Muffin Top Banana Bread

So I bought a new muffin top pan and I LOVE using it! It turns out fluffy, just like the best part of the muffin! and I think I found a new banana bread recipe- it came out delicious and fluffy! I have always grown up with chocolate in my banana bread! (Thanks mom!) This recipe also works if you use a banana bread pan, was very light and fluffy also! I doubled the recipe to try both.

One funny thing--when ever I house sit, babysit, or am at a friends house and when I pass by their kitchen and see brown bananas I secretly hope they do not throw them away. The best part of banana bread is using days old bananas that are over ripe. It is never manner-ous to ask what people do with their bananas but I don't want to see them thrown away when they can be made into delectable banana bread --and yes I am talking to you Stacey-- never throw away bananas and if you have the urge, just bring them to me and I will make you muffin tops or banana bread!! :o)

• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 bananas, mashed
• 1 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp kosher salt
• 1/2 cup Chocolate chips (or maybe more!)

Instructions

In mixer, blend butter and sugar until creamy. Add egg and vanilla, beat until combined. Blend in bananas. Add flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Fill cavities of muffin top pan half full (do not over fill). Bake in a 375 degree oven for 10 minutes. Remove and cool. Enjoy!

Apple Streusel Bars

I saw this recipe on a blog that I love reading and knew I had to try it!! This was my breakfast and snacks throughout the day today! I need to take them to school tomorrow so I do not finish the whole pan off myself! These were really easy to make. The only time consuming part was pealing all the apples! but again...soooo worth it!


enjoy! :)


SWEET PASTRY:

• 2 c. flour
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 1 c. real butter, softened
• 1 egg, beaten

APPLE FILLING:

• 1/2 c. white sugar
• 1/4 c. flour
• 1 tsp. cinnamon (I used about 3 teaspoons.. I LOVE cinnamon)
• 4 c. (about 3 medium) sliced, peeled baking apples (I used Pink Ladies)

GLAZE:

• 2 c. powdered sugar
• About 3 Tbsp. milk (whole milk is best)

To prepare crust, mix flour, sugar, salt, and baking powder in a medium bowl. Cut in butter with a pastry blender or two knives until you have pea-sized crumbles. Gently mix in beaten egg.

Spray a 9x13 baking dish with non-stick cooking spray. Gently pat about 2/3 of the crumb mixture onto the bottom of the dish. Preheat oven to 350 and set aside.
To prepare apple filling, combine flour, sugar, and cinnamon. Toss with apples and spread apples out on prepared crust. Sprinkle reserved crust mixture over apples evenly and bake in preheated oven for 35 minutes. When finished, allow to cool completely.

To prepare glaze, whisk together powdered sugar, and enough milk to achieve desired consistency. Place glaze in a Ziploc bag and cut off a very small portion of one of the corners. Drizzle glaze over cooled pastry and allow to harden (you can place it in the freezer to hurry things along). Cut into bars and serve.

Peanut Butter Easter Eggs

This takes a little time, but I easily planned my day around each step!
These are wonderful and I definetly had wayyyy to many! 
Enjoy making them!
You can find the recipe here!

-sunshine

Mozzarella Sticks

Now that it is Spring break I have a little more free time, all that means though is that I can spread my "to-do" list over a couple of days!

I also have a list of things that I want to do....just need some spare time!

Here is one I can check off!

Homemade Mozzarella Sticks

 I used low fat 80 calorie mozzarella cheese! Not that Mozzarella sticks are calorie friendly, but that helps!
You need to prepare 3 plates/bowls
1 plate with 1 cup flour
1 plate with 2 eggs
1 plate with the coating


Coating:
1 cup bread crumbs--I used Italian bread crumbs
1 tsp cayenne pepper
1 tsp thyme
1 tsp cornstarch
2 tsp garlic salt
*-You can adjust the seasonings to whatever you like, add or adjust as needed!-*


I cut each cheese stick in half, then you have an assembly line! First dip the cheese in the flour, then the eggs, then the coating. Repeat with all of them!
This step is important!! Place them all on a cookie sheet and place them in the freezer for at least 30 minutes.. The importance of this is when you cook them in the oil, the cheese will not melt right away.

While the mozzarella sticks are in the freezer at the 25 minute mark, start to heat oil, a couple of inches, enough to cover the cheese! You want the oil in the 360 to 370 range, I do not have a thermometer so I just played it by ear. I know if the oil ever gets to hot you can just take it off the burner to let it cool! The mozzarella sticks only need about 2-3 minutes in the oil and you can tell when they are done is what the cheese starts to ooze! 

Enjoy!


-sunshine

St Patty's Day treats!

St. Pattys day is around the corner and I wanted to complete this post before so you would have some ideas!

-Both these ideas are easy, simple, and do not take up a lot of time!-

Here is the first recipe!

Who wouldn't want a delicious sweet and salty treat of a pretzel, Hershey Kiss, and M&M's?!

The recipe is simple...

Preheat oven to 200

Get a cookie sheet and line it with wax paper.

Place pretzels on the cookie sheet

Put 1 Hershey kiss on each pretzel

Place in oven, just enough time to melt the chocolate (if you leave it in there for to long the chocolate will melt)

 Get your M&M's ready, I picked out all the green M&M's for the St Patricks day theme!

 Can you believe that I bought the BIG bag of M&M's and only got 75 green ones?!?! I need to research this and do a probability lesson soon to see the reason.....

 Fresh out of the oven! 

The next step is to push down the M&M's into each kiss on the pretzel!

The 3 green ones make a shamrock for the theme!

and there is your sweet and salty treat!! :)

Simple, and takes little time!

Here is the 2nd recipe!

Cake Batter Cookies

**I used green food coloring for the St. Patty's day theme!*

Recipe:
1 yellow/or white cake mix
1tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup chocolate chips 


Preheat oven to 350
Mix together the first 4 ingredients, until all the cake mix is completely mixed
Add the green food coloring
Add the chocolate chips! I like my cookies chocolaty....so I may have added some more!


Bake for 10 minutes!
--no need to grease the pan
Enjoy your st. Patrick's day!

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

Red Velvet White Chocolate Chunk Cookies

1 box - red velvet cake mix

1 cup - all purpose flour

2 sticks - butter- at room temperature

1 egg

1 cup - white chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

In a mixing bowl, add the butter and mix until soft and fluffy.  

Then slowly add the cake mix and flour. 

Once that is combined, add the egg and mix completely.  

Add white chocolate chips

Form dough into one inch balls, 

place them in the oven for 10-12 minutes on a greased cookie sheet. 

Makes about 30 small cookies

These are so Yummy!

and I am a cookie dough girl!

enjoy!

-sunshine

couple of Recipes!

It has been really busy since coming back to Houston after Christmas. I haven't had much time to cook, but when I do cook, I try and cook in bulk and freeze half of it for later. It is nice to have the meal the night I make it, and also a month later, let it thaw, reheat and ahhhhhh awesome again! So here is a couple of recipes that I want to share with you!

I got some of these recipes from Biggest Loser 6 Weeks to a Better You, and put my own spin on them!

 Cheesy Stuffed Chicken and Mock Mashed Potatoes made with Cauliflower! Mouth watering awesomeness!!!

 I cannot stop eating this...... extra miles tomorrow!!!! so worth it and soooooo good
Fluffernutter Caramel Popcorn

 Try new things...REFUSE to eat bland oatmeal!!! :o)
Fruity Oatmeal Recipe

Ohhhh this is soooo good! and it makes enough for 8 1-cup servings! So I was able to freeze most of it for school lunches or suppers after a long day of work!!!

Tortilla Free Burrito Recipe

So much to be thankful for!

Hello again! Heres a quick update! Today at work Chelsi told me that Monica had a neat lesson on sequencing....so I had gathered all of my lessons and walked into an ambush!!! It was amazing! Chelsi made Tres Leches cake (my 2nd fav cake..aside from German Chocolate and Tirmisu!) Thanks for ALL who helped my celebrate! :o)

 Here is my classroom that my kids and Chelsi decorated!

 Ashlie got me a Diet Sunkist! My FAV aside from Fanta. And you can see the beautiful cake in the background!

This weekend I was able to babysit for Isaiah!! He is SO photogenic!

Piggy-back rides!

 Reading a Thanksgiving book and making a "thankful" poster!

 ...and gingerbread cookies...

 waiting for the cookies to be done!

we celebrated my birthday with red velvet cupcakes!!!

YUM!

 Sunday night rolls around...

Nina and I's time to COOK!

Last night on the menu--homemade veggie pizza

 and cake batter brownies!

 here is the pashmina that Becky got me for my bday! THANKS!

My new supplies came in from pampered chef....I bought a chip maker that you put in the microwave...and in 3 minutes 30 seconds you have chips! I seasoned them with Oregano....I tried Oregano chips for the first time in Greece and LOVED them...but they do not sell them in America....so I guess making them is my only choice...and it will work for now...well until I make my way back to Greece!

I am so excited! Tonight after Zumba I bought 2 books that I want to start this week and read on the plane on the way home to NE.

Joel Osteen- Everyday a Friday

and

Ellen Degeneres- Seriously...I'm Kidding

So excited to start them soon!!!

I hope you all had a WONDERFUL weekend!!!

--sunshine

Sunday Afternoon :o)

Perfect Afternoon Sunday snack! 

(Recipe below)

I have so much to do and I am so distracted....I need to write my thank-yous, make my Christmas card, prepare for the craft fair on Thursday, lesson plans, make charity quilts, clean....the list goes on...

at least I got my laundry done and the list of Christmas presents I need to buy! (bring on Black Friday!)

I am so excited to go home! I decided to fly home this time! Will save a lot of time and to me, time with family and friends is EVERYTHING! I have learned that moving so far away from home! I cherish my time-- yes it is a break...but no sleeping in for me! 

I am so excited to catch up with the cousins....

Walk my puppy EVERYday!!!

going to the farm...

Red Mango...even though its going to be cold at home....

Spending as much time with FRIENDS and my babysitting families as I can!

Quick side note....

_______________________________

Christi this made me cry!

Christi's son, Matthew had to write about a special person and I am so flattered that he chose me! I used to babysit for the Fulton's and I see them as much as I can whenever I get back to Nebraska! :o)

Matthew I love you too and I am so excited to see you!

Caramel Frappuccino

You’ll need:

4 cups ice

1 – 2  cups milk (depending on your taste)

2 cups cold coffee

6 Tablespoons sugar

a big squeeze of caramel topping

some whip cream

Instructions:

1.  Blend ingredients til smooth and top with whip cream and drizzle with caramel syrup.

2.  Sit on the couch.

3.  Drink.

4.  Smile. :o)

Have a WONDERFUL Sunday afternoon!! :o)

-sunshine

Sunday night

There is always something special about Sunday nights..the end of a weekend, the start of a new week. I love the feeling of an accomplished weekend! I was able to go to the quilt show (which was amazing! pictures to come) see my parents off, get some needed cleaning done, babysit, run, church, skype with the bestie go on a walk with Nina, and cook!!!
Sunday night is always a comfort to me...and I am not sure how to explain the feeling....but it is my favorite night of the week! I always find myself organizing my planner and my school bag and getting ready for the week ahead....it is also a time to collect my thoughts and catch up with friends.

...After Nina and I went for a walk we decided to cook and bake! So we got all of our ingredients and our $1 Diet Cokes from McDonalds and Dean Martin on pandora and we were set!
We made Parmesean Chicken with a lemon vinegrette....... which turned out AMAZING and the whole kitchen smelled glorious......



and we finished the night making pumpkin snickerdoodle whoopie pies!! absolutely amazing! I don't want to share....but with the holidays coming around I probably should since there will be many "sweets" around!



So excited to see what the week ahead has for me!
My birthday is on Thursday...the big 25...although a women should never share her age.....

I LOVE birthdays! Another year to celebrate life....another year to thank God...another year on this wonderful Earth with family and friends.
Thanks to all who surround me and make me feel special everyday!! :o)

I hope you had a wonderful weekend!!!
-sunshine

creative moments

My week of creativity!!!

Peanut butter s'more bars!!!

Make your favorite peanut butter cookie dough

(or buy some for from the store)

Bake the dough for 20 minutes.

Take out and add marshmallows, about 1/2 a package, enough to cover (without overlapping) the peanut butter cookie

Put back in the oven for 3 minutes

Take out again and add M&M's and melted chocochips!

(helpful hint-- when melting the choco chips, melt them over the stove, NOT the microwave, and to make it easier to pour over the bars add 3/4 tsp oil to the chips)

Chocolate chip cookie cheesecake bars

Make your favorite batch of chocolate chip cookies

(or again, go to the store and buy the pre-packaged dough)

Place 1/2 your dough  for the bottom

the middle consists of:

1 pkg (8 ounces) of cream cheese

1 egg

1/2 cup sugar

Then plop the rest of the cookie dough on top!

Bake for 40 minutes at 350!

The Nutcracker Alief craft fair is November 17th

Here is one thing I will be selling!!!!

You can throw this in the diaper bag...

Use is during quiet time...

Great for road trips!!!

tic tac toe, dots, hangman...

waiting at the doctors, dentist office...

doing some quick math problems :o)

stocking stuffers!!!

I am making them in different colors, and different ribbons!!

I can even do one "custom" for you! 

I will post more options later!!! 

I will keep you updated!!!

Let me know whats going on!!

kkoch1110@gmail.com

Vayas con Dios

-sunshine-