Spread butter entirely over both sides of two pieces of bread

 On one piece use a cookie cutter or a cup to cut a whole into the bread.

 This is what it looks like.

 Place both pieces of bread in a hot flying pan over medium high heat.  Crack egg and put in the hole of the bread. 

Salt & Pepper the egg.

Now you will need to flip the both pieces of bread this is what the egg in the hole will look like.

Now is when you will need your breakfast meat.

 Remove both pieces of bread from pan and place on plate.  Put your meat on one piece.

 My husband loves chili sauce on his!

Now place together as a sandwich, eat it, & love it.