moist banana bread

prep time: 20 minutes
cook time: 50 minutes
total time: 70 minutes
yields 10 servings

ingredients
3 ripe bananas
1/2 c unsalted butter (1 stick), melted
3/4 c sugar
2 large eggs
1.5 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp nutmeg
1/2 tsp vanilla extract

directions

1. preheat the oven to 350 degrees. grease a loaf pan. (if you’re baking in a glass container, lower the oven temperature by 25 degrees from what the recipe calls for and bake up to 10 minutes longer.)
2. in a mixing bowl, mix together the stick of butter and 3/4 cup sugar.
3. mash bananas with a fork until the consistency of chunky applesauce and add them to the batter along with 2 eggs and 1/2 tsp of vanilla, mixing with a spatula or spoon until well-blended.
4. in a separate bowl, whisk together: 1.5 cups of flour, 1 tsp of baking soda, 1/2 tsp of salt, 1 tsp cinnamon, and 1 tsp nutmeg and then add to the wet batter, mixing with spoon just until combined. don’t over mix.
5. pour into prepared loaf pan. bake for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
6. let banana bread rest for 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool.

source

cheese board dinner

prep time: 20 minutes

ingredients
ritz crackers or loaf of french bread
salami or meat sticks or sliced deli meat
slices of cheese
mini pickles
dried fruit (cranberries, cherries, raisins, etc.)
baby carrots
fruit (berries, grapes, apples, etc.)
cucumbers
bell peppers
pretzels
hummus
olives

directions

1. slice, cut up, and lay out ingredients on a cutting board and enjoy eating with your fingers !

fluffy pancakes

prep time: 10 minutes
cook time: 15 minutes
total time: 25 minutes
makes about 15-20 pancakes

ingredients
2 1/4 c milk
6 T vinegar
3 c all-purpose flour
6 T sugar
1 T baking powder
1.5 tsp baking soda
1.5 tsp salt
3 eggs
6 T butter, melted
oil

directions

1. combine milk with vinegar in a medium bowl and set aside for 5 minutes to sour.
2. combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a large mixing bowl. whisk egg and butter into soured milk.
3. pour the flour mixture into the wet ingredients and whisk until lumps are gone.
4. heat a large skillet over medium heat and use oil to coat.
5. pour 1/4 cupfuls of batter onto the skillet and cook until bubbles appear on the surface.
6. flip with a spatula and cook until browned on the other side.

source

corn casserole

prep time: 20 minutes
cook time: 1 hour
total time: 1 hour, 20 minutes
makes 6-8 servings

ingredients
1 can whole kernel corn with juice
1 can creamed corn
1 stick butter, softened
8 oz. sour cream (or whole milk yogurt)
1 box 7 oz. jiffy corn bread mix
1 egg
1 T sugar

directions

1. preheat oven for 350 degrees and lightly grease casserole dish.
2. mix all ingredients and pour into casserole dish.
3. cover with foil for the first half of baking. bake for a total of 1 hour.
4. note: for a really large group, you can double the recipe, but it takes a little longer to bake. use 13×9 pan whether making the regular recipe or doubling it.

source – bonnie altstadt

joanna gaines’s zucchini bread

prep time: 30 minutes       cook time: 50-60 minutes       total time: 80-90 minutes

makes 2 loaves

ingredients
1 1/4 c vegetable oil

2 c sugar

4 eggs

1 T vanilla extract

2 medium zucchini (about 3 c zucchini) –  [i used 4 small zucchini. the ones she used in the video were pretty big, even though she said 2 medium zucchini, so i figured 4 small would equal to the 2 large ones she used.]

3 c flour

2 tsp cinnamon

2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp kosher salt
1 c chopped nuts (optional)

directions

1. preheat oven to 350 degrees. lightly grease 9×9 pan (or 2 loaf pans)***.
2. whisk vegetable oil, sugar, vanilla extract, and eggs until smooth. (wet ingredients)
3. shred zucchini (in food processor or using a shredder). place shreds in a kitchen cloth. wrap and squeeze excess water out. Set aside for later.
4. mix flour, cinnamon, baking powder, baking soda, and salt until combined. be careful not to over mix. (dry ingredients)
5. fold chopped nuts into zucchini.
6. mix wet ingredients, dry ingredients, and nuts/zucchini just until combined.
7. pour into pan(s) and bake for 50-60 minutes.
8. keep checking with a toothpick if the bread is done.
9. cool for 15-30 minutes before serving.

***(my personal notes) when using a glass loaf pan with regular metal pan, don’t fill the glass pan as full.

source