Banana Crumb Muffins

So, every morning before I go to the gym (not that I am good and go every morning) I normally eat a banana or apple. Well, for some reason the banas that I bought got rip way earlier that I had planned on. Therefore, I needed something to make with them that I could grab and eat on my way out. I saw these on a friend's blog and decided that they would be perfect. I took the left overs into work on Monday and the coworkers loved them. they all wanted to know when I would be making them again.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

3 bananas, mashed

3/4 cup white sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1/3 cup butter, melted

1/3 cup packed brown sugar

2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon

1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 10 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and melted butter. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.

Bake in a preheated oven for 10 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Recipe from April's Blog and Picture from my kitchen.

Flip Flop Exchange!!!

I participated in the flip flop exchange this year. I went home for lunch today to find the most awesome flip flops. The nestie who drew my name was SgtEriksWife. She could not have picked out flip flops that were more me. I love them!!!! I want to change clothes right then so that I could wear the flip flops but decided to wait and wear them tomorrow!

Apple Dumplings

I got this recipe almost a year ago off of Pioneer Woman's blog. I have been waiting for an excuse to make it. Memorial Day was the excuse. My parents were coming over to grill out and I needed something quick and easy to make for desert.

Ingredients:

2 Granny Smith apples

2 cans crescent rolls

2 sticks butter

1 1/2 cups sugar

1 teaspoons vanilla

cinnamon

1 small can Mountain Dew

Directions:

Peel and core apples. Cut apples into 8 slices each. Roll each apple slice in a crescent roll. Place in a 9 x 13 buttered pan. Melt butter, then add sugar and barely stir. Add vanilla, stir, and pour over apples. Pour Mountain Dew around the edges of the pan. Sprinkle with cinnamon and bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes. Serve with ice cream, and spoon some of the sweet sauces from the pan over the top.

Recipe from Pioneer Woman, picture from my kitchen.

Peanut Butter Cup Surprise Cookies

I made these for Lenny's work for their birthday luncheon. They decided that they would like to eat them for breakfast and nicknamed them "Death Bites" because they were so sweet. I took some into my office because Lenny's Office should have all the fun and they loved them too. They wanted to know if I was going to be bring in more the next day.

Ingredients:

2 cups creamy peanut butter

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

24 mini Reeses peanut butter cups, unwrapped mini marshmallows

4 oz. bittersweet chocolate, finely chopped

1/2 cup heavy cream

2 tbsp. sugar

1 tbsp. water

mini M&Ms

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Combine peanut butter, sugar and eggs in the bowl of a stand mixer. Beat until well combined. Divide the dough evenly between 24 wells of a mini-muffin pan (I usually have a bit left over, but do so to leave room for the candy). Make an indentation in the center of each dough ball. Bake for 13-15 minutes, until almost done. Remove from the oven and press a peanut butter cup into the center of each cookie until it is flush with the top of the dough. Top each cookie with 3-4 mini marshmallows. Return the pan to the oven and bake 2-3 minutes more, until the marshmallows have puffed up. Transfer the pans to a wire cooling rack and allow the cookies to cool completely in the pan before removing them. (This is important! I tried removing them while still slightly warm - not a good idea.)Once the cookies are completely cooled, transfer them to a wire rack over a sheet of wax paper or aluminum foil. Place the chopped chocolate in a small bowl. Bring the cream, sugar and water to a boil, then pour the liquid over the chocolate and let sit for 30 seconds. Gently whisk the mixture together until smooth. Leave the glaze to sit until it thickens a bit to your desired consistency, then drizzle over the tops of the cookies. Sprinkle with mini M&Ms before the glaze hardens.

Recipe from Annie's Eats and picture from my kitchen

Snickerdoodles

I made this for a Christmas Cookie Exchange, therefore you can see that I am running really late on getting this updated.

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter, softened
1/2 cup shortening
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons cream of tartar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 tablespoons white sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Directions

Preheat oven to 400 degrees F (200 degrees C).
Cream together butter, shortening, 1 1/2 cups sugar, the eggs and the vanilla. Blend in the flour, cream of tartar, soda and salt. Shape dough by rounded spoonfuls into balls.
Mix the 2 tablespoons sugar and the cinnamon. Roll balls of dough in mixture. Place 2 inches apart on ungreased baking sheets.
Bake 8 to 10 minutes, or until set but not too hard. Remove immediately from baking sheets.

Recipe from http://www.allrecipes.com/, picture from my kitchen

French Toast Casserole

I made this for my family and they loved it. It will defiantly be used again.

INGREDIENTS

• 5 cups bread cubes
• 4 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1/4 cup white sugar, divided
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1 tablespoon margarine, softened
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

DIRECTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly butter an 8x8 inch baking pan.
2. Line bottom of pan with bread cubes. In a large bowl, beat together eggs, milk, 2 tablespoons sugar, salt and vanilla. pour egg mixture over bread. Dot with margarine; let stand for 10 minutes.
3. Combine remaining 2 tablespoons sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon and sprinkle over the top. Bake in preheated oven about 45 to 50 minutes, until top is golden.

Recipe from Allrecipes.com and picture from my kitchen.

Savory Crescent Chicken Squares

INGREDIENTS:

1	package (3 oz) cream cheese, softened
1	tablespoon LAND O LAKES® Butter, softened
2	cups cubed cooked chicken
1	tablespoon chopped fresh chives or onion
1/4	teaspoon salt
1/8	teaspoon pepper
2	tablespoons milk
1	tablespoon chopped pimientos, if desired
1	can (8 oz) Pillsbury® refrigerated crescent dinner rolls or 1 can (8 oz) Pillsbury® Crescent Recipe Creations™ refrigerated flaky dough sheet
1	tablespoon LAND O LAKES® Butter, melted
3/4	cup seasoned croutons, crushed

DIRECTIONS:

1.	Heat oven to 350°F. In medium bowl, mix cream cheese and 1 tablespoon softened butter; beat until smooth. Add chicken, chives, salt, pepper, milk and pimientos; mix well.
2.	Separate or cut dough into 4 rectangles. If using crescent dough, firmly press perforations to seal. Spoon 1/2 cup chicken mixture onto center of each rectangle. Pull 4 corners of dough to center of chicken mixture; twist firmly. Pinch edges to seal. Place on ungreased cookie sheet. Brush tops of sandwiches with 1 tablespoon melted butter; sprinkle with crushed croutons.
3.	Bake 25 to 30 minutes or until golden brown. Recipe from Pillsbury.com and picture from my kitchen