Banana, Apple, and Orange Muffins

My son wanted to help me make breakfast this morning and I had found a recipe for Paula Deen's Orange Banana Bread but I didn't have enough ingredients to make it. So I figured with a little tweaking we could come up with a yummy alternative. This muffin recipe is what we came up with. These are moist with flavorful little bursts of orange. They are wonderful with cream cheese or butter when they are fresh from the oven.

Print Recipe

Banana, Apple and Orange Muffins 

1/2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt 1 mashed banana (1/4 cup)
1 4oz container of applesauce (1/2 cup)
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 Tbsp melted butter
3 Tbsp vanilla yogurt
1 egg, lightly beaten
zest from 1 orange
1/4-1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

Preheat your oven to 350 F. Line a muffin tin with paper liners or spray with non-stick spray.

In a large bowl combine the flours, sugar, baking soda and salt. In another bowl combine the banana, applesauce, vanilla, butter, yogurt, egg, zest, and cinnamon and whisk until smooth. Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients stirring just enough to incorporate all of the flour.

Using a large scoop, scoop the batter into 10 muffin cups. Bake until a wooden toothpick comes out clean, about 18-22 minutes.

Makes 10 standard size muffins.

Quilt Size Reference Chart

I found this great chart online and wanted to share!  Instead of having to pull out a book everytime...

To view the original post please visit:
Quilt Size Reference Chart

Creamy White, Pink, and Brown Puffy Baby Girl Blanket

One of my good friends is finally having a little baby girl after two boys.  She has helped me out when I needed her and I wanted to make her a quilt that was a little different, and special.  Last year I saw a few different Puffy Quilts on Pinterest, and though this one is a little different from the ones I saw I hope that she will like it.  I figured it would be great for tummy time, to take cute pictures, or for a soft place to nap when out and about.  Tell me what you think!

Creamy White, Pink, and Brown Puffy Baby Girl Blanket

 

1st I cut out 6" squares from each of my different fabrics

Then I cut out enough 5" squares of muslin to go with each piece of fabric and pined them in place.  Sew with a 1/4" seam allowance around the border leaving a 2" hole to stuff your puffs.

I didn't end up using all my puffs, I should have laid out my fabric first... Oh well.

I laid out the pattern that I liked, then sewed my puffs into rows, then I sewed my rows into one big block.  I cut out 2" strips of the same green fabric I used in my quilt for edging.  Then I cut 6" strips of the creamy white minky fabric for the border.

I laid out my brown circle flannel fabric then batting, smoothing them flat.  Then laid my blanket top on top and pinned in place.  I stitched in the ditch around the green edging, then attached the binding which is the same pink fabric I used in some of my puffs.

This one took quite awhile since I stitched each puff together twice.  I didn't want them coming apart with washing or wear since it would be really hard to repair.  Next time I don't think I would fill my puffs so full.  I got quite the upper arm work out trying to smash them flat to sew them all together.  But I am happy with the result.  Even if my husband does think it looks like a bunch of bras...

Terrifically Easy Turkey Meatball Sub

One of my favorite sandwiches is a Meatball Sub and I figured they couldn't be too hard to make.  For dinner the other night I had some ground turkey and I bought some soft Italian buns so I thought they would be perfect for dinner.

Terrifically Easy Turkey Meatball Sub

1 lb ground turkey
1/3 cup Italian Seasoned Bread Crumbs
pinch of kosher salt
pepper to taste
1 garlic clove pressed
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 jar of your favorite Marinara Sauce, I like Newman's Own
1 tsp Italian Seasoning
1/4 cup Parmesan cheese
Sliced Provolone cheese

In a mixing bowl mix the meat, salt and pepper, garlic and bread crumbs.  Add in the egg and stir to combine.

I cooked my meatballs on the stove top but you can easily bake them if you prefer to do it that way... Preheat a large 12" skillet over medium high heat and drizzle with olive oil.  Using a medium sized scoop,  scoop out meat mixture from the mixing bowl and either shape into a true ball, or just put directly into your pan (I got about 20 meatballs from my turkey mixture).  I kind of like them a little flat on one side, they stay on your sandwich better.  Cook until brown on one side, flip and cover.  Reduce the heat to medium and cook until done.  About 10 minutes.

If you want to bake your meatballs, preheat your oven to 350 F.  Line a baking sheet with aluminum foil or parchment paper.  Spray lightly with non-stick cooking spray.  Place meatballs on the baking pan and bake about 15 minutes.  Remove from the oven, turn over and return to the oven for another 5 minutes until fully cooked.

Add the jar of sauce to the large skillet with the Italian seasoning and Parmesan cheese.  Stir and bring to a simmer.  Heat your oven to 400 F and toast the buns for about 4 minutes until warm.  Spoon about 4 meatballs onto each bun, cut the cheese in half and add to the meatballs.  Return to the oven for 2-5 minutes until cheese is nice and melted and the bottom bun is starting to brown.

Makes 6 Sub Sandwiches

January Book Club: The Casual Vacancy

For those of you who liked the book, I hope I do not offend you with what I have to say...

For me this book was a waste of time and money.  It was an expensive book and not at all what I had expected from J.K. Rowling.  I was a fan of Harry Potter and I went in to this book knowing it was written for adults and not going to be like Harry Potter, I didn't have a problem with that, but I was not in anyway prepared for what lay ahead.  

Almost from the first page there was Explicit descriptions of things not at all necessary to the plot.  Had I not read this for the book club I would never have continued reading it.  To me the story was not enough to redeem the language and unnecessary details.  The concept of the story was OK;  everyone likes a little small town drama.  But I truly feel that this could have been a good book had she taken the time not to shock us with extreme content but instead took the time to execute the story effectively.  

For my friends out there, I would say skip this one and use your time on something better.  This book had such a negative impact on me while I was reading it.  I didn't realize how much it was draining me until I stopped reading it.

The Casual Vacancy by J.K. Rowling (Sept. 27, 2012)

Barry Fairbrother dies unexpectedly at a young age in the small English town of Pagford.  The story follows the choas through multiple perspectives: the rich and poor, teenagers and parents, wives and husbands, teachers and students.  This town is not what it appears to be on the outside.  The story shows the power of politics and the struggles of those who seek power.

Bread-Maker Burger Buns

For dinner last night I knew we were going to be busy since we had to turn in our cars for the Pinewood Derby coming up and I had everything I needed for Hamburgers except for buns.  Since I really wanted to wait until today to go shopping since the commissary isn't open on Monday's I thought I could whip some up really quick.  If you don't utilize the dough cycle on your Bread Maker, check it out.  It is an easy way to get homemade bread in your house!

Print Recipe

Bread-maker Burger Buns

1 cup warm milk (85-95 F)

2 Tbsp melted butter

1 egg at room temperature

3 1/4 cups bread flour (you can just use all purpose flour if you don't have bread flour)

1 tsp kosher salt

3 Tbsp sugar

2 1/2 tsp breadmachine yeast

1 Tbsp melted butter to brush the tops

Add the sugar and salt to the pan.  In a small bowl mix the milk, butter, and egg, then add all at once to the bread pan.  The flour goes in next, then the yeast goes in last.  When I add my flour I don't use a completely full cup I lightly scoop and shake it level instead of using a knife.  By using just a little less flour, you get a nice soft lighter dough.  Start the dough cycle and go do whatever you need to do for about 1 1/2 hours.

When the cycle is complete.  Grease a large bowl (plastic or glass), I use shortening.  Dump the dough from the pan removing the little hook into the bowl.  Punch down and shape into a ball.  Turn to coat with the grease, cover with a towel and leave it for about 45 minutes.  You do not have to do this second rise but your patience will be rewarded if you do.  If you skip the second rise move directly to the next step.

Preheat the oven to 350 F.  Lightly flour your work surface.  Roll out your dough about 1/2" thick and cut with a glass.  One batch made 12 buns for me.  You can cut them smaller and make slider buns if you want... Place buns on a greased baking sheet, cover and let rise 30-45 minutes.  Remove the towel and use a pastry brush to brush the tops of the buns with 1 Tbsp of melted butter.  Bake for 15-20 minutes until nice and golden brown.  Cool.  Don't cut them until right before you are going to use them, you don't want them to dry out.

Slice in half and serve.  Or slice in half and toast cut side down in a 400 F oven for about 5 minutes until beautiful and crispy.

Cherry Coca Cola Cupcakes

For my Pinterest Party tonight I wanted to make something special.  I have been craving cherry chocolates lately and I'm not quite ready to dig out my Grandma's recipe to make the real thing so I thought I would just make something using the flavors I was craving!  I happened to have a can of Coke in the fridge, this would be great with Cherry Coke or even Dr. Pepper.

Cherry Coca Cola Cupcakes

1 box Chocolate Fudge Cake Mix
1 small box Instant Chocolate Pudding
Egg and oil to make the cake from the directions on the back of the box
Instead of water use the the Coke as the liquid mine was 1 1/4 cups

Chocolate sauce
1/2 stick butter
1 1/2 Tbsp cocoa powder
3 Tbsp milk, cream, or evaporated milk
1 cup powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla

Cherry Frosting
1 cup pureed cherries (I had some frozen from the summer, so I just defrosted those)
1 stick butter, softened
1/2 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract
red gel food coloring
approximately 6 cups powdered sugar

Preheat oven to 325 F.  Put liners in 2 cupcake pans.

For the cake.  In a mixing bowl mix the cake mix, pudding, eggs, oil, and soda.  Mix with beaters following the directions on the box.  Using a large scoop, fill each liner 2/3 full of batter. Bake 18-25 minutes until puffed and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Remove from the oven and let cool for 5 minutes.  Remove from the pan and let cool completely.

In a small sauce pan melt the butter.  Add cocoa powder and milk, stirring until dissolved.  Vigorously whisk in the powdered sugar and remove from heat.  Keep whisking until all the clumps disappear.  Add the vanilla.  Transfer to a bowl and partially cool.

Dip the top of each cupcake into the chocolate sauce and return to the wire rack to let set up completely.

Add the butter to a clean mixing bowl.  Add 1 cup of the powdered sugar and mix with electric beaters.  Add in the cherry puree and another cup or two of the powdered sugar.  Add in the extracts and red gel food coloring if desired.  Add more sugar a little at a time until the frosting reaches your desired consistency. I used my Pampered Chef Easy Accent Decorator for the frosting.  Mine ended up being a little softer that I had hoped I should have put in a little more sugar...