Shauna's Banana Bread

I am not the biggest fan of banana bread because I am not the biggest fan of bananas, but this bread, oh my, is one of the best banana breads I've ever tasted. My dear friend, Shauna, would invite us over all the time for banana bread when we lived in Portland. Then she would send us home with a loaf. What a dear, dear woman. This is a family favorite!

Shauna's Delicious Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/4 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs
3 or 4 smashed bananas
1 tsp. lemon juice
1/2 c. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together sugar and butter. Then mix in eggs, bananas, lemon juice, milk, and vanilla. Add the remaining dry ingredients, beat until smooth. Pour into greased pans. This makes two large loaves of banana bread. Bake large loaves for 1 hour or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Don't overbake! Bake for less time if you make smaller loaves of bread.

Recipe Source: Shauna Nemelka

Overnight Crock Pot Oatmeal

There is nothing better than waking up to an already cooked breakfast.  This was so easy to prep the night before, and I even got to sleep in.  I just told the hubs breakfast was in the crock pot and he took care of the rest.  My 4 year old little lady chowed down on this.  She ate 3 bowls for breakfast.  (They were kid size bowls mind you.)  Then she had another bowl for lunch.  It was a really delicious and filling breakfast. 

The idea behind this oatmeal is that you create a double boiler with your crock pot.  The oatmeal ends up so creamy.  Seriously, it is a great way to cook up some oatmeal. 

Overnight Crock Pot Oatmeal

Ingredients:
1 - cup steel cut oats
4 - cups water
(if using a slow cooker liner decrease the water to 3 1/2 cups)
1/2 - cup half and half or milk
1 - cup dried fruit of choice, optional
(apples, raisins, cranberries, apricots etc)
1/4 - cup brown sugar
1 - tablespoon butter
1/2 - teaspoon vanilla extract
2-3 tablespoons cinnamon sugar

Directions:

First off, find a glass bowl that will hold four cups of liquid, and fit inside your crock pot with the lid on. Measure out one cup of Steele cut oats. Pour that into the inner bowl. Add the four cups of water, milk or half and half, brown sugar, vanilla, butter and cinnamon sugar. If you would like to add dried fruit or a cut up apple add it as well. Fill the crock with water to about halfway.

Set the inner bowl in the crock pot and see how high the water rises. Add more water in the crock pot if necessary. Try to match it so that the water reaches about the same height on the outside of the oats bowl or just below the bowl. Place the lid on your crock pot. Set on low and go to bed. When you get up the next morning your oatmeal should be cooked perfectly in that steamy water bath.  Serves 4-6.

Recipe Source:  Mommy's Kitchen

Easy Pistachio Layer Dessert

This dessert is easy and really scrumptious. We make this for St. Patrick's Day every year, but it is delicious at any time. You can also swap out the Pistachio Pudding for another favorite flavor, like maybe chocolate. You can make it in a flash!

Easy Pistachio Layer Dessert

Ingredients and Directions:

1st layer

Mix:

1 cup flour

1/2 cup margarine or butter

2 Tablespoons sugar

1/2 cup pecans chopped

When these ingredients have been mixed, press into a 9x13 inch pan. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until brown. Cool crust.

2nd layer

Mix until smooth:

8 ounces softened cream cheese

1 cup powdered sugar

1 cup whipped topping (from a 12 to 16 oz. container of whipped topping)

Spread onto cooled crust.

3rd layer

Prepare according to package directions:

1 large package pistachio pudding

Pour over 2nd layer and let it set.

4th layer

Put remainder of 12-16 ounce container of whipping topping on top of pudding and sprinkle with 1/2 cup chopped pecans or other type of nut.

Recipe Source: Momma Barney

Linked to:  Sweets for a Saturday