Havent forgot about you

Hey my 2 followers :)  I have not forgot about you and your willingness to support me in my venture to blog my passion.  My camera broke :( and I am trying to get another one because whats the fun in blogging about food if you cant see it right? So just to let you all know, I have not forgotten about you and I will be back soon.  Even if I blog recipes with no photos

Banana Bread

Banana Bread is one of my favorite things to snack on.  If I have a loaf around, give me time and I will eat the WHOLE loaf all by myself  :)  I used to make my grandmas recipe, but it was a really heavy recipe (sorry Grandma).  I had wanted something lighter. I went searching for one and the one that I found is very tasty.  It uses crushed Nilla Wafers (I leave a few chunky pieces in mine.  I don't know why, guess I just like it that way).   The easiest way to do the wafer crumbs is to put them in a food processor and blend away :)
Did you know that if you have extra bananas that you can't use right now you can freeze them?  Just make sure that you put 1 teaspoon lemon juice after you mash them and before you freeze them.  They won't turn black if you do

  Banana Walnut Bread (makes 1 loaf)

1 1/2 cups flour

35 Nilla Wafers, finely crushed (about 1 1/4 cups)

2 1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, softened

3/4 cups sugar

2 eggs

1/2 cup milk

2 medium ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 cup)

3/4 cup walnuts

Preheat oven to 350.  Mix flour, wafer crumbs, baking powder and salt.  Set aside.

Beat butter and sugar in medium bowl with eclectic mixer on medium speed until creamy.  Add eggs; beat until light and fluffy.  Blend in bananas.  Add flour mixture alternately with milk, beating well after each addition.  Stir in 1/2 cup of the walnuts.  Spread into a greased loaf pan.  Sprinkle with remaining 1/4 cup walnuts.

Bake 1 hour 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.  Cool 10 minutes in pan, remove and let cool to wire rack; cool completely.

Ice Cream Cookie Sandwiches

We were going to have family movie night BUT we had a houseful of friends so it wouldn't quiet be "family movie night." But we made treats anyway.  We decided to make ice cream cookie sandwiches. The kids loved them!  I made chocolate chip cookies, we got ice cream and sprinkles and there you have it :) 

 Here is everything that we used

 Chocolate chip cookies 2 for each sandwich

1 to 2 scoops of your favorite ice cream.  We used Mrs. Fields chocolate fudge brownie

Place on cookie and make round (this is where it gets a bit messy)

Put sprinkles of your choice on a plate, roll ans smush (is that a word?) the sandwich in sprinkles to make sure all the ice cream is covered.

Place on a cookie sheet and freeze again so ice cream can harden again.  We froze ours for about an hour.  Ice cream was still soft but not too soft. 

Makaylas Potato Salad

I love potato salad.  I have tried MANY different recipes and ways to make it.  When I came across this one, I wasn't too sure about it since you add ranch to it but thought I would try it.  It went faster than any of them I have made before.  It is my older daughters favorite.  So now we call it Makaylas potato salad.

6 eggs

10 red potatoes

1 cup mayo

1/2 cup ranch dressing

1/3 cup dill pickle relish (I have tried both sweet and dill.  Dill is much better.  But use which ever your family likes)

2 tablespoons prepared yellow mustard

1 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon pepper

1/8 teaspoon paprika
1/8 teaspoon celery seed
1 onion, chopped

Boil eggs, cool then peel and chop.  Cook potatoes whole, until fork tender, drain and place in fridge.  Let cool then peel and dice.  Stir together mayo, ranch dressing, relish, mustard, salt, pepper, paprika and celery seed.  Add eggs, potatoes and onions; stir until mixed.  Cover and refrigerate 2 hours before serving.

 theculinarychic

Taco Soup

 Ok, so this is one of the most easiest things that I make, but honestly, it is one of the yummiest.  I LOVE IT!!

Taco Soup

1 pound hamburger
2 cans corn
2 cans chili beans
2 cans diced tomatoes
1 package taco seasoning

Brown hamburger and drain off grease. Add corn, tomatoes and chili beans, juices and all.  Add taco seasoning. Stir and let simmer on low until heated through.  I serve with Fritos on the bottom of bowl, then I add a couple of scoops of soup, top with grated cheese and sour cream.  I have also topped it with chopped avocado, onions and tomatoes.  Serve with a warm tortilla shell.  YUMMY!!