Frosted Banana Bars

Ingredients:

1/2 c butter or margerin, softened

2 c sugar

3 eggs

1 1/2 c mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium)

1 tsp vanilla

2 c all purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

Frosting:

1/2 c butter or margarine, softened

1 pkg (8oz) cream cheese, softened

4 c powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla

Directions:

Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Mix well. Pour into greased 15x10x1 baking pan. Bake at 350 for 25 min or until toothpick comes out clean. Cool.

For Frosting: Cream butter and cream cheese in mixing bowl. Gradually add powdered sugar and vanilla. Beat well. Spread over bars.

Kahlua Mudslide Brownies

A different spin on the ordinary brownie.

Ingredients:

Brownie Mix:

2 c flour

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

2/3 c butter

4 squares unsweetened choc chopped

3 eggs

1 1/2 c sugar

*** Don't feel like making homemade brownies? Just grab a box version and add the alcohol below!***

4 tbsp khlua

2 tbsp irish cream

1 tbsp vodka

Kahlua Glaze

1 1/4 c powdered sugar

3 tbsp kahlua

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 

Combine all brownie ingredients and blend well. Pour into a well greased 8x8 glass pan. Bake until toothpick comes out clean (about 28 min)

Combine glaze ingredients and pour over cool brownies.

Creamy Cucumber Salad

Another summer side dish!

Ingredients:

1 lg cucumber

1 medium sliced onion

1/2 tbsp salt

pinch of dry mustard

1/3 cup of sour cream

1 tbsp vinegar and a splash of water to dilute

2/3 tbsp lemon juice

1/3 or more (to taste) tbsp of sugar

Directions:

Peel and slice cucumber as thin as you like. Put in bowl with enough water to cover, add salt and blend well. Let soak in refrigerator for an hour.

Drain in colander and rinse once. 

Dry cucumber with towels. Combine rest of ingredients. Pour over cucumbers. Mix well and cover. Let stand for at least 1 hour in refrigerator.

Piri Piri Marinade

Thanks to my brother-in-law, Chris, for this amazing marinade. This is a delicious marinade for summer cook-outs. It works great with kabobs or just on it's own. Chicken seems to be the best medium for the marinade but it can be used with pork as well.
Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups olive oil
4 fresh jalapeno peppers (finely chopped)
1 tbsp crushed red pepper
1 tsp salt
1 tsp pepper
1 tbsp minced garlic
1 tbsp cilantro (optional, I usually omit)
1 tbsp kosher salt
Directions:
Combine olive oil, peppers, red pepper, salt and pepper in medium sauce pan. Bring to a boil and reduce heat. Simmer 4 minutes. Remove from heat. Stir in garlic and puree until smooth.
Refrigerate until cool. Stir in kosher salt and marinate meat.

Broccoli Salad

With warm weather approaching it's time to think of those cook-out side dishes!This one is so easy and delicious and definitely a crowd pleaser.  

Ingredients:

1 head of broc, chopped (I like to get those bags of pre-cut broc)

1 sm red onion, chopped

1/2 lb bacon, cooked & crumbled (turkey bacon works great)

1/2 lb mozarella cheese, shredded (go with part skim to save some calories)

1 cup mayo (you can use miracle whip but watch the sugar)

1/2 cup sugar

2 tbsp vinegar

Directions:

Combine mayo, sugar & vinegar to make dressing. Toss with salad ingredients.

**This is best to make the day before, the broc will soften and the dressing will get thinned out.

***Special thanks to Holly's mother-in-law for the recipe

Creamy Banana Pudding

This is a popular one and there are NEVER leftovers at parties.

Ingredients:

1(14oz) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk

1 1/2 cups cold water

1 (4 serving size) package of instant vanilla pudding

2 cups (1 pint) Cool Whip

1 box vanilla wafers (the mini's are good for this)

3 medium bananas dipped in lemon juice

Directions:

In a large bowl combine sweetened condensed milk and water. Add pudding mix, beat well. Chill 5 minutes. Fold in cool whip. Spoon 1 cup pudding mixture into glass bowl. Top with wafers, banana and then pudding. Repeat layering ending in pudding. Chill and garnish as desired!

Banana Crumb Muffins

Oh yum! If you are looking for an easy breakfast muffin, look no further. These were so easy and most of the ingredients should already be in your pantry.The recipe says it makes 10 but you can easily get 12 out of it. They freeze really well too!

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 (I substituted 2 tbsp of apple sauce)
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 preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.