Allison R.'s Banana Blueberry Muffins

Mel's Kitchen cafe for the win!  

INGREDIENTS

•  1/4 cup (4 tablespoons) butter, room temperature
•  1/4 cup plain yogurt
•  1/3 cup granulated sugar
•  1/3 cup packed light brown sugar
•  2 large eggs
•  1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour
•  1/4 cups quick or regular oats
•  1 teaspoon baking soda
•  1/2 teaspoon salt
•  2 ripe bananas, lightly mashed
•  1/3 cup milk
•  1 teaspoon vanilla extract
•  1 cup frozen blueberries
•  2 teaspoons flour

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat the oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 12-cup muffin tin with cooking spray. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl (or the bowl of an electric stand mixer), beat together the butter, yogurt and sugars until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add the eggs and beat well. In a blender or food processor, process the oats until they are finely ground. Add the wheat flour, baking soda and salt and pulse one or two times until the dry ingredients are lightly combined. Pour the dry mixture into the wet mixture and mix until just combined. Mix in the lightly mashed bananas. Stir in the milk and vanilla. Toss the blueberries with the 2 teaspoons flour and then gently 
3. fold them into the muffin batter. Divide the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups.
4. Bake for 20-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean (watch the muffins carefully since each oven may vary slightly in temperature affecting exact baking time). Let the muffins rest in the pan for about 5 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

5. NOTES

   Wheat Germ: you can sub the equivalent amount of wheat germ for the oats, if you like. 

   Flour: also, I prefer white whole wheat to red whole wheat due to its lightness, but either kind of whole wheat flour can be used here.

   
   

   
   

   Recipe and Photo Source: Mel's Kitchen Cafe

   
   

Symona's Refried Beans

 

1.5 lbs pinto beans sorted and rinsed (you may find rocks)

about 5 cups water

about 5 cups chicken stock

1 thick slice onion (1/2 white onion)

2-3 cloves garlic, minced

1 TBSP chili powder

1.5 tsp salt

1 tsp cumin

1/2 tsp paprika

black pepper to taste

Cook in crock pot on high 6-8 hours adding water if needed.  Mash with potato masher or puree with immersion blender for smooth, lump-free beans.  Remove onion before mashing for a more subtle onion flavor.  Add cheddar cheese on top, let melt before serving.  

Symona's Salsa

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can Rotel (mild)

Roma tomatoes, chopped (added 1 or so to the tomatoes above, can also use instead of diced tomatoes)

1 bunch cilantro, chopped

1 medium onion, chopped

1-2 limes to taste (I used 2 last time)

minced garlic, 1-2 tsp (I used about 1 last time)

salt, 1 tsp

pepper, about 1/2-3/4 tsp

cumin, about 1 tsp

1 jalapeño, diced

Chop and mix!  Super delicious!

Doug's Famous Texas Sheet Cake

 

2 cups all purpose flour

2 cups granulated sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 c sour cream

2 eggs

1 cup butter

1 cup water

5 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

FROSTING

5 TBSP unsweetened cocoa powder

6 TBSP milk

1/2 C butter

4 cups powdered sugar

1 tsp vanilla

1 c chopped walnuts

Directions

• Step 1

  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour a 10x15 inch pan.

• Step 2

  Combine the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt. Beat in the sour cream and eggs. Set aside. Melt the butter on low in a saucepan, add the water and 5 tablespoons cocoa. Bring mixture to a boil then remove from heat. Allow to cool slightly, then stir cocoa mixture into the egg mixture, mixing until blended.

• Step 3

  Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake in the preheated oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

• Step 4

  For the icing: In a large saucepan, combine the milk, 5 tablespoons cocoa and 1/2 cup butter. Bring to a boil, then remove from heat. Stir in the confectioners' sugar and vanilla, then fold in the nuts, mixing until blended. Spread frosting over warm cake.

Recipe Source

All Recipes

Orange Dipping Sauce (for Coconut Shrimp & Spring Rolls)

 

1/2 c orange marmalade

1/4 c honey

1/4 c dijon mustard

4 drops hot pepper sauce (such as Tabasco)

Mix orange marmalade, honey, Dijon mustard, and hot sauce in a bowl. Serve immediately or cover and refrigerate until serving time.

All Recipes

Holiday Chex Mix

 

3 cups Rice Chex cereal

3 cups Corn Chex cereal

3 cups Golden Graham cereal

1 1/2 cups mixed unsalted, or lightly salted nuts (a nut blend is really good!)

2 cups shredded sweetened coconut

1 cup granulated sugar

1 cup light corn syrup

3/4 cup melted salted butter

1 tsp vanilla (optional)

1.  In a large mixing bowl, toss together the Rice Chex cereal, Corn Chex cereal, Golden Graham cereal, mixed nuts and coconut.  

2.  In a medium sauce pan combine granulated sugar, butter and corn syrup.  

3.  Bring mixture to a boil over medium high heat, stirring occasionally.  Allow mixture to boil for 2 minutes, stirring occasionally.  

4.  Remove from heat and carefully pour sugar mixture over cereal mixture and toss evenly to coat.  

5. Store in an airtight container at room temperature.  

Tips for this Recipe

• Don’t just simmer the mixture for 2 minutes let it come to a boil then start counting down the two minutes.
• Don’t skip the coconut even if you aren’t normally a fan. It’s not overpowering here, it blends in with the flavors nicely.
• You can use one type of nut, but if you have multiple on hand go for a blend. Peanuts, sliced/slivered almonds, cashews, pecans or walnuts are all great choices.
• You can use unsalted butter if that’s what you’ve got on hand. Then just add a heaping 1/4 tsp salt to the sugar mixture before cooking.

Recipe Source:

Cooking Classy

Crab Salad

 

1 pound imitation crab

1 shallot minced (or sub red onion)

1/2 c mayonnaise

1/2 c celery minced

1/2 tsp paprika

1/2 tsp dill

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

1.  In a large bowl, add all the ingredients together gently, stirring until well coated.  

2.  Refrigerate for 1 hour before serving.  

Recipe Source:

Dinner Then Dessert