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Sunday, August 9, 2009

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

I have to make extra muffins and freeze them because we love this recipe so much!

I got the recipe from www.fortheloveofcooking-recipes.blogspot.com. So delicious!

1 3/4 cup flour (I use wheat flour)
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup sugar
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 cup of vegetable oil
1/2 cup of vanilla yogurt (I used low fat)
1 tsp vanilla extract
2 large, very ripe bananas
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Coat a muffin tray with cooking spray. In a large bowl, mix the flour, baking powder, salt, baking soda, white sugar and brown sugar until well combined. In another bowl, mix the egg, oil, yogurt, vanilla and mushed bananas until mixed thoroughly. Slowly combine the dry ingredients into the wet ingredients without over mixing. Add the chocolate chips and fold them into the batter. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until golden brown and a tester inserted into the muffin comes out clean. Cool on a rack then serve with butter. Enjoy!

Thursday, August 6, 2009

Stacy's Carrot Cake

3 c. flour
2 c. sugar
1 1/2 c. oil
2 tsp. baking powder
2 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. cinnamon
4 eggs
2 c. cooked carrots (mashed)
1/4 tsp salt

In large mixing bowl, beat eggs and sugar until smooth. Gradually add remaining ingredients. Beat untili smooth. Pour into greased tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees for approximately one hour. Cool in pan before removing cake.

Cream Cheese Frosting

8 oz. cream cheese softened
1 stick margarine softened
1 tsp. vanilla
1 box powdered sugar

Beat cream cheese and margarine until smooth. Add vanilla. Gradually add the powdered sugar. Beat until smooth. Frost cooled cake. Can top with chopped nuts.

Shrimp Casserole

from Southern Living....so good!

1 1/2 c. uncooked long-grain rice
1 1/2 c. lbs medium-size raw shrimp
1/2 c. butter
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 onion, chopped
3 celery ribs, chopped
2 garlic cloves, minced
4 green onions, chopped
2 (10 3/4 oz.) cans cream of shrimp soup, undiluted *
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp fresh ground pepper
1 c. (4 oz) shredded cheddar-colby cheese blend
1/4 c. fine, dry breadcrumbs

Prepare rice according to package directions.

Peel shrimp, and devein, if desired.

Melt butter in a large skillet, over medium heat; add bell pepper and next 4 ingredients, and saute' 10-12 minutes or until tender. Stir in soup, shrimp, salt and pepper; cook 3 minutes or just until shirmp turn pink. (Do not overcook)

Combine shrimp mixture and rice. Pour into lightly greased 13X9 baking dish. Sprinkl evenly with 1 c. shredded cheese and 1/4 c. breadcrumbs.

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 miutes or until cheese is melted.

* 2 cans cream of celery soup, undiluted, may be subsitituted.

Wednesday, August 5, 2009

Spaghetti and Meatballs by Emeril

I made this recipe last week and my hubby LOVED IT!


10 cups Simple Tomato Sauce for Pasta, recipe follows, or store-bought pasta sauce

For the meatballs:
1 large egg
1 pound lean ground beef
1/2 cup chopped yellow onions
1 1/2 teaspoons minced garlic
1 tablespoon chopped fresh parsley leaves
1 teaspoon freshly chopped basil leaves
1 teaspoon freshly chopped oregano leaves
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon ground black pepper
1/2 teaspoon Emeril's Original Essence, recipe follows
1/2 cup finely grated Parmigiano-Reggiano
For the Spaghetti:
1 pound spaghetti, cooked al dente according to package directions
Salt, for seasoning cooking water
1 tablespoon extra-virgin olive oil

Directions
Place the Basic Red Sauce in a large pot. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat, stirring occasionally. Place all the remaining meatball ingredients in a large mixing bowl. Stir well with a wooden spoon to combine, then form the meat into balls by rolling about 2 tablespoons of meat between your hands. Place meatballs on a plate as they are formed. (Hint: if your hands are slightly damp, the meatballs will roll more easily and will not stick to your hands!) When all the meatballs are formed, gently place the balls into the sauce 1 at a time using a long handled spoon. Be careful - bubbling sauce splatters! Simmer the sauce uncovered, and allow the meatballs to sit undisturbed for 10 minutes before stirring. Stir the meatballs into the sauce when they rise to the top.
Simmer for an additional 20 minutes, stirring occasionally to prevent the sauce from sticking to the bottom of the pan.
While sauce is simmering, cook the spaghetti in boiling salted water until al dente. Strain and toss with the olive oil. Keep warm until ready to serve.

Simple Tomato Sauce for Pasta:
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 1/2 cups chopped yellow onions (1 medium)
2 teaspoons minced garlic (2 cloves garlic)
3/4 teaspoon kosher salt
1/2 teaspoon crushed red pepper
1/2 teaspoon dried oregano
1/4 teaspoon ground black pepper
2 (28-ounce) cans whole peeled tomatoes
2 (15-ounce) cans tomato sauce
3 tablespoons tomato paste
2 cups water
1 teaspoon sugar
1 (3-inch piece) Parmesan rind
1 tablespoon chopped fresh basil leaves
Heat the olive oil in a 5-quart pot over medium heat. Add the onions, garlic, salt, crushed red pepper, oregano and black pepper, and cook, stirring, until soft, about 5 minutes. Place the tomatoes in a large bowl and squeeze to break into small pieces. Add the tomatoes, tomato sauce, tomato paste, water, and sugar to the pot with the onions, and stir well. Add the Parmesan rind. Bring to a simmer over medium-high heat. Lower the heat to medium-low, and simmer uncovered for 45 minutes, stirring occasionally with a long-handled wooden spoon, until flavors have come together and sauce is thickened. Stir in the basil and let sit for 10 minutes before using.
Remove from the heat, and use as needed. You can store this sauce in an airtight container in the refrigerator for up to 4 days, or freeze it for up to 3 months.
Yield: 10 cups, 2 1/2 quarts

Emeril's ESSENCE Creole Seasoning (also referred to as Bayou Blast):
2 1/2 tablespoons paprika
2 tablespoons salt
2 tablespoons garlic powder
1 tablespoon black pepper
1 tablespoon onion powder
1 tablespoon cayenne pepper
1 tablespoon dried oregano
1 tablespoon dried thyme
Combine all ingredients thoroughly.
Yield: 2/3 cup