Banana Muffins

Have a couple of bananas that are ripening way too fast?

...Bake banana muffins!!

Sugared tops make these perfect muffins crisp on the top while still being very moist!

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Banana Muffins

Makes: 30 standard size muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 c. oil
• 1 1/2 c. sugar
• 3 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas (1 c.)
• 1 tsp. vanilla
• 1 c. buttermilk (or 1 T. vinegar + milk)
• 1 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
• 1 3/4 c. white flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
2. Mix ingredients together.
3. Scoop into muffin pans.
4. Sprinkle sugar on top of each muffin.
5. Bake for 15-20 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Taco Chili

 Taco chili definitely takes away the chills on cold, wintry days!

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Taco Chili

Serves: about 6

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef
• 1 med. onion (or minced onion shaked on) 
• 1 (8 oz.) can tomato sauce
• 1 c. water
• 1 (16 oz.) can corn (or frozen sweet corn)
• 1 (16 oz.) can pinto beans
• 1 (16 oz.) can black beans
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 pkg. mild taco seasoning

Directions:

1. In large soup pot, brown ground beef.
2. Add remaining ingredients. (Drain beans.) Let simmer.
3. May serve with Cheddar cheese and tortilla chips.

Tuna for Two

Try this tuna salad for lunch today! Or double or triple this recipe for a crowd!

Tuna for Two

Serves: 2

Ingredients:

• 1 (5 oz.) can tuna
• 3 hard boiled eggs
• 2 Tbsp. Miracle Whip
• 1 tsp. mustard
  
  *Add 2-3 Tbsp. pickle relish for even more flavor!

Directions:

1. Mix all together.
2. Serve with your choice of crackers.

Skillet Chili and Chips

Fast, flavorful, fiber-filled---fantastic!!!

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Skillet Chili and Chips

Serves: about 5

Ingredients:

• 1 lb. ground beef, browned
• minced onion, to taste
• 1 (16 oz.) can kidney beans
• 2- 8 oz. cans tomato sauce
• 1 (14.5 oz.) can petite diced tomatoes
• 1 tsp. chili powder
• 1/4 tsp. garlic powder

Directions:

1. Cook ground beef and onion in a large skillet until meat is brown. Drain off fat.
2. Stir in remaining ingredients. Bring to a boil.
3. Serve with tortilla chips!

Ham and Cheese Quiche

Need something fulfilling for breakfast or hearty enough for dinner? Try this!

Sit down with some coffee and orange juice...

And ENJOY!

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Ham and Cheese Quiche

Yield: one 9-inch pie pan

Ingredients

• prepared pie crust
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/4 c. milk
• 1 T. flour
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/4 tsp. garlic salt
• dash nutmeg
• dash black pepper
• 2 tsp. minced onion
• 1 c. shredded cheese (I use mostly sharp cheddar with some mozzarella)
• 1 c. diced ham
• 1/3 c. shredded carrots
• parsley for garnish

Directions

1. Prepare and bake previous No-Roll Pie Crust recipe
2. Sprinkle around 2 T. of cheese immediately on hot, baked pie crust to cover holes.
3. Mix remaining ingredients together. Pour into crust. Sprinkle top with parsley for garnish.
4. Bake at 375 degrees for 45-50 minutes or until a knife comes out clean.
5. Let set 10-15 minutes before serving.

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Mix the ingredients.

Sprinkle shredded cheese over holes in baked, hot crust.

Time-Lapse Video :)

Tada!!

No-Roll Pie Crust

This no-roll pie crust recipe truly makes it "easy as pie"! ;)

Use this recipe with any sweet pie filling for dessert or for a quiche.

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No-Roll Pie Crust

Makes one 9" pie pan

Ingredients

• 3/4 c. whole wheat flour
• 3/4 c. white flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. sugar
• 1/4 tsp. salt
• 1/2 c. oil, generous
• 2 T. milk

Directions

1. Mix flour, sugar and salt in ungreased 9-inch pie pan. 
2. In a separate bowl, whisk together milk and oil with a fork.
3. Combine ingredients and blend together with fork in pie pan.
4. Pat in pan and up the sides. Prick with fork.
5. Bake at 400 degrees for 12 minutes. (I check after 5 minutes to make sure there are no air pockets.)

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Crock-Pot Italian Sausage Quinoa Soup

This soup hits the spot! Full of flavor and satisfying ingredients!! 

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Crock Pot Italian Sausage Quinoa Soup

Yeild: 4 quarts

Ingredients

• 1 package Sweet Italian Turkey Sausage, browned
• 8 c. Chicken Stock
• 3 (14.5 oz.) cans undrained diced tomatoes (flavored with basil, garlic, and oregano)
• 1 large onion, chopped
• 2 c. potatoes, diced
• 1 c. mushrooms, chopped (Portabella)
• 1 Tbsp. Italian Seasoning
• 1 c. rice and quinoa blend

Directions

1. Remove casing and brown Italian Turkey Sausage
2. Dump ingredients into crock pot. Stir a little to evenly distribute ingredients.
3. Cook in crock pot on High 3-4 hours or on Low 6-8 hours.

*All of these ingredients can easily be found at Aldi's

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**Special thanks and shout out to Emma for creating this amazing recipe!!

Peppermint Pie

Put those holiday peppermint candy canes to good use by making this delicious ad refreshing pie!!

A custard bottom paired with a peppermint whipped topping.

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Peppermint Pie

Yield: one 9-inch pie

Ingredients

• 1 baked pie crust
• 1 1/2 c. milk
• 1/4 tsp. nutmeg
• 3 beaten egg yolk
• 1/2 c. sugar
• 1/8 tsp. salt
• 1 Tbsp. Knox unflavored gelatin (or 1 package)
• 3 Tbsp. cold water
• 3 egg whites
• 1 c. whipping cream (or 1 small carton) 
• 8 large, regular sized *peppermint candy canes, ground fine (or 3/4 c.)
  

Directions

1. Heat milk and nutmeg. Cook until it thickens, or can coat a spoon. (Not quite boiling.)
2. Dissolve 1 Tbsp of gelatin in 3 Tbsp of COLD water and add to above mixture. Sir well. Refrigerate in bowl until cool but not jelled.
3. Beat egg whites until stiff peaks form (or when the beaten egg whites hold their shape at the end of a whisk), then add to the above mixture. Add to baked pie crust. Refrigerate until set. 
4. Whip the cream. Stir in ground peppermint candy. Spread over top of custard layer.
5. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

* 1 candy cane = 4 red/white starlight peppermints, if you need to substitute.

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**Peppermint Pie is a family tradition that is passed down by Grandma Bradle, who makes it best! ;)

Autumn Chicken Dinner

Reminiscing back to one of my all time favorite dishes--Autumn Chicken Dinner!! 

Combines one of the most perfect sweet, salty, hearty meal combos ever! 

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One Pan Autumn Chicken Dinner

Serves: About 4 servings

Ingredients

• 4-5 bone-in, skin on chicken thighs
• 4 Tbsp. olive oil
• 1 1/2 Tbsp, red whine vinegar
• 1 1/2 tsp. garlic powder
• 1/2 tsp. each thyme, sage, and rosemary
• Salt and pepper to taste
• 2 large sweet potatoes, chopped into 3/4-inch cubes
• 1 lb. Brussels sprouts, sliced into halves
• 2 Fuji apples, cored and sliced into half moons about 3/4-inch thick
• 1 onion chopped

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 450 degrees.
2. Pour 2 Tbsp. olive oil, red wine vinegar, garlic and herbs into a gallon size resealable bag, add chicken, season with salt and pepper and then seal bag and massage mixture over chicken while working to evenly distribute herbs. Set aside and let rest while chopping veggies.
3. Place sweet potatoes, Brussels sprouts, apples, and onion on a large rimmed baking sheet. Drizzle with remaining 2 Tbsp. olive oil. Assemble chicken thighs onto tray. Sprinkle with garlic salt and pepper to taste.
4. Roast in oven until chicken and veggies are golden brown, about 35-40 minutes. Chicken should register to around 180 in center.

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The Famous Molasses Cookies

Counting down the days until Christmas--only 4 more days!! Add to your Christmas season by smelling up your house with these perfect holiday Molasses cookies!! :)

I can just smell the sweet, molasses aroma....!!

Notice this perfect cookie texture!! Cracked top, chewy center, crispy edges--PERFECT!

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Molasses Cookies

Yield: 5 dozen

Ingredients

• 1 c. butter                                        
• 1 c. brown sugar
• 1 c. sugar 
• 2 eggs
• 3/4 c. Molasses                
• 4 1/2 c. flour
• 1/2 tsp. salt
• 4 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. cloves
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 2 tsp. ginger

Directions

1. Cream together butter and sugar, adding eggs, then molasses. 
2. Add dry ingredients, mixing well.
3. Refrigerate dough a few hours until cold.
4. Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
5. Make into 1-inch balls and roll in sugar.
6. Bake for 10 minutes.

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**Thanks to Mindy for recreating this old favorite by using only 2 sticks of butter! A bit healthier without compromising taste or texture! Quite the chef! ;)