Frosted Banana Cookies

So....I found this recipe from my Kitchen Klatter cookbook that my mom found me. They are so to YUMMY!!! I can't say enough about them....makes me drool! ha!

3/4 c. shortening
3/4 c. brown sugar
1 egg
1/2 tsp. vanilla flavoring
1/2 tsp. banana flavoring
2 mashed ripe bananas
1/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. soda
2 c. flour

Cream shortening and sugar. Add egg, flavorings and banana and beat well. Sift and add dry ingredients. Drop by teaspoon onto a greased cooky sheet and bake for 10 minutes at 350 degrees. This makes about 40 nice, soft cookies.

Icing (which I didn't make)

6 tbsp. brown sugar
4 tbsp. cream
4 tbps. butter or margarine
powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla flavoring

Combine brown sugar, cream and butter or margarine. Bring to a boil, remove from heat and add enough powdered sugar to make frosting a nice consistency to spread on cookies. Lastly, stir in vanilla flavoring.

Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Muffins

Another recipe I used from Money Saving Mom's blog. These are really good and are great frozen too!

4 eggs
2 c. sugar
1 (16 oz) can pureed pumpkin
1 1/2 c. oil
3 c. flour
2 tsp baking soda
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 package chocolate chips

In a large mixing bowl, beat eggs, sugar, pumpkin, and oil until smooth. Add dry ingredients and mix well. Fold in chocolate chips. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups 3/4 full. Bake 16-20 minutes at 400 degrees. Makes 24-30 muffins.

Banana Bread

I wanted to try the Money Saving Mom's favorite banana bread recipe. It is good, but I still prefer my mom's recipe better. Try it out and see what you think.

2 c. flour (all purpose, whole-wheat, or a mixture of both)
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
3-4 bananas, mashed
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp. milk

Stir together dry ingredients. Beat together remaining ingredients. Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and blend until just combined. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until toothpick inserted into bread comes out clean. Cool in pan for 10 minutes and then transfer to a wire rack.

Noodle Bowl

Found this recipe online from Southern Living. In order to serve both my hubby and I, I doubled the recipe.

1 (3 oz.) package of Oriental-flavored ramen noodle soup mix
2 cups water
1 chopped green onion
2 tablespoons chopped fresh cilantro
½ c. fresh snow peas, trimmed
6 peeled and deveined medium-size raw shrimp (26/30 count)
¼ c. shredded napa cabbage
1 to 2 Tbsp. chopped peanuts

Stir together flavor packet from ramen noodle soup mix, 2 cups water, chopped green onion, and chopped fresh cilantro in a medium saucepan. Bring to a boil; add noodles and snow peas. Cook 1 minute, and stir in shrimp. Cook 2 minutes. Transfer to a bowl, and top with shredded cabbage and chopped peanuts.

Note: You can substitute ½ c. chopped cooked chicken for the shrimp.

Bubba's Creamy, Spicy Seafood Pasta

My sister gave me the Paula Deen Family Cookbook for my birthday and I tried this recipe for dinner tonight. Tasted just like a restaurant in Jersey! So good! If you are not a pasta lover, you can substitute with sausage, hamburger, chicken.

2 tbsp. olive oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 c. vodka
1 - 14 oz. can crushed tomatoes
1/2 c. heavy cream
1/2 tsp. red pepper flakes, or to taste
salt and pepper
1/2 pound bay scallops
1/2 pound large shrimp, peeled, deveined and cut crosswise into thirds
1 pound uncooked linguine

Heat the oil in a large skillet over medium heat. Add the garlic and cook for 1 minute or until fragrant. Add the vodka and turn the heat up to medium-high; cook until the liquid has reduced by half. Add the tomatoes, cream, pepper flakes, and salt and pepper to taste. Cook, stirring occasionally, for 3 to 5 minutes, until thickened. Add the seafood and cook for about 3 minutes, until it's just opaque.

Meanwhile, cook the pasta in a large pot of boiling water according to the package directions. Drain and transfer the pasta to a large bowl, pour the sauce over it, and toss to combine.

Serve immediately.

Strawberry Pie

I got this recipe from Tammy's Recipes. So good!

3 T cornstarch
1 c sugar
1 c cold water
2 T white corn syrup
2 T strawberry flavored gelatin
3 drops f red food coloring (optional)
about 3 c. washed strawberries, sliced or diced ) - I used 4 cups
one 9 inch baked pie pastry

Combine and cook first 4 ingredients for 5 or 6 minutes, stirring until thick to prevent lumps.

Remove from heat and while still hot add strawberry gelatin and red food coloring.

Pile strawberries high in baked pie shell and pour glaze over strawberries. Chill and serve with cool whip!

YUMMO!

Classic Potato Salad -

6 medium potatoes (2 lbs)
1 1/4 c. mayo
1 tbsp. mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp black pepper
1 c. sliced celery
1/3 c. chopped onion (I used red onion)
1/2 c. chopped sweet or dill pickles/relish (I used sweet relish)
6 hard-cooked eggs, coarsely chopped

In a medium pan place potatoes and a small amount of water to cover. Bring to boiling; reduce heat. Simmer, covered, for 20-25 minutes or until just tender. Drain well; cool slightly. Peel and cube the potatoes. ( I peeled them before I cooked them)

Meanwhile, for dressing, in a large bowl combine the mayo, mustard the 1/2 tsp salt and pepper.

Stir in the celery, onion, and pickles. Add the potatoes and eggs. Toss lightly to coat. Cover and chill for 6-24 hours.

I got this recipe out of my Better Homes and Gardens cookbook.