The past week (#1)

For awhile, I haven't been in my usual housewife mood. Been stressed and such, so I've been slacking a bit in the kitchen and cleaning departments. Gave myself a mental slap and have been "trying" to get back to normal.

As for cooking, I've made some frozen yogurt pops. I just used vanilla yogurt and put a strawberry on the bottom, though some had M&M's on the bottom instead. They were good. You can some more recipes for frozen treats over here. I also made my favorite banana bread; vintage banana bread recipe. I didn't have brown sugar for it, so doubled the white sugar. It was still just has good.

Tried 2 new recipes yesterday, and will try one today for dinner. Recipes for those will be posted within the next few days. I have a few meals already prepared in the freezer, just waiting to be cooked. I think I'm getting my groove back.

So what did you do over the week?

Recipes :: Frozen Pops (round 2)

Pop-ular Mechanics

Follow these directions for all recipes unless noted:

1. Pour treat mixture into eight standard 3-oz pop molds; insert plastic sticks or cover with foil and make slits for wooden sticks.

2. Freeze until completely solid, 3 to 4 hours.

3. Let rest 5 to 10 minutes before removing. If pops are hard to get out, run molds under warm water for 10 seconds.

Iced Cocoa

1. Mix together 2 tbs unsweetened cocoa powder and 2 tbs sugar.

2. Add 2 tbs water and stir into a paste.

3. Then mix in 2 3/4 cups reduced-fat milk.

Fruit Smoothie

1. In a blender, puree 1 1/2 cups of strawberries, 1 banana, and 1 cup low-fat yogurt.

2. Thinly slice another banana. 

3. Press banana slices against the sides of molds; fill with berry mixture.

Cupcake

1. Shake sprinkles into eight silicone or foil cupcake wrappers.

2. Spread 2 to 3 tsp nutella on the bottom and partially up the side of each wrapper.

3. Freeze until hardened, 1 to 2 hours.

4. Fill with low-fat banana yogurt.

5. Cover with foil, make a slit, and insert a wooden pop stick.

6. Freeze 3 to 4 hours or until solid. 

7. Peel off wrappers, thaw a little, and serve.

Recipe :: vintage banana bread

Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
5 tbsp milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1 cup mashed bananas - equates to 2-3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)


Instructions
1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x5 loaf pan.

2. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt.

3. In a large bowl, cream white and brown sugar and butter until the sugar is dissolved.

4. Beat the egg slightly and mix into creamed mixture with cinnamon, vanilla, and bananas.

5. Mix in sifted ingredients until just combined. Stir in milk and nuts. Spread batter into loaf pan.

6. Bake 50-60 minutes until top is brown and cracks along the top and until a knife inserted comes out clean.

7. Cool for 10 minutes. Remove loaf and continue to cool.


My Thoughts
It's amazing!!! It tastes so old style, like I bought it from a small old country town. Will be making more very soon! Best I've ever made.

Recipe :: lighter banana muffins

I make these often. They are delicious!

Ingredients

• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 3/4 cup white sugar (I use Splenda)
• 1/4 cup fat free milk

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease or line 10 muffin cups.
2. In a medium bowl, combine eggs, milk, and bananas. In a separate bowl, mix together flour and sugar. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture. Fold in walnuts if desired. Pour batter into prepared muffin cups.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.