Banana Blueberry Streusel Muffins

1/2 cup butter at room temperature
1/2 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup milk
3 medium very ripe bananas, mashed
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup fresh or frozen blueberries (do not thaw)

Streusel Topping:

Combine:

3 tablespoon flour
2 tablespoons packed brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Cut in butter until crumbly.

2 tablespoons butter

Stir in:

1/3 cups chopped pecans

Beat butter and sugar until fluffy Add the eggs one at a time mixing well. Stir in vanilla and bananas. Combine well.

In a separate bowl, mix the dry ingredients. Slowly add to the butter mixture mixing at low speed just until moistened. Do not overmix. Stir in the blueberries and mix with a spoon.
Distribute evenly in muffin pans that have been lined-up with aluminum foil cups. Sprinkle with the streusel.

Bake at 350 for 20 minutes or until a toothpoick inserted in the center of a muffin comes out clean.

Remove to a wire rack and eat them warm or cold.


Makes 18 muffins

Healthy Applesauce -Oat muffins

Mel's Kitchen Cafe
www.melskitchencafe.com

1 cup rolled/old-fashioned oats
1 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup milk
1 large egg
1 teaspoon vanilla
4 tablespoons butter or coconut oil, melted
1/3 cup sugar
3/4 cup whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup dried cranberries or raisins, optional

Preheat the oven to 375 F.Line a 12-cup muffin tin with liners or grease the muffin cups. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, stir together the oatmeal, applesauce, milk, egg, vanilla, butter and sugar. Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt (and cranberries or raisins if using). Make a well in the center and pour in the applesauce mixture. Stir until just combine (do not overmix or the muffins will be dense and dry). The muffin batter texture might be a bit different (wetter?) than other muffin batters but no fear, carry on!

Distribute the batter evenly among the 12 muffin cups. Bake for 15-20 minutes until a toothpick inerted comes out clean. Don't overbake or the muffins will be dry.

remove the muffins to a rack to cool completely. Once cool, I place 6-9 muffins in a large freezer ziploc bag, suck all the air out and seal the bag, then freeze pulling them one by one to stick in my kids lunches or warm slightly for a snack.

Makes 12 muffins

Mom's Applesauce Pancakes

All Recipes, Shirley Smith
www.allrecipes.com

2 cups dry pancake mix
2 eggs
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon lemon juice


In a large bowl, stir together pancake mix and cinnamon. Make a well in the center of the pancake mix. Add the applesauce, milk, eggs and lemon juice. Stir until smooth.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle or frying pan over medium-high heat. Pour or scoop the batter onto the griddle using approximately 1/4 cup for each pancake. Brown on both sides and serve hot.

NOTE. I added 1/2 cup finely chopped apples to the batter.

Makes 4 servings

Chocolate Cream Cheese Stuffed Monkey Bread

Tasty. A wonderful Facebook page.

2 (16 oz) containers of biscuit dough (16 big biscuits total)
8-12 oz cream cheese
Chocolate chips (we use dark chocolate)


1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 F (175 C)

Cut biscuits in half and cube the cream cheese (32 pieces). Flatten each biscuit and place 1 cube of cream cheese and a few chocolate chips in the center of each. Fold the biscuit dough around the cream cheese and chocolate and form into a ball.

In 1 gallon plastic bag combine 1 cup white sugar and 2 teaspoon cinnamon. Add 6-8 dough balls to the bag; seal the bag and shake until well-coated. Repeat for the remainder of the  stuffed dough pieces. In a microwave-safe bowl, add 1 cup brown sugar and 1/2 cup butter. Microwave on High for 70 seconds-stopping halfway to stir. Remove from microwave and stir until it has a caramel consistency. Repeat with remaining walnuts, dough and glaze.

Bake in preheated oven 30-35 minutes. Remove from the oven and turn upside-down onto a plate to cool for 10 minutes before lifting off the pan (this way the warm glaze runs back through and fully coats all the bread). Lift off the Bundt pan, pull apart and enjoy.

Chocolate Chip Cinnamon Waffles

The Dinner Doctor Cookbook,  Anne Byrn.

Vegetable oil cooking spray for misting the waffle iron

1 3/4 cups biscuit mix such as Bisquick
2 tablespoons unsweetened cocoa
1 1/4 cups milk
1 large egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
Pinch of ground cinnamon
1/4 cup miniature chocolate chips

Preheat an electric waffle iron. Mist the top and bottom of the interior with vegetable oil cooking spray. Preheat the oven to 250 F (you will use it to keep the waffles warm until they are all ready to serve).

Place the biscuit mix, cocoa, milk, egg, oil and cinnamon in a large mixing bowl and stir to combine well. Fold in the chocolate chips and mix until they are just incorporated. Ladle about 1/3 of the batter onto the hot waffle iron, spreading it out so that it almost but not entirely covers the bottom. Close the lid and cook the waffle for 3-4 minutes or until the light comes on to indicate that the waffle is done. The waffle is fully cooked when it does not stick to the top or bottom of the iron. Using a fork, transfer the waffle to a heatproof plate and place it in the oven to keep warm. Repeat with the remaining waffle batter.

Makes 6 waffles (6 inches each)

Note: I added 2 tablespoons sugar to the batter before cooking and more cinnamon.

Monkey Bread

20-22 frozen Rhodes white dinner rolls (do not use Texas white dinner rolls)
1- 1/2 cup chopped pecans
Butter to grease the pan

2 small packages Cook and Serve butterscotch pudding and pie filling (do not use instant pudding)

1/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon

1/4 cup butter, melted

Sprinkle the pecans in a buttered Bundt cake pan.

Make one layer of dinner rolls. They do not have to touch each other. Then, on top of that layer, put another layer of rolls.

Sprinkle the pudding over the rolls. Then, sprinkle the cinnamon-sugar mixture over the pudding. Finally, drizzle with the melted butter.

Cover the pan with an oiled plastic film. Leave in the kitchen counter overnight. Do not place in the fridge.
The next day, remove the plastic film. Bake in a preheated 350 F for 28-35 minutes. If the top browns so quickly, cover with aluminum foil. Insert a toothpick to check for doneness.

Once it is ready, invert into a platter leaving the baking pan upside-down to let the syrup and pecans drizzle over the bread. Remove the baking pan; use a spatula to get some of the syrup and pecans stuck on the bottom of pan.

Simple Pumpkin Waffles

Savory Nothings

www.savorynothings.com

Dry ingredients:

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon ginger
1/2 teaspoon allspice
1/2 teaspoon nutmeg

Wet ingredients:

3 eggs
1 1/3 cups milk
1/4 cup maple syrup
3 tablespoons butter, melted
1 cup pumpkin puree

In a large bowl, stir together the dry ingredients. In a measuring cup mix the wet ingredients. Then, stir in the pumpkin.

Add the wet ingredients to the dry ingredients and stir until combined.

Bake the waffles in your waffle iron according to the manufacturer's instructions.

Serves 12-16

Note: I like to add chopped pecans to the batter.

Cinnamon-Raisin Muffins

I really love this book. Very useful specially on Christmas time. I do believe that it should be a must in your cookbook collection.

Gifts from a jar, Christmas and Kids' Treats. Goodies to mix and bake. Publications International Ltd.

Cinnamon-Raisin Muffin Mix

1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ground allspice
1/2 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup uncooked quick oats
1 cup raisins

Layer ingredients in a 1-quart food storage jar with tight-fitting lid in following order: granulated sugar, brown sugar, slightly packed; combine flour, baking powder, cinnamon, allspice, nutmeg and salt; oats and raisins. Seal jar; cover lid with fabric. Attach gift tag and fabric to jar with raffia.

Makes 1 (1-quart) jar

Cinnamon-Raisin Muffins

1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup milk
1 egg
1 jar cinnamon-raisin muffin mix

1. Preheat oven to 400 F. Grease twelve 2 1/2-inch muffin cups or line with paper or foil bake cups; set aside.

2. Place butter in medium microwavable bowl. Microwave about 45 seconds or until butter is melted; cool slightly. Add milk and egg; whisk until blended.

3. Place contents of jar in separate medium bowl; stir until blended. Add butter mixture; stir until just blended. Fill prepared muffin cups 2/3 full with batter. Bake 14-15 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes in pan om wire rack; remove muffins from pan. Serve warm or at room temperature.

Yield 12 muffins

Raisin Bread

Excellent when warm.

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 egg
1/4 cup vegetable or Canola oil
3/4 cup sugar
1 tablespoon lemon juice or white vinegar plus enough milk to make 1 cup. Let it rest for at least 5 minutes
1/3 cup raisins

Cinnamon-Sugar Mixture:

1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon

Mix the dry ingredients in a bowl.

Mix the sugar, oil, egg and vanilla in another bowl. Add the dry ingredients alternating with the milk mixture. Do not overmix.
Stir in the raisins.

Grease and flour a loaf pan. Pour 1/2 the batter; sprinkle with half the cinnamon mixture. Cover with the remaining batter and cinnamon mixture. Swirl the cinnamon and batter using a knife. Be careful not to touch bottom and sides of pan. Bake in a preheated 350 oven for 55-60 minutes.

Cool down for 10 minutes. Invert in a wire rack.

Makes 8 slices

Banana Oatmeal pancakes

2 cups buttermilk pancake mix or whole wheat pancake mix prepared according to the instructions

1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 1/2 tablespoons granulated sugar
1 whole ripe and firm banana, chopped into cubes
1/3 cup regular old-fashioned oats
1/3 cup miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped pecans

Garnish:

Sliced bananas
Miniature semi-sweet chocolate chips
Whipped cream

Add the remaining ingredients to the prepared batter and mix just until combined.

Heat griddle and cook the pancakes using 1/4 cup per pancake. Cook according to the griddle instructions.

Becky's Breakfast Syrup

Recipe courtesy of Becky Pullham

In a saucepan mix:

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 cup heavy cream

1 cup light corn syrup

Heat up until all the ingredients are combine and heated through. Serve hot over French toast casserole.

This syrup tends to separate but it will go back to normal when stirred with a spoon.

Cinnamon Bread French Toast Casserole with Praline Topping

I made this recipe up due to my love for cinnamon bread and pecans. I usually make it in a disposable aluminum foil baking pan so it goes directly from the refrigerator to the oven and no risk of cracking the glass baking pan.

18-20 slices cinnamon bread

Custard:

1 1/4 cups whole milk or half-and-half
8 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons sugar
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon salt

Praline Topping:

1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1/3 cup butter
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 tablespoon light corn syrup or maple syrup
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Butter a 13 x 9-inch baking pan. Place the bread slices in two rows overlapping the slices to make them fit.

Mix the custard ingredients and pour over the bread trying to soak the bread completely.

Mix the topping ingredients and pour on top of the bread trying to spread and cover the top evenly.

Cover with aluminum foil and refrigerate for a few hours or overnight.

Bake uncovered in a preheated 350 F for 30-32 minutes. Be careful not too burn the top if you let it go longer.

Serve with maple syrup.

Makes 8 servings

Mocked Iced Coffee

I like PERO so I decided to make an iced coffee recipe using it.

3 teaspoons PERO
4-5 teaspoons sugar
3/4 cup boiling water
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup heavy cream

Toppings:

Whipped cream
Chocolate Syrup
Ice cubes

Add the PERO to the boiling water and dissolve well. Sweetened with the sugar; stir in the vanilla extract. Immediately add the heavy cream mixing well.

Serve very cold over ice cubes or with a dollop of whipped cream and some chocolate syrup.

Makes 1 serving

Whole Wheat Oatmeal Banana Pancakes

All Recipes

www.allrecipes.com

1 cup uncooked rolled oats
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 tablespoons dry milk powder
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
2 cups milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 banana, mashed

Additional ingredients I added after reading the reviews online: 1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Place the rolled oats into the jar of a blender and blend until mixture resembles coarse flour. Mix together the blended oats, whole wheat flour, all-purpose four, baking soda, brown sugar, baking soda, salt and dry milk powder in a bowl; set aside.

Whisk together milk, eggs, vanilla and oil. Stir in the banana. Pour the egg mixture into the flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Let the batter stand for 5 minutes.

Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium high-heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook until bubbles form and the edges are dry, about 2 minutes. Flip and cook until browned on the other side. Repeat with remaining batter.

Note: You can omit the banana and add 1/2 cup applesauce and 1 1/2 teaspoons ground cinnamon.

Makes 12 pancakes

                                                                                  Recipe by amom2boys

Strawberry Jam

www.bonappetit.com

Bon Appetit Magazine

1 lb fresh or frozen strawberries, hulled and quartered
2/3 cup sugar
1 large Granny Smith apple, peeled and coarsely grated
1 tablespoon fresh lemon juice

In a large skillet put the strawberries and sugar. Stir in apple and cook at medium-low heat breaking the strawberries and sugar dissolves. Simmer for 10-15 minutes until it thickens. Stir in lemon juice.

Refrigerate for at least two hours before eating. Serve within 2 weeks. Keep refrigerated.

Oat Bran Muffins

Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook (Pink Ribbon Edition)

www.betterhomesandgardens.com

Nonstick cooking spray
1 1/4 cups oat bran
1 cup all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder (Use only 1 teaspoon in high altitude)
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 beaten egg
3/4 cup applesauce
1/2 cup fat-free milk
1/4 cup honey
1 tablespoon cooking oil
1/2 cup raisins or snipped dried fruit (I added a lit of bit of both)

Lightly coat bottoms of 12 2 1/2-inch muffin cups with cooking spray. Set aside.

In a medium bowl, combine oat bran, flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Make a well in the center of flour mixture. Set aside.

In a small bowl, combine egg, applesauce, milk, honey and oil. Add applesauce mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in raisins.

Divide batter evenly among prepared muffin cups. Bake in a 400 F oven for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown and a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in muffin cups on a wire rack for 5 minutes. Remove from muffin cups. Serve warm.


Makes 12 muffins

Granola

Better Homes and Gardens, New Cookbook (Pink Ribbon). Limited Edition.

www.betterhomesandgardens.com

2 cups regular rolled oats
1 cup coarsely chopped, slivered or sliced almonds, chopped walnuts, or chopped peanuts
1/2 cup coconut (optional)
1/2 cup shelled sunflower seeds (I used shelled pumpkin seeds)
1/4 cup toasted wheat germ (I used regular)
1/2 cup honey or maple-flavored syrup (I used honey)
2 tablespoons cooking oil

In a large bowl combine the oats, nuts coconut (if desired), sunflower seeds and wheat germ. Stir together honey and cooking oil (I warmed it up a bit); stir into oat mixture. Spread evenly in a greased 15 x 10 x 1-inch baking pan. Bake at 300 F oven for 30-35 minutes or until lightly browned, stirring after 20 minutes.

Spread on a large piece of foil to cool (I used Parchment paper). Break into clumps. Store in an airtight container for up to 1 week. (Or store in freezer bags and freeze up to 2 months).

Makes 6 cups  (twelve 1/2 cup servings)

Fruit Granola: Prepare as above, except immediately after removing from oven, stir in 1 cup desired dried fruit (such as raisins, snipped pitted dates, snipped apricots, cranberries, cherries, mixed dried fruit bits, or dried banana slices). Freeze mixture to store.

Makes 7 cups (fourteen 1/2 cup servings)

Note: I baked the granola for 25 minutes and it got very brown. Every oven is different so next time I will bake it for 20 or a few minutes less.

Banana Oatmeal Pancakes

Sunset Recipe Annual 1988 Edition

www.sunset.com

3/4 cup quick-cooking rolled oats
2/3 cup whole wheat flour
1/4-1/2 teaspoon salt (optional)
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 medium-size ripe banana, mashed
3/4 cup buttermilk
About 2 tablespoons salad oil

In a bowl, combine oats, flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda.

In another bowl, mash the banana with an electric mixer or a fork (you should have about 3/4 cup).

With mixer or fork, beat egg with the mashed banana until blended. Add buttermilk and 2 tablespoons oil; mix until smooth. Add the dry ingredients and stir until blended.

Heath an electric griddle to 350 (or place a 10-12-inch frying pan over medium heat until a drop of water sizzles on it). Brush griddle lightly with oil. Spoon 3 tablespoons batter per pancake onto griddle; cook until top of pancake is set and bottom is medium brown, about 2 minutes. turn pancakes, cook until medium brown, 1 1/2 minutes more. Repeat with remaining batter.

Makes 10 pancakes.


                                                                                                                Lois Anderson
                                                                                                               Truckee, California      

Note: Mine cooked quicker. I sprinkled with chopped pecans and drizzle some honey.

Oatmeal Mix

I do not like cold cereal, I love hot cereal instead. A good friend of mine gave me this recipe. She got it from  magazine she could not remember the name.

2 cup old fashioned rolled oats

1/4 cup packed brown sugar

1/3 cup oat bran

1/2 cup pecans, toasted in the oven at 350 F for 10 minutes stirring once

2/3 cup non-fat dry powdered milk

2 teaspoons cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon salt

Mix all the ingredients and store them in a jar.

How to prepare:

Mix 1/3 cup of oatmeal mix with 2/3 cup water. Boil at medium speed stirring frequently to avoid lumps. Let it bubble and thicken, about 8-10 minutes.

Serve with dried fruit, honey and fresh fruit if desired.

Applesauce Muffins

Southern Living, 1991 Annual Recipes Cookbook

www.southernliving.com

1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup regular oats, uncooked
1/4 cup unprocessed oat bran
1/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
2/3 cup raisins or chopped dates
1/3 cup chopped pecans
2 eggs whites, lightly beaten
3/4 cup nonfat buttermilk
3/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Vegetable cooking spray
1 tablespoon sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon

Combine first 8 ingredients in a large bowl; make a well in center of mixture. Combine egg whites and next 4 ingredients; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.

Spoon 1/4 cup batter into muffin pans coated with nonstick cooking spray. Combine  the sugar with the cinnamon. Sprinkle on top of muffin batter. Bake at 400 F for 20 minutes.

Yield: 16 muffins

147 calories each