Create 365 - Day 178

Today is a food day because that is probably all I'm going to have time to create. Since it was requested of me I will include the recipes/links to the recipes! Yum, here we go.

First up is Chocolate Chip Banana Bread/Muffins. This is my MIL's recipe and I'm not sure where it originally came from but sure is tasty!

Oven: 350 degrees F
Grease or foil two 8"x3" pans ~or~ line muffin tins

1/4 cup shortening
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups Bisquick
2 very ripe bananas - mashed
2 tsp faux vanilla extract (sub: 1 tsp real vanilla extract)
1/3 to 1/2 chocolate chips

Cream shortening and sugar. Combine remaining ingredients and mix until well blended. Split into pans or spoon into muffin tins.
Bake time: apx 45-50 mins for pans, 20-22 mins in regular muffin tins.

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Then we have some Sweet Corn Bread.

The recipe I use is pretty much this one. The only thing it doesn't give tips on is mixing the wet ingredients in the small bowl. I lightly beat the egg and then combine it with the sour cream. In a microwave safe measuring cup I put the milk with the butter and pop it in the microwave to melt (30-60 seconds). Stir, let it cool a bit and then add to the egg and sour cream. Sometimes I even add a dash or two of faux vanilla extract too.

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And, last but definitely not least, we will be having Jambalaya tonight. You can find the recipe for that here. Love that site, by the way! The weekly meal plans are a must to check out. I don't follow them exactly but it definitely gets you going in the right direction for homemade food.
Back to the Jambalaya, I tweaked it to my taste, of course. No celery, no additional salt or pepper since there's plenty in the Creole seasoning that I made, and no green onions. I did not use oysters (bleh) or hot sauce either. Also, I don't use quick rice so the simmer time is 45 minutes to an hour (I like it thick). As for the Creole seasoning, too much Thyme gives me a headache so I severely reduced that to 1 teaspoon.

Eat up! xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 107

So the hubby has this work thing where they're all bringing food. He asked me if Tortilla Roll Ups sounded good. Cream cheese? Sour cream? Uh yeah. This is for me, right? Sadly, no, even though I am very tempted by that big tupperware full of dairy goodness. I will resist!

Now he did subbed the sour cream, green onions, and salsa for a sour cream salsa dip since he couldn't find the green onions at the store (WTH?). It is a good sub, I was impressed.

He diced his pepper, plopped everything into a bowl and starts stirring like a madman. Seriously, he attacked that poor bowl. I was now afraid. Afraid my relatively clean kitchen was about to become a disaster zone. Good thing it was a metal bowl or I'd have had chunky, flavored dairy splattered across my kitchen interspersed with shards of pain and sadness. So I took over the mixing (sucker!).

I watched as he attempted the first roll. "Uh, I don't think they're supposed to be that big. Does it say how much to put in there?", I ask. He read the instructions out loud to me. No such luck. At this point I gave it a try and determine a healthy tablespoon is enough. He stood by watching, munching on his giant Tortilla Roll-up while I make 14 more. For him. To take to work. Dammit!

For the record, he did give me a couple of wee bites. Anyway, the rolls are supposed to be cut into 1/2" thick discs. But what guy bring dainty finger food to a job thing? Okay, well some guys might. Besides, you wind up wasting (or eating) the ends if you do the fancy cutting because they don't make pretty little disks of delicious. They'd be ugly little spouts. Delicious ugly little spouts but still ugly. At least this way they look like he made them to boot. Unless of course someone notices how fairly neat they are. Heehee.

xx ~Static

Create 365 - Day 75

Today was a busy day of necessities shopping and laundry so I didn't get a whole lot of stitching done today, some prep work but not much else. I *did* create --aah, see what I did there?-- a couple of delicious somewhat healthy lunches for my hubby.

Mixed greens with carrots (from the bag) plus freshly chopped orange bell pepper, tomato & cucumber. So as not to make this just "rabbit food" for lunch I cooked up a breaded chicken patty, cut it up and sprinkled it over the top. YUM! Of course this gourmet lunch has to have a dressing, which I whipped up from scratch.

These are the portions I like, so be sure to adjust to your taste:
9 tbs virgin olive oil, 4 tbs balsamic vinegar, 1 tsp salt, 1 tsp seasoned pepper, 1 tsp garlic powder. Shake.

The bottle is an old olive oil bottle which I love because it has a pouring stopper on the neck that I can remove for mixing and then put back when I'm ready to shake. It definitely helps keep the mess to a minimum. Not that I would make a mess or anything *whistles innocently*.

Damn, now I'm hungry.

xx ~Static

PS - I stubbed four toes in the writing of this post. No permanent damage, just thought I'd share.

Static's Adventures in Baking

Ok I can create damn near anything I put my mind to in the sewing room but when it comes to the kitchen, well... let's just say me and stove top cooking are definitely not friends. But, I have come to find that baking can actually be enjoyable! Aside from the eating part of course. I've had my share of "ugly cakes" and shortcakes that didn't come out quit how I wanted but they were all still tasty!

 

L: Not-so-ugly red velvet cake with chocolate frosting, R: Ugly little banana honey shortcakes (strawberries at the store were pitiful), Both: Deee-licious

Over the holiday weekend I got my mother-in-law's recipe for Banana Walnut Bread out of my sister-in-law who inherited our mother-in-law's recipe box (I will get all of those baking recipes at the least some day, I will!) and yesterday I made two small loaves (8"x3" tins).

I was only able to get a picture of one of them because my husband and I devoured the first one. It wasn't as sweet as perfectly overripe bananas can make it (because we wanted Nanner Bread now) so I rubbed a bit of honey on top. Scott was heeheehee-ing over at his computer and ate every last bit I put in front of him so I knew I did okay. Not exactly like his mom's, he said, but close. For my first attempt at it I'd say that's a pretty high compliment! I didn't even burn it, yay.

The next batch will have choco-chips. Yeeesssss.