Banana Nut Bread

Amazingly good!

Banana Nut Bread
by Esther Earl

1 ½ cups mashed bananas or about 3 1/2 bananas (I used my avocado masher for mashing)
2 eggs
1 cup sugar
¼ cup melted butter
1 ½ cups sifted flour (or whole wheat flour)
1 tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
½ cup nuts (I used walnut)

Mash bananas & cream with sugar, eggs and butter. Add dry ingredients & mix together. Add nuts (optional) and stir. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 to 45 minutes.

Food Storage Chicken Pot Pie

This was 1st made for me when I gave birth to Hannah. I loved it and asked for the recipe. I was even happier when I saw how easy it was to make! Of course you can always substitute fresh ingredients for canned items. I always buy prepared pie crusts as well, it just makes it even easier!

Menu:

Chicken Pot Pie
Cornbread
Salad

Chicken Pot Pie

Pie crust:

4 cups flour
1 tsp salt
1 1/3 cups shortening
12-14 TBSP ice water

Filling:

4 small cans of chicken with juice (drain some of the juice)
1 can cream of chicken soup
1 can cream of potato soup
1 can of peas and diced carrots
pepper to taste

Combine chicken, soups, peas and carrots and pepper. Pour into pie crust. Place top layer of crust on and bake at 400 for 30-35 minutes

Cornbread

1 cup cornmeal
¼ cup olive oil
1 cup flour
1 egg (or use gelatin substitute)
¼ cup sugar
1 can corn, drained
3 tsp. baking powder
1 cup milk (fresh or from powdered milk)
1 tsp. salt

Preheat oven to 425°F. Put half of the olive oil in a 9x9x2 cast iron skillet and preheat in oven without burning oil. Mix all remaining ingredients in a bowl. Pour batter into preheated cast iron skillet and bake for 20-25 minutes or until done. (If you don't use cast iron, mix the other half of the oil in the batter and cook as usual.)

Apple Butter (Vita-Mix Recipe)

This recipe is from Vita-Mix website. Jeff loves apple butter, so I decided to try this (easy) recipe. It turned out great!

Apple Butter

1/2 cup (120 ml) apple cider
6 apples (preferably MacIntosh), stems removed, quartered with seeds and skins.
1/2-inch square piece fresh ginger (or 1/2 teaspoon ground)
1 teaspoons allspice
1/4 cup (55 g) dark brown sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon ground cloves

1. Place apples, cider and ginger into the Vitamix container in the order listed and secure lid.
2. Select Variable 1.
3. Turn machine on and quickly increase speed to Variable 5 or 6.
4. Blend for 10 seconds until chopped. If necessary, use the tamper to press any ingredients into the blades.
5. Increase speed to Variable 10, then to High. Blend for 3-4 minutes until mixture is smooth.
6. Spray insides of crockpot with cooking spray for easy cleanup. Pour ingredients from Vitamix container into the crockpot. Stir in sugar and spices.
7. Cook 4 hours on high or 8-10 hours on low uncovered until mixture is dark brown. Freeze or process for canning any leftovers. Recipe may be multiplied.

Makes 3 (8 oz) jars.

Beef Burrito Skillet

This was very good! If you don't add the tortillas and cheese at the end, you can just use the meat mixture to put in regular tacos or for dipping with tortilla chips.

Beef Burrito Skillet

1 lb lean ground beef
Taco Seasoning (1 pkg or 1/4 cup)
1 can (19 oz) kidney beans, drained, rinsed
1 cup Salsa
1 cup water
4 flour tortillas (6 inch), cut into 1-1/2-inch squares
1 cup Mexican style finely shredded four cheese
1/3 cup Sour Cream
1/3 cup chopped green onions (about 1 large)

Brown meat in large nonstick skillet on medium-high heat; drain. Add seasoning mix, beans, salsa and water; stir. Bring to boil. Simmer on medium-low heat 5 min. Stir in tortillas; top with cheese. Cover; let stand 5 min. or until cheese is melted. Top with sour cream and onions.

Tool of the Month - Potato Ricer

Potato Ricer (from Williams-Sonoma)

When you love mashed potatoes as much as I do, a Potato Ricer is a must have. Potatoes come out wonderfully fluffy and smooth.