Cooking w/ Red & Connie ~ Connie's Bannana Bread

My Special Banana Bread Recipe!
banana bread is very special in my family. My grandfather
has made banana bread for our family gatherings for years, and it is always so good
and comforting. Since growing up, and moving into my own apartment I delight in all foods
that bring me back to my childhood. It took many tries to make this recipe a delicious one
of my own. I hope you enjoy!
INGREDIENTS: ( this makes TWO loaves)
*1 cup smart balance butter
*1/4 cup granulated sugar
*1/2 cup dark brown sugar
*4 egglands best eggs
*2 cups buttermilk
*4 1/2 cups flour
*2 tsps baking powder
*2 1/2 tsps baking soda
*8 mashed bananas
*1/2 tsp nutmeg
*about 1/4 cup cinnamon (or to taste)
*1 tbs almond extract

First: Preheat the oven to... 375 degrees!
*Then the magic begins!
I hardly ever measure properly... Red, always teases me about this. So, many of these measurements are an estimate =)
Oh, and that whole separate bowl for dry and wet ingredients... yyyeaahh too much cleanup, so I just dump it all in one!

STEP ONE: Cream smart balance and both sugars in a bowl
STEP TWO: Add eggs and stir

STEP THREE: Add buttermilk, baking soda, and almond extract...stir

yyyeahhh, at this point it'll look kind of gross, but TRUST ME, it's delicious!!!!

I like to peel all my bananas first before mushing them with my hands... Don't forget you need 8!!!
STEP FOUR: Add mushed bananas and stirSTEP FIVE: add cinnamon, nutmeg, flour, and baking powder and stir into the mixture.
STEP SIX: pour into bread pans... you'll need two this is a double recipe...
I like to freeze one to have on hand =)Waiting is the hardest part!!!
STEP SEVEN: Bake for 60-75 minutes (depending on size of pan) The pan you see here takes me 75 minutes to bake.Enjoy!!!

Happy Foodie Friday!! Click here to view more amazing recipes to satisfy any food craving

SkyWatch Friday ~ "Snowicane"

This Week is a Snow Watch!!!

it snowed all night Tuesday into Wednesday... we got

dismissed from school early, and then a SNOW DAY Wednesday!!!

TONS of SNOW!

we had hardly any snow left on the ground before this storm... now it's piled high!

...roads are slick...

trees are falling... thousands are with out power! Thick & heavy snow!

some action image of the snow

beautiful, but dangerous!

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SkyWatch Friday ~ Out Like a Lion

I guess this winter has been in like a lamb out like a lion... isn't that how it goes??

my week started with these spooky, but beautiful sky scenes...

these two spooky wood photos remind me of this book cover Fallen that I read

...and...then...we...got...snow...

ALL other schools in my county had the day off EXCEPT my district...and we didn't even get dismissed early. . . everyone, was upset.

it kept getting worse... as the day wore on

pulling into my complex...lucky to be safe & sound

good thing I found this jacket @ my 2nd job MAJORLY on sale for $15

for more beautiful views around the world visit..

Cooking w/ Red & Connie ~ Valentine's Day Style

Meatloaf

It's a fairly easy, but extremely tasty recipe.
Our Red and Connie sauce (on the right) is a tasty combo of
*DIJON mustard
*JACK DANIEL's # 7
*Salt & Pepper & Parsley
*EGGS

To begin Valentine's Day... First, Red made me an awesome omelet with this amazing smoked Gruyere cheese we got from the supermarket.
Then, we went to church!
At around 3:30 we began our meatloaf. It's a fairly easy, but extremely tasty recipe.It was SOOOO
* juicy
and
amazing. *
Even reheated!!!! THE RECIPE =)
2 packages meatloaf meat
1/2 cup celery
1 cup onion
3 cloves garlic
2 eggs
mustard
cream
Jack Daniel's No. 7 bbq sauce
salt
pepper
parsley

In a frying pan with 4tbs oil fry celery, onion, garlic until soft and then let stand to cool for a bit
In a bowl mix about 1 cup bbq sauce, 1/4 cup mustard, 1/4 cup cream, eggs, salt, pepper, parsley
Into a large bowl dump meat, add in sauce, and veggies
MIX THOROUGHLY
put mixture into an oven safe pan and cook for 70 minutes at 350 degrees
ENJOY =)

Join me in celebrating Foodie Friday's first anniversary.

SkyWatch Friday ~ Snow Day

Let it Snow, Let it Snow, Let it Snow!

the parking lot of my apartment complex in between the two storms!! But, NO SCHOOL !!!! YAY

On my way home (this picture is from my cell phone in my car). . . during the second snow storm, which was nearly as bad as the first... the roads were TERRIBLE!!!

from my window. . . watching it fall!This morning we woke up to a 2 hr delay!!! I sent this picture to my sister in response to the one she sent me from Florida of a palm tree!!!

my drive to work this morning was winter peace.

a little tipsy turvy but I tried to capture the beauty of the end of the storms on my way to work!

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SkyWatch Friday ~ Birthdays and Snow

A 2 hr delay this week & Happy Birthday, Dad!!!

some snowy weather led to our first 2 hr delay this season

skies that are gettin' ready for the snow!!!

Happy 55th Birthday, Dad! I've had and continue to have so many dreams for my life, and I attribute that to the way you live/teach/discover. You don't realize how much you've already done and shown us through your own life--how you live it--and the dreams and accomplishments you've had. Thank you for all of that--for your life and showing us how to live our own.

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