Caramelitas…

Lately I like to browse Pinterest during nap time or before bed while the hubby is working and just this week I ran across this recipe. Boy let me tell you about this recipe, it is DELICIOUS – I even ate one for breakfast yesterday! What is not to love about caramel, chocolate and oatmeal, right? Well this divine little treat is from the very addictive blog of Lulu the Baker  see the recipe here, she has some other really amazing looking recipes posted as well. Check her out, but you might want to go ahead and make these first because you'll need something to do while you wait for them to cool. Enjoy and happy baking!

Reese Peanut Butter Banana Muffins…

I ran across this recipe for bread a week or so ago on Pinterest and I decided I HAD TO MAKE IT! The recipe was originally posted on Cookie&Cups, a splendidly, beautiful blog all about sugar. Not wanting to wait the full hour for bread, I decided to muffinize it, yeah you know I love a good muffin. I tweaked it just a bit, I like applesauce in my breads and muffins in place of the oil. What more can I say than – this recipe is everything you imagined it could be. If you don't have the Reese's cups on hand, run out and get some and make this dream a reality, enjoy and happy baking!

Reese Peanut Butter Banana Muffins
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Ingredients:

3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 c peanut butter
1/4 c applesauce
1 egg
1/2 c granulated sugar
1/4 c brown sugar
1 1/2 c of flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
8 oz bag of Reese’s Mini cups ( I used 10 of the individually wrapped miniature cups and chopped them up)

Directions:

In a large bowl combine the bananas, peanut butter, applesauce, egg and sugars.  In a separate bowl whisk together your flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Combine the wet and dry ingredients, then fold in the Reese's cups. Divide the batter among your prepared muffin pans (about 18 muffins) and bake at 350ª for 20 minutes. Cool for 5 minutes and transfer to racks to finish cooling.

Gingerbread Cookies…

So last week I was really feeling festive and I wanted to make something for my hubby, so gingerbread cookies it was. I found this recipe in a magazine (Better Homes and Gardens - 100 Best Cookies, 2010) actually if you want to get technical, it was in a Domino sugar ad, so I thought what the heck! They turned out really yummy, I am not a cookie person, but I do like these fresh from the oven. So give them a try, I bet you will too – enjoy and happy baking!


Gingerbread Cookies

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Ingredients:


3/4 c brown sugar, firmly packed
1/2 c butter, softened
2 eggs
1/4 c honey
3 1/4  c flour
2 tsp ginger
1 1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp cloves
1/2 tsp salt



Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350°F. Line cookie sheets with parchment paper or baking mats. In your stand mixer beat the sugar and butter until fluffy, then add the eggs and honey. In a separate bowl combine the dry ingredients, gradually incorporate into the wet mixture. Scrap out the dough into plastic wrap and refrigerate for 1 hour. On a well floured surface, roll dough to about an 1/8 inch thick and cut into gingerbread men or whatever shape cutter you have on hand. Place on cookie sheets and bake 9 minutes. Cool on racks and decorate as desired. FYI: Baking time will vary with cookie size (9-12 depending on size). Makes about 3 dozen 3 inch men.


Adapted from Domino Sugar recipe

Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread…

This recipe is as good as it sounds! As I was unpacking my kitchen (we just moved = yay!) I realized I had several jars of peanut butter that I am going to need to use before too long. I also had some bananas that needed to be eaten, or in my opinion baked or frozen. I love me some slightly green bananas, but once they spot I won't eat them. I was perusing Tastespotting and I came across this recipe and I just knew I had to make it. So if you are craving some banana bread check out this recipe and satisfy your sweet tooth, happy baking and enjoy!

Grandpa DF's Banana Pudding…

You know I love bananas, and one of my all time favorite desserts, or treats or guilty pleasures - whatever you want to call it is… Banana Pudding! When I was younger and still in college, my sister used to sell at a farmers market in downtown Jacksonville, anyway there was this couple that sold cakes and other desserts, they had the best pudding, and it was just the right portion. Then a couple of years later there was a gelato shop called "Funari's" they sold banana pudding gelato and I thought that it was the best I had ever had, until they went out of business and that was a sad day for sure! Fast forward a few more years to the present, yes I realize I am probably only talking about a 8 year span, but that's a lot these days. OK so the other day my mother in law was talking about how the missionaries wanted her to make Italian Cream Cake and I was bummed because 1. I don't eat cake and 2. I was craving some banana pudding. She had made this recipe for me in the past and so she offered to again, well I wasn't going to turn that offer down. So to get to the point, here is the recipe, it was handed down from her father and it is A-M-A-Z-I-N-G! Go make this now, trust me you want it!



Grandpa DF's Banana Pudding

Ingredients:

1 pkg instant vanilla pudding
1 1/2 c cool water
1 can condensed milk
1/2 pt whipping cream, whipped
2 bananas
1/2 box vanilla wafers

Directions:

Whisk together the first 3 ingredients, then fold in the whipped cream. In a large bowl alternate layers of pudding with sliced bananas and vanilla wafers, finishing with wafer. Cool and enjoy - which trust me you will.

*FYI: Recipe can be doubled or tripled and it still turns out amazing!

Zucchini Bread…

The other day we got a knock on the door and two grocery bags of squash = zucchini and yellow - which left me wondering what to do with it all? After taking half of it to the neighbor I went about making dinner the rest of the week and using squash in everything. Today since I only had a few zucchini left, I decided to make some bread. This recipe is yummy, moist and can be doubled for two loaves if so desired. Next time you find yourself with a surplus of squash, give it a try. Enjoy and happy baking!


Zucchini Bread

Ingredients:

1 large zucchini, shredded

6 oz. plain yogurt

1 egg

1 tps vanilla

¾ c brown sugar

1 ½ c flour

2 tsp cinnamon

½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

1/8 tsp baking powder

Directions:

Preheat your oven to 350º and prepare a loaf pan with cooking spray. In a large bowl combine the zucchini, yogurt, egg, vanilla and brown sugar. In a smaller bowl whisk together the flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt and baking powder. Add the dry ingredients to the wet until moist, pour into loaf pan and bake for 50-55 minutes.

Mini Pies…

Last week was my birthday and I was super excited to get one of these and with it this awesome cookbook! So far I have made quite a few of the recipes, the ham and cheese quiche is probably my favorite of them so far. I am super excited to make the s'more pie, it just looks too good not to try. Most of the recipes are simple, very similar to things I typically make and it's fun to adapt and try new things. If you're lucky enough to already own an electric pie maker or maybe it's on your Christmas wish list? If so, I recommend picking up a copy of this book, get creative and happy "mini" baking!