Here is a new Banana Cake with cream cheese icing. I tried on the weekend. It is delicious, turned out great. My family loved it :)

Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Icing

Ingredients:

• 1 1/2 cups ripe bananas , mashed
• 2 teaspoons of lemon juice ( i use the bottled Real lemon )
• 3 cups of flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons of baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon of salt
• 3/4 cup of butter or margarine , softened
• 2 1/8 cups sugar
• 3 large eggs
• 2 teaspoons of vanilla
• 1 1/2 cups of buttermilk

Frosting:

• 1/2 cup of butter or margarine, softened
• 1 ( 8 ounce) package of cream cheese softened
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 3 1/2 cups icing sugar

Garnish (optional)

• Chopped walnuts or pecans ( i like to grind pecans in a coffee grinder to make them really small to sprinkle )

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 275*F
2. Grease or spray a bunt pan or 9 x 13 pan.
3. In a small bowl,mix mashed bananas with the lemon juice; set aside.
4. In a medium bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.
5. In your mixing bowl , cream 3/4 cup of butter or margarine and 2 1/8 cups of sugar until light and fluffy.
6. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in 2 teaspoons of vanilla.
7. Beat in the flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk.
8. Stir in banana mixture.
9. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake in preheated 275* F degree oven.
10. Set oven for one hour, bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. ( it took my bunt pan 1 hour and 15 min )
11. Cool in pan for 10 min, then remove from pan to a cooling rack and cool completely.
12. For the frosting, cream the butter or margarine and cream cheese until smooth.
13. Beat in 1 teaspoon of vanilla.
14. Add icing sugar a little at a time on low speed until combined, then on high speed until frosting is smooth.
15. Spread on cooled cake.
16. Sprinkle chopped pecans or walnuts over top of frosting, if desired.
17. Enjoy!
18. If it is not too warm in the house it can stay on the counter covered for a day or two. After that it should go in the fridge covered. Also you can cut pieces and freeze in individual containers for later , just thaw and enjoy! 

Manwich Cups

Manwich Cups

Ingredients:

1 Can Pillsbury Country Biscuits

1 Can of Manwich

1 Pound of Ground Beef

2 Green Onions Chopped

1/2 Cup of Shredded Cheddar, or any cheese you like

Instructions : 

Preheat oven to 400 *F

1. Fry Ground Beef till cooked. Add can of manwich to the frying pan. Simmer while you prepare the biscuits. 

2. Spray a 12 muffin tin with cooking spray.

3. Open the can of biscuits. There are 10 in a package. Flatten the biscuits using your fingers . Place each flattened biscuit in a hole in the muffin tin. Make sure it goes up the sides alittle.

4. Spoon the manwich mixture into each cup. Top with cheese.

5.Bake in the oven at 400*F for 9 -10 minutes. or golden brown.

6. Remove carefully they are hot. ( sometimes a spoon dipped under lifts them well.)

7. Garnish with green onions or any topping you like. 

*** Serve with Fries, Salad Etc 

**** put a little water in the 2 unused cups before baking

Apple Crisp in a Jar

Apple Crisp in a Jar !

Ingredients:

6 to 8 apples ( i used McIntosh) peel and core,  and chop.

1 cup of rolled oats

1 cup packed brown sugar 

1/2 cup flour

1/2 tsp cinnamon 

1/2 cup of softened butter or margarine ( margarine is usually perfect from the tub, soft enough)

Caramel ice cream syrup ( i like Smuckers)

Directions:

1. Peel and core your apples. Then chop into bite size pieces.

2. Spray jars with cooking spray.

3. Fill jars 3/4 full with apples.

4. Squeeze some caramel syrup on the apples

5. In a bowl combine the rolled oats,brown sugar, flour, cinnamon and softened butter. i like to combine with a pastry cutter . Mix until it is a wet crumble , all incorporated.

6. Cover the apples with the crumble.

7. Bake in oven at 375*f for 20-30 min.I put my jars in a muffin tin( be careful its a little rocky but works well.

*** Let cool completely on a wire rack ,then cover and refrigerate.

*** When baked they will shrink, it leaves enough room for ice cream.

*** I made 12,   250ml  mason jars. 

*** I rewarmed at the campsite in the microwave for 1 min 30 seconds ( be careful jars are warm)

**** Also can make same recipe , put in a pie plate. Bake and serve. 

Enjoy  :)

Taco Casserole

Taco Casserole

Ingredients:

1  245 gram  bag of Nacho Cheese Doritos , Crushed ( or a bag of  Spicy Doritos if you like it spicy)

1 pound of Hamburg

1 pkg of Taco Seasoning regular or spicy depending on the heat you want.

2  cups of shredded mozzarella cheese

2  cups of shredded cheddar  cheese  

1  cup of chopped lettuce

1  cup of chopped Tomato

1  cup of chopped green onion

 *** You may also add any other toppings you would like in a taco, green peppers, jalapeno peppers etc.

Instructions:

1. Brown your hamburg  ( drain if very greasy). Add 1 cup of water and the taco seasoning to the pan. Bring to a boil, then simmer till almost all the water is gone.

2. Crush your Doritos and set aside. Chop all your vegetables. Mix your 2 cheeses together.

3. Layer ingredients in a 9 X 13 casserole pan as listed.--- Crushed Doritos, Seasoned Hamburg, 2/3 of  cheese, lettuce,tomato, green onions and top with the remaining cheese. Bake at 350 degrees  for 15-20 minutes.

**** I like to serve with garlic bread on the side. Enjoy :)

Cheesy Montreal Steak Spice Oven Potatoes

Cheesy Montreal Steak Spice Oven Potatoes

Ingredients:

5 or 6 good size potatoes washed and chopped into bite size pieces

Montreal Steak spice

1 large Onion diced

1 and a half cups of cheese Shredded , What ever cheese you like, cheddar, mozzarella, Tex mex  .

Olive oil

1. Line a baking sheet with foil. Spray with cooking spray.  Spread potatoes on the cookie sheet, sprinkle the diced onions on it. Pour about 4 Tbsp of olive oil it. I use my hands to rub the potatoes in the olive oil.when the potatoes are all coated with olive oil. ( feel free to add more olive oil if needed to coat) spread them evenly on the pan. sprinkle with montreal steak spice. Then cover with spreeded cheese. Now i spray a piece of foil to cover the potatoes. Put it in a 350 degree F oven for 45 minutes or till potatoes are cooked.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins ( Better than Tim's )

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

Ingredients:

2 cups of  Canned Pumpkin ( not Pie filling)

3 cups All Purpose flour

2 Cups White Sugar

2 Teaspoons Baking soda

Half Teaspoon Baking Powder

2 Teaspoons Ground Cloves

2 Teaspoons Ground Cinnamon

2 Teaspoons Ground Nutmeg

1 Teaspoon Ground  Allspice

1 Teaspoon Salt

2/3 Cup Vegetable Oil

3 Eggs

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F . Grease ( make sure to grease top of pan also) 12 muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

2. In a large bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, cloves, cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice and salt. In mixing bowl ( stand mixer) , beat together pumpkin puree, vegetable oil and eggs. Now mix the flour mixture into the pumpkin mixture. Mix until smooth. Scoop batter into muffin cups  ( will look over full its okay)

3. Bake in preheated oven for 25 to 30 min, or until tooth pick comes out clean.

4. Cool in pan for 5 min, then cool completely on a rack.

*** I like to insert some store bought cream cheese icing inside the cupcakes using a cake decorator with the filling tip.

*** I just store in covered container on counter. So good they disappear. 

*** also I started using a tool to remove a plug out of the cupcake, then insert cream cheese icing using a piping bag into the hole. This is the best updated way to do it

Crockpot Easy Meatballs

1 jar of Grape Jelly

1 jar of Chili sauce

1 box of Frozen Meatballs

Put all three ingredients in crockpot, Stir. Cook on high about 3 hours, low about 6 hours. I used precooked meatballs so didn't take long to cook. Serve with mashed potatoes or rice and veggies.

** hint to get all the chili sauce out of the bottle, pour about a inch of water in the bottle shake then pour on the meatballs.