avocado + banana bread

what to do, what to do?

i have no salsa;

my cilantro plant died :(

the tomatoes are not ripe yet.

alas, there will be no guacamole for me.

so there are x2 avocados sitting lonely on the rack.

some how, some way the kidlets let x2 bananas get ripe.

that never happens.

especially since they each eat on banana a day, most days they'll eat x2!

humph.

i swagbucked avocado + banana recipes.

after a few hops, i found

this recipe.

here is my version.

INGREDIENTS
2 ripe bananas (more brown spotted, then yellow on the peel)
2 avocados
2/3 C sugar
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
1.5 tsp salt
2 C flour: 1 cup wheat + 1 cup white
2 Tbs coconut oil
1/8 C almond milk {i used dark chocolate almond}
1 C chocolate chips {i always use milk chocolate chips}
{bonus! 1 C coconut shreds}

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350.
In mixing bowl, combine bananas and avocados. mix until mushy. add in flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. it will be green, just go with it. mix this all on speed 2. add the milk, mix again. fold in the chocolate chips {and coconut.}
Grease a loaf pan. i used spray pam.
Bake for 40-45 minutes. The top will brown, but insert a knife in the middle to make sure it comes out clean before taking out. Let cool for 10ish minutes before removing from pan. lie to your kids about how good it is so you don't have to share.

we all loved this. there is none left. yum!

homemade popcorn

wow. this is one of those things that is so easy i feel stupid for not doing it all along.

popcorn. made from kernels. in the microwave.

not the store bought pre bagged kind, (complete with nasty chemicals :::yuck::: )

but the kind that you prepare yourself, from scratch :::gasp:::

it's easy.

i promise.

a quick swagbucks search brought me to here

what you need:

bag of popcorn kernels

(i store mine in a mason jar)

paper bag

microwave

measuring cup

1. Pour a quarter cup of popcorn kernels into a paper bag.

1. Fold the top of the bag three times.
2. Place the paper bag in the microwave.

1. Set the timer for 40 to 60 seconds.

1. Remove the bag and pour the popcorn into a dish.

1. Cook unpopped kernels for about 15 to 20 seconds.
2. (mine took 60 seconds;
3. (be aware that this will make a mess in your microwave. why i thought the kernels would pop & stay in the bowl is beyond me?)

1. Serve.

popcorn balls

i was going to make, these, found at Pleasant Home, but then i realized that i don't have any jello then i remember i book marked this recipe, found at Little Birdie Secrets (but i don't have cereal) ... what if i combined the two...

to be continued

UPDATE:

it was good. so good.

so de-lish that we never made it as far as balling them; we just attacked the glob as soon as it had cooled enough to stop burning our finger tips/

homemade granola clusters

we love granola over here; love love love LOVE it.

it's really easy to make too.

and you can add whatever you want to it & 97% of the time it will turn out yummy.

here's what we tried today:

6ish cups of kashi cereal

3 packets of all the oatmeal no one likes

1.5 ish cups raisins

1.5ish cups crasins

handful or so of almonds

x1 can of sweet condensed milk

preheat oven to 350

mixed it all in my mixer

dumped it in a large pyrex

baked for 10ish minutes until top layer was light brown

took out of oven

gave it a good stir/flip/mix

baked for another 10ish minutes

remove from oven

let cool

dont burn fingers when you try it anyway

store in a container

while your kids nap, take container to your room while you catch up on TV shows on Hulu

homemade applesauce

this recipe is so easy

sooooooooooooooo simple

ready?

peel a bushel of apples (like 12 or so)

cut them into same sizeish pieces

toss them into crock pot

sprinkle some cinnamon over the apple chunks

cook on low for 2.5ish hours

when you start to smell the yumminess, mash the warm apples up (i use a fork)

let them cook a little bit longer (if you can)

turn crock pot off, let applesauce cool down

exercise self restraint when consuming.

i've been known to eat an entire batch in one day

(during nap-time, so the kids didn't even get any)

this batch i hope to give to the neighbors (because i'm great like that)

birthday [cup]cakes[s]

wow wow wow wow wow

ice cream cake (but not what you think)

i just made that.

kinda.

except i used white box cake & vanilla frozen yogurt.

i also added sprinkles and red food coloring to the batter (because that's what Bear wanted [along with unicorns, rainbows & smiley faces] but i couldn't find those)

Anyway,

it turned out a.w.e.s.o.m.e

hop to it folks, it is fan-friggin-tastic!

[my] BEST MACARONI & CHEESE evah!!!

WOW! This was so good ! ! !

I've been trying to make homemade mac&cheese for a while now.

Tried it in the crock pot a la Stephanie @ crockpot 365

We're not fans :( every time (3x) I made it the cheese got curdly - not yummy

So then I came across Ree @ The Pioneer Woman. Her recipe, not your grannies mac&cheese was close to what I was searching for. but still not it. Then she posted this. {{{{{swoon}}}}}

I should warn that my love for stouffers mac&cheese is deep. It makes me happy. It's what mac&cheese is supposed to taste like, supposed to be.

Of course I couldn't follow Rees directions exactly; I have a bit of cooking ADD {{{blush}}} I get sidetracked by my kids or the idea of washing another mixing bowl/measuring cup/ slotted spoon, that i just wing it. The following recipe was inspired by my dinner making role model, Ree @ The Pioneer Woman

[my] BEST MACARONI and CHEESE

x1 box noodles (i used cellentani)

4tbs salted butter

1/4 cup all purpose flour

x2 pinches ground mustard

x1 egg

x2 cups milk (i used fat free)

tons of shredded cheese, i means TONS (i used extra sharp chedder, sharp chedder & mozz)

* cook noodles according to package. you want to grab them right before they're al dente

* pre heat oven to 350

* crack egg into bowl & whisk it up

* in large saucepan, melt butter, then slowly add flour, all the while continuing to whisk

* whisk whisk whisk whisk until mixture is one

* pour in milk, keep whisking

* pinch the mustard in, keep whisking

* whisk & let it cook (on medium) for 5ish minutes. it should turn gravy like

*scoop 1/4 cup out & slowly whisk it into the egg bowl (try to not cook the egg, that is why you're whisking/pouring slowly)

* then dump that back into the original saucepan

* and whisk whisk whisk some more

* drop handfuls of cheese into saucepan

* stir cheese & dump more in

* continue until you think it's cheese enough. when all is melted/combined, turn heat off

*drain boiling pasta

* scoop pasta out of strainer & into cheesy goodness

* stir

* pour into baking dish (i used a rectangle glass pyrex)

* sprinkle more shredded cheese on top

* bake for 20 minutes @ 350

that's it {{{YAY!}}} so yummy. i love love love how it turned out.

peach cobbler

i forget where i orginally found this :/

Easy Peach Cobbler

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar, divided
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 cup milk
• 4 cups fresh peach slices
• 1 tablespoon lemon juice
• Ground cinnamon or nutmeg (optional)

Preparation

Melt butter in a 13- x 9-inch baking dish.

Combine flour, 1 cup sugar, baking powder, and salt; add milk, stirring just until dry ingredients are moistened. Pour batter over butter (do not stir).

Bring remaining 1 cup sugar, peach slices, and lemon juice to a boil over high heat, stirring constantly; pour over batter (do not stir). Sprinkle with cinnamon, if desired.

Bake at 375° for 40 to 45 minutes or until golden brown. Serve cobbler warm or cool.

Your welcome :D

ohhhhhh look. still bubbling...

get crafting!

Sabrina

4th of July: FOOD +

it's no secret that i like to eat.

A LOT.

Sundays in CA are my faaaaaaavorite.

why?

food. at GiGis. with EVERYONE.

i love it. they make me happy.

and now i'm a wee bit sad/homesick, so let's move on...

Today is the 3rd. We have having a few friends over tomorrow,

so i'm getting a jump start on the dishes.

appetizers:

Aunt Cindys artichoke dip

my "it's-not-guac-dip"

PW's bacon wrapped jalapeno thingies

chips & rojos salsa

sides:

PW's fresh corn casserole

main:

burgers

hotdogs

dessert:

PW's The.Best.Chocolate.Sheet.Cake.Ever

Fruit Pizza

+

the yumminess that the guests are bringing

and since an entry isn't entry w/o a picture

easy, homemade pizza

start this early, as it takes some time to get the dough ready.

PIZZA DOUGH RECIPE
4 cups bread or all purpose flour (I used all purpose)
1 1/4 cups lukewarm water (I microwaved mine for 30 seconds)
1 packet active dry yeast, or 2 1/4 teaspoons active dry yeast
2 tablespoons olive oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon sugar, or 1 teaspoon honey (I used sugar)
1/4 cup milk or 1/4 cup water (I used milk, fat free organic)



Scoop flour into large glass bowl. Make a well in middle of flour & pour salt inside. Stir to combine & set aside.

In another glass bowl pour in water, sugar, and yeast. Stir and set aside for 5 minutes. Allow to foam up (or proof).

After waiting the 5 minutes for the yeast/water/sugar to cure, pour the milk & olive oil inside. Then add this wet mixture to the bowl of flour/salt. Stir together using a wooden spoon or clean hands.

Sprinkle some flour onto a clean, flat surface ( this is where you'll be kneading your dough.) Knead for about 8 minutes or until you get a smooth elastic rubbery dough ball.

Place dough in a clean glass bowl.


I lightly rubbed mine with olive oil (to keep it from drying out.) Let dough sit covered (I draped a clean kitchen towel over mine. Don't use a plate or something heavy, as the dough may push it off when it rises.)


Set aside for 30 to 60 minutes. Restore order to your kitchen during this time. Empty the dishwasher & refill it. Wipe out your fridge shelves. Start a load of laundry.





or stand at the back door, pounding on it until someone takes you outside.

Halve your dough.

This made x2 personal size pizza crusts. Flatten it out & manipulate into a circle. Spread it out evenly, lifting from underneath to stretch the dough. Sprinkle pan (I used a Pampered Chef stone) with yellow cornmeal or Farina or flour (I used cornmeal, it gives that crunchy, grainy texture to the crust.)


Preheat oven 450°F. (my oven takes 10 minutes to preheat to 450)

Top with your favorite spaghetti sauce, spreading out using the back of a spoon, then add shredded or sliced mozzarella cheese, and jack or Parmesan cheese.



Layer on some cooked meats, and add vegetables (ours had corn, bell peppers & broccoli.)

Bake for about 12-14 mins, but watch it!


When the bottom looks slightly browned and the pizza looks bubbly, remove from oven.


Now enjoy! & Please let me know how your turned out!