Oh Yum: Banana Bread

This weekend Zach and I found ourselves with a bunch of ripe bananas, so I made banana bread.  My mom and dad have always made the most delicious banana bread.  I had to use their recipe from this beautiful cookbook.  I have included the recipe below, but I'm not sure it does the handwritten and illustrated recipe book justice.  

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups butter

1 3/4 cups brown sugar (packed)

4 eggs

3 tsp. vanilla extract

4 cups flour 

1 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tbs baking powder

1/2 tsp nutmeg

2 tsp cinnamon 

2 cups pureed ripe banana blended with 1 cup black coffee

Directions:

1.  Preheat oven to 350°F.  Grease 2 loaf pans.

2.  Beat together butter and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time.  When mixture is fluffy, stir in vanilla.

3.  Sift together dry ingredients.  Add to butter mixture alternating with banana mixture, beginning and ending with the dry mixture.  Mix just enough to combine -- don't over mix. 

4.  Spread batter evenly in the pans.

5.  Bake 40-50 min.

6.  Cool 10 min in pan before removing and enjoying!

I hope you make some delicious bread, and if you're feeling adventurous, put some cream cheese on it!

--grace

Oh Yum: Cupcakes

Hello all!  I hope you had a good weekend.  The question of the day is; do you like cupcakes?  You can listen as Kevin voices his disdain for them here, but I love them!  My mom got Zach and I cupcakes from Jones Bros. before we left for school.  I think that sweet and salty is my favorite.  My sister's favorite cupcake shop in Omaha is Sweet Magnolias.  If you live in the area you should definitely try them!  Also this recipe looks amazing.  If you have any great cupcake recipes post them below! 

--grace

Oh Yum: Best Brownies

As you may know, I have a quite a big sweet tooth.  Today I was in the mood for some chocolate and found this recipe.  I made a few changes to the recipe, try it below.  You won't regret it!

Best Gluten Free Brownies

Ingredients:

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

1 cup milk chocolate morsels 

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 tablespoon unsweetened Nestle Toll House Cocoa Powder

3 1/2 tablespoons organic corn starch

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350°F.  Line a square baking pan with parchment paper.

2. Melt butter in a double boiler (or your alternative) and add chocolate morsels once the butter is liquid.  Stir as needed.

3.  In a medium bowl crack eggs and add sugar.  

4.  In a tiny bowl, mix cocoa powder and corn starch.

5.  Once chocolate and butter are fully melted and mixed, mix them in the medium bowl with the sugar and eggs.

6.  Add in the corn starch, cocoa powder mixture.

7.  Pour batter into lined baking pan.

8.  Bake for around 20-25 minutes (check regularly until toothpick comes out clean)

9.  Let cool and enjoy!

Listen to some sweet sounds below while you bake.

--grace

[the picture was taken with my new phone, how cool is that?]

Oh Yum: Christmas Cookies

Hello all!  I hope you had a wonderful weekend.  I did!  I made some Christmas cookies with my boyfriend to add a  little holiday cheer to the less than cheerful studio.  We made Smoosh Cookies with green and red sugar (recipe below).  Then I put them in clear plastic gift bags wrapped in twine, with some holiday tags! We also tried the recipe on the back of Hershey's Hugs (my favorite candy).  You should try them:

Smoosh Cookies:

1.  Preheat oven to 350

2.  Beat in bowl:

1 Cup butter (2sticks), softened. 

¾ Cup oil

1 cup white sugar

1 cup powdered sugar

3.  ADD and continue beating:

1 ½ tsp vanilla (real)

2 eggs

4.  ADD:

4 ½ cups white flour

1 tsp baking soda

1 tsp salt

1 tsp cream tarter

5.  Roll into small balls.  Roll the cookie dough balls in white sugar. Flatten with glass bottom dipped into colored sugar.

6.  Bake 8-10 minutes

Do you have any great holiday cookie recipes?  I'm always looking for new ones!

--grace

Grab and Go: Salad in a Jar

Our family friend just got in town and told my mom and me about Salad in a Jar.  I am not really a big fan of salads, but they are growing on me.  This seems like it would be a wonderful lunch when I get back to school.  I can make them all on Sunday and they last for the entire week.  What a great idea!

also, how cute are these shoes? 

-- grace 

Oh Yum: Salmon Leftovers

Hello, I hope you all had a great long Memorial Day Weekend.  Since I got home my mom has been making the most amazing breakfast, so I have to share it.  We had baked salmon for dinner and this is a great way to use the left overs.  She simply toasts a piece of bread (wheat or rye is the best) and puts cream cheese on it. Next you flake and heat up some left over salmon, and add a poached egg on top.  It is amazing, and quite nutritious.  Next time you have left over salmon you should definitely try it.  

-- grace 

Hello Weekend

The weekend is finally here!  Are you doing anything special this weekend?  I don't have anything big planned (except maybe a trip to the grocery store) and trying to learn to play this song on guitar.  I am also going to make eggs in a basket this weekend (pictured above).  Eggs in a basket are a simple treat that works for any meal.  It is quick, delicious and adorable (and one of my favorite meals).  You should make some too!  

-- grace