I don't like to let anything go to waste.  I had 3 spotted bananas and decided to pull out my old recipe book and make a bread. I have had it since I was 15.  My mother gave it to me when we moved to Villa Rica and I became more responsible with making the evening meals.
Wyatt loves it when we bake and I always try to include him. He is great at cracking eggs and mashing bananas. I taught him to beat the eggs last night.  I just love that boy!
I want to experiment with the recipe. It is really good but I would like to add something that makes the flavors pop. Think maybe using butter instead of shortening for starts :).

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups flour
• 1/2 cup chopped pecans
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3 soft, ripe bananas, mashed 
• 1 tsp pure vanilla extract

Cream sugar and shortening; add eggs, flour, soda, bananas, vanilla and chopped nuts. Pour banana bread batter into 1 greased and floured loaf pan; bake at 350° for about 50 min, It was not set in the middle so I simply turned the oven off and left the loaf to finish baking. This banana nut bread recipe makes 1 loaf.

Creating Memories

Everyday has the potential to bless my family and make memories that my boys will take into adulthood.  It is up to me whether their memories are good or bad.  I try to spend quality time with each one.  I want when they look back at their home life they remember more good than bad. Remember me as an affectionate, supportive, fun parent.

What to Create Today?

Brand new day with a lot of potential!

Surprise today is a "Creation by Karen"

This week is homecoming at my daughter's wonderful  school, Carrollton High School. Each day this week they had a different dress up day.

Monday- Tacky Day
Tuesday- Toga Day
Wednesday-Celebrity Day
Thursday- Generation Day
Friday- Spirit Day

Jenn-Jenn really wanted a yellow tutu. There were pink tutus, green tutus, purple tutus, and get this black and orange tutus but no yellow ones to be found. So it was up to mommy to save the day. First I searched you tube for a how to do a tutu video. Here is a great video How to make a tutu It is so easy. I knew a trip to Hobby Lobby was in order. So with 3 yds of yellow tulle, 2 yds of black tulle ( I think next time I would use 6 yards for a tutu to fit a size 0/1 teen). Below is the finished product!

My beautiful Jenn and her yellow and black tutu! Now all is good in the Trojan Nation!!!

In the Land of Peaches

My summer was all about peaches.  I have bought 1 small basket (held 5), 2 pecks and 2 bushels.
I started with just devouring them raw, then decided I wanted some for the winter.  For the first time ever I took on the job of freezing, canning and jamming them.  First batch I ended up with 10 quarts in the freezer.  Second I turned into Jam and Canned some slices.  Third batch I made more Jam.  All of these I treated about the same way.

• Make a light syrup using about a cup of sugar to about 4 cups of water and a dash of lemon juice.

1. Wash the fruit
2. Blanch for 60 seconds (I did 2 at a time) to remove skin.
3. Cut in half and remove the pit.  Slice uniformly and place in the syrup.

To make jam:

• You'll need a very large stock pot for water bath.

• Heat oven to 200.  Place mason jars in the oven.
• This is a plain Jane "I love peaches" recipe.  Additional ingredients and mixing fruits I am sure would be terrific.

1. place 16 cups of sliced (without syrup) in a dutch oven with 2 cups of sugar.  That can be reduced to taste.
2. Cook on medium high heat stirring CONSTANTLY. I break down the fruit with a potato masher as I stir.
3. When it begins to bubble add 2 tablespoons of butter- keep stirring.
4. When it comes to a full boil add 2 boxes of fruit pectin and continue to stir for 1 more minute and turn off heat. 
5. Remove hot jars 1 at a time and fill, seal and place in a water bath till all jars are used.  Leave in the water bath till properly sealed.  Between the boiling hot water and hot jam it doesn't take long to seal a jar.

*This recipe yields 10 half pint jars.

Frozen Peaches:

• I used 1 quart freezer bags

Simply fill the bags with fruit and syrup and seal.

Canned Peaches:

 

I used large mason jars for this.  Ladle fruit and syrup into jars packing in the fruit.  Seal in a water bath.

Next adventure.....Apple Butter.

chile relleno

2 poblano peppers halved and seeded
1/4 pound ground beef
Extra sharp cheddar (white)
salsa (about 1/4 cup mixed with ground beef)
salsa verde
flour
Salt to taste

I put a slice of cheese in the inside of each pepper. Added a small amount of ground beef mixture and rolled in flour.  Stuffed mixture in pepper on top of cheese.  Add another generous slice of cheese on top and back for about 20 min at 400.  Pour Salsa Verde in on top and bake an additional 10 min. I moved them close together in the last 10 min to keep the peppers from drying out.

Not restaurant quality, but very good.

Simple Salsa

I make this for my guys....fresh and way cheaper than the commercial brand

1 Large can of crushed tomatoes (I used flavored with basil garlic and oregano)
1/3 bunch cilantro- chopped
3 cloves garlic - chopped
1/4 large onion - chopped
3 jalapeno pepper - chopped

Mix all together and serve with chips and milk...it is SPICY!

I Think the Secret of Making

A sweet biscuit is you have to make the dough first.  Then after your dough is ready as if you were going to cut and bake, add the other ingredients.  That is the difference between a fruit cake and a biscuit.

Life is Messy

What a beautiful mess I made creating dessert biscuits. IMade the first batch for my guys and the second is going with me to the ladies fellowship at church. I hope they are good. I made a butter frosting for them hoping it would melt down a little more.
Many blessings from my home to yours.

One Pan Pasta

What a long day of babies and chores. I finally have supper finished. Kitchen almost put back to rights. Pictured os the onw pan skillet supper I mentioned earlier. This time I used rotini pasta and put a layer of cheese on top. I am serving it with fresh baked bread. My guys are about to eat it up.
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Peach Upside Down Cake

I made another batch jam out of the last of my peaches and I had enough slices left over for a cake...another experiment.  I need to buy some nutmeg and ginger.

First I put brown sugar in the slices and mixed well but gently. Next I made a basic butter cake recipe from Good Housekeeping, poured it onto the peaches and baked at 350 till golden brown.

Basic Butter Cake
by Good Housekeeping

• 2 cup(s) all-purpose flour
• 2 teaspoon(s) baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon(s) salt
• 3/4 cup(s) whole milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoon(s) vanilla extract
• 1 1/4 cup(s) sugar
• 3/4 cup(s) butter or margarine, softened
• 3 large eggs

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 13" by 9" metal baking pan, or three 8-inch round or two 9-inch round cake pans. Dust pan(s) with flour.
2. On waxed paper, combine flour, baking powder, and salt. In cup, mix milk and vanilla; set aside.
3. In large bowl, with mixer at low speed, beat sugar and butter just until blended. Increase speed to high; beat 3 minutes or until creamy, occasionally scraping bowl with rubber spatula. Reduce speed to low; add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition.
4. Beat in flour mixture alternately with milk mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture just until blended, scraping bowl occasionally.
5. Pour batter into prepared pan(s). Bake 40 to 45 minutes for 13" by 9" cake, 23 to 25 minutes for 8- and 9-inch layers, or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean. Cool in the pan(s) on wire rack 10 minutes. With knife, loosen side of cake(s) from pan(s); invert onto wire rack to cool completely.

I made 2 layers.  I sent one to the Pastors and I ate most of the other. I was going to stack em and send both but one would not cooperate.

Note to self: Pastor Kristi liked it. I asked her what she would change and she suggested chopping peaches and adding to the batter...try that next time!

One Pan Pasta

I made a wonderful meal using Ziti pasta. large can of crushed tomatoes (I think 28 oz) lean ground beef, shredded extra sharp white cheddar Cheese, 2 cherry peppers and onion and garlic. I also used just a bit of whole milk to cream it up, gave it a lighter appearance. I used my Pampered Chef Professional (not plugging PC) Family size skillet to cook onion and garlic as well as ground beef so I put it all together in that same pan and place it in the oven. Cooked at 350 till it heated through and thickened.*It would be delicious with Italian Sausage or even chicken.

Going to make it tonight with Sweet Italian Sausage

Sorry I don't have a photo.  I'll add one next time I make this tasty dish.

Rhubarb and Cherry Upside Down Cake

Rhubarb and cherry upside down cake.This is one I made up this summer.  I placed rhubarb, pecans and pitted halved cherries in the bottom of the pan with brown sugar cinnamon and butter and added a lemon cake mix (prepared as directed).  I have discovered cooking times are longer with fruit on the bottom.  Baked about 40 min at 350.

Fruit Dessert Biscuits

Fruit dessert biscuits

I rarely make something from a recipe, rather I see what I have on hand and go from there. Tonight I made up a dessert biscuit. I had some leftover biscuit dough so I threw it back in the bowl with some milk and butter I added sugar and cinnamon, chopped cherries and apples. Kneeded in extra flour and cut with my "biscuit glass". Baked about 20 min at 350. After they cooled I glazed with powdered sugar and milk. Came out really yummy...my guys loved them.