One Great Recipe * Banana Bread

{image by me}

We often have bananas that get too ripe too soon. This is what we do with ours. This is by far the very best recipe for Banana Bread. It has been in the family as long as I can remember. In fact I ate a whole loaf of it by myself when I was about 6 or 7 years old. Enjoy!

{ The Best Darn Banana Bread Ever }

• 3 mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 shortening or butter
• 1 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups flour- you can do 1 cup wheat flour & 1 cup white flour
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts(walnuts or pecans)

Cream bananas, shortening/butter, brown sugar- then add eggs vanilla salt & baking soda mix in flour and nuts then pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about 45 min then check every 5 min 'til done.

One Great Recipe * Fish Sauce

{photo by me}

I came up with this sauce for fish about a year ago. It is a mix of a few recipes with my own touch. My son will not eat fish unless I make this sauce for it. Since fish is high in omega fatty acids it is a great brain food & mood lifter. I am glad he will eat it with my sauce. We could all use a little brain food & mood lift-right! Enjoy your fish.

• 3/4 cup sour cream
• 1/4 cup mayo
• 2 tbs whole seed mustard such as inglehoffer's stone ground mustard
• 3tbs lemon juice
• 2tsp fresh finely chopped dill (can use dried dill)
• secret ingredient!! about a 1/4 tsp of red pepper or red pepper flakes to taste

Mix together and let set while preparing and cooking fish so flavors blend. Add a dollop on top of your cooked fish. Your kids will love it!

One Great Recipe * Blonde Brownies

This recipe has been in our family for years now. My mom makes it for most of our family picnics down at my Grandparent's park in Peterson. They are always a huge hit and gone quickly. I hope you love them as much as we do!

{tips for making}

~mix by hand & only mix enough to blend ingredients

~take out of oven when the top is lightly browned and the edges are pulling away from the pan

~wait for at least 10 minutes before cutting

Blonde Brownies

• 1 stick of Butter (1/2cup)



• 2 cups brown sugar



• 3 eggs



• 3tsp real vanilla extract



• 1 tsp baking powder



• 1/2 tsp salt



• 2 cups flour(can use half wheat and half white flours)



• 1 cup chocolate chips- for variations you can use white chocolate chips, dried cherries or cranberries etc.



• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees Melt butter add brown sugar stir add eggs, vanilla, baking powder, salt, nuts and stir by hand then mix in flour pour into 9x13 greased pan sprinkle chocolate chip on top bake for about 20 minutes

One Great Recipe * Cinnamon Sugar Muffins

{Cinnamon Sugar Muffins}

• 2 medium eggs

• 2 cups of whole wheat flour

• 1 cups of white flour

• 1 cup of milk

• 1 cup of sugar

• 10 tablespoons of butter

• 3 teaspoons of baking powder

• 1 teaspoon of salt

• 1/2 teaspoon of nutmeg

• 2 teaspoons of ground cinnamon

• 1 cup sugar mixed with 1 tablespoon cinnamon for topping

Butter muffin tin- cream together butter & sugar – beat in eggs, salt ,nutmeg, cinnamon ,& baking powder- hand mix in flour & milk -do not over mix- fill muffin tins to top- bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes for regular sized muffins or 12-15 minutes for mini muffins- brush melted butter over tops of muffins & sprinkle cinnamon sugar over buttered muffins.

{Be creative}
Try chopped pecans, dried cranberries, raisins in the batter or add a dollop of cream cheese to the tops of muffins before baking.

I found some nice heavy mini muffin tins on sale for less than $3.00 so I decided to make these yummy muffins for breakfast. Enjoy!

One Great Recipe * Sugar Cookies & Buttercream Frosting

{Valentine Sugar Cookies}

This is my mom's sugar cookie recipe minus the shortening. I always use real butter when a recipe calls for margarine or shortening, to me it tastes better. This is a great recipe. The cookies are soft & tastey. The buttercream frosting recipe is one I learned in my culinary class in high school. We had to make 10 batches of it for a giant cake that year. It has a nice creamy texture. In the cookies pictured above I use 1 teaspoon of lemon flavoring and 1/2 teaspoon of almond flavoring. It turned out soooo yummy! Have fun Valentine treat making!

April

{Sugar Cookies}

• 1 cup soften butter
• 1 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 4 tbls sour milk ( to sour milk add a tsp of lemon juice)
• 3 tsp vanilla
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 4 cups flour

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees-cream butter with sugar eggs milk & vanilla- add baking soda, baking powder, & salt- mix in flour- cover & chill for about 4 hours in fridge or 1 hour in freezer. Roll out dough on floured parchment then cut in to shapes with cookie cutter- Bake for 7 minutes & check for light golden colored cookies- Cool then frost

{Butter Cream Frosting}

• 1 cup softened butter
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 4 cups powdered sugar
• 2-3 tbls milk

Cream butter & vanilla slowly mix in powdered sugar add milk as needed for desired consistency. Add food coloring of choice alternative ideas use almond or lemon flavoring in place of vanilla.

{Be sure to enter our Fun Free Fridays Giveaway for the week to Dippidee in American Fork. You have until Thursday night the 31st to enter.}

New Years ~ Stuffed Mushrooms

{New Years Celebration Idea No.2}

{Click here for Printable Stuffed Mushrooms Recipe Card}


Stuffed Mushrooms

• 20 large white or brown mushrooms
• 2 cloves garlic finely chopped
• 1 cup bread crumbs
• 1/2 tsp red pepper flakes
• 3/4 cup shredded asiago cheese
• 2 tbl olive oil
• 1/2 tsp dried parsley
• dash salt to taste

Remove stems from mushrooms- mix together bread crumbs, garlic,
red pepper, cheese olive oil parsley& salt-stuff into mushroom-place
on baking sheet lined with parchment-bake at 375 degrees
for 12-15 minutes

{Options}
-use other cheeses of choice
-add finely chopped pecans
-top with extra cheese

Have some small delicious foods on hand for your New Years Celebration. These Stuffed mushrooms will be a party pleaser. Enjoy!
April

{Other great snack foods}
- slice baguettes into rounds & make mini pizzas
- layer softened cream cheese with salsa for a quick dip
- the ever loved Chex party mix
- smash avocados mix with a little bit of salsa & sour cream for a simple guacamole

Microwave Fudge ~ Merry Christmas

We make this fudge every Christmas. It is easy & rich & creamy. It can be enjoyed any time throughout the year.
{Click here for printable Microwave Fudge Recipe Card}

* 1 stick butter(half cup)
* 2 cups sugar
* 2/3 cup evaporated milk
* 1tsp vanilla
* 2 cups mini-marshmallows
* 1 1/2 cups semi-sweet chocolate chips

Melt butter add sugar & milk- cook in microwave for 3 min. on high-stir- cook another 3 min. on high-stir- cook 2 min. on high -stir- then add vanilla, marshmallows, chocolate chips - mix until melted- pour into a greased 8x8 pan - allow to set-up Caution when making any candy in the microwave the bowl & the fudge mixture will be very hot!

Options:
-add chopped nuts
-use milk or white chocolate chips in place of semi-sweet chips
-use peanut butter in place of chocolate chips




I will be off the blog until December26th for Christmas. Enjoy this wonderful time with family & friends. Thanks so much for reading Sweet Life in the Valley & making it a success. I am looking forward to a fun new year of great books to read, finds of the week, one great recipes, sweet past in the valley, happenin’ in the valley, yummy eats, & our fun free fridays plus so much more. I already have some great giveaways lined up for January. There are some mighty talented ladies & gents here in this Sweet Valley! Have a Very Merry Christmas!
April

One Great Recipe ~ Peanut Butter Cookies

When I was young I use to visit Mrs Spears, the old widow who lived behind me. She taught me to make peanut butter cookies. We would sit and eat cookies & juice while playing cards and she would tell me stories about how she saw the first car that drove into Chicago and about her cup & saucer that was her mother’s that melted together in the Great Chicago Fire. They are memories I will treasure. Makes some cookies take them to an older neighbor. Maybe you will make some memories of your own. Enjoy eating & sharing!
April

• ½ cup sugar

• ½ cup brown sugar

• ½ cup peanut butter

• ½ cup butter (one stick)

• 3/4 tsp baking soda

• ½ tsp baking powder

• 1 large egg

• 1/4 tsp salt

• 1 1/4 cups flour

Pre-heat oven 350 degrees
Cream together butter peanut, butter, sugars, salt, baking soda, baking powder. Then mix in egg. Slowly mix in flour. Shape dough into balls & place on cookie sheet. Press cookies with fork making a crisscross pattern. Bake for 8-10 minutes.

One Great Recipe ~ Cranberry Pecan Cookies

The tastes of cranberries and pecans speaks of fall. I was lucky enough to get some fresh pecans sent from my uncle in Texas. If you can get fresh pecans get them. If you have never tasted fresh pecans orders them or find a friend or relative that lives near a pecan orchard to send you a bag or two. Fresh pecans are amazing! Bring these cookies to a potluck dinner, pass a plate to your neighbors, or roommates, or bake a batch for your child’s teacher as a little thank you during this time of thanks. I added a little bit of whole wheat flour to this recipe to add some structure and nutrition. Cranberries, pecans & white chocolate YUM!


1 cup dried cranberries
1 stick of butter (½ cup)
½ cup brown sugar
1 large egg
2 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cup all purpose flour 1/4 cup whole wheat flour
½ tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup chopped white chocolate or white chocolate chips
3/4 cup chopped pecans

Preheat over to 350 degrees. Plump dried cranberries by placing in bowl of hot water and set aside. In large mixing bowl with an electric mixer cream together soften butter, brown sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda and salt. Slowly mix in flour combine until fully mixed. Squeeze water out of cranberries and add to mixture. Add in pecans and white chocolate chunks. Butter cookie sheet. Using a cookie scoop or ice cream scoop form dough into balls and place on cookie sheet. Bake for 10-12 minutes until starting to turn golden. Cool for 5 minutes on cookie sheet then transfer to cooling rack to finish cooling.

Hints:
~you can plump your raisins the same way we plumped the cranberries for tastier cookies.
A few Places to get fresh pecans
~ http://www.surrattfarms.com
~ http://www.rayorchardspecans.com

My Favorite Things ~ Villaware Waffle Iron

Almost every Saturday morning we either make french toast or waffles smothered in home made Real Vermont Maple Syrup compliments of my sisters and their families in Vermont. It was just french toast until I invested in a Villaware waffle iron. I have the reversible plate model that makes belgium waffles and heart shaped waffles. Now some may say a waffle iron is a waffle iron right? Oh no! This waffle iron makes perfect waffles right from the start. It chimes to let you know it is ready to put some batter in and chimes when the waffle is finished. But, not only does it chime at just the right time it is also very fast, much faster than the cheap model I had made waffles on in the past. It brings happiness to me when I make waffles and I think that alone was worth the investment! It is truly one of My Favorite Things. Try our Cinnamon Whole Wheat Waffle recipe. It’s quite tasty!
April

Cinnamon Whole Wheat Waffles

• 1 3/4 cups whole wheat flour

• 2 tbs sugar

• 1 tbs baking powder

• 2 eggs

• 1 3/4 cup milk

• ½ cooking oil or melted butter

• 1 tsp vanilla

• 1tsp ground cinnamon

Mix all ingredients in large bowl. Pour about 1 cup batter in waffle iron. Follow direction on waffle iron for cooking time. Top with Real Vermont Maple syrup or topping of choice.

Tips:
Villaware Waffle Iron can be purchased locally at
~ Provo Riverwoods Mall Williams-Sonoma Or online~ Spoon ‘n Spice, Sandy Mall

One Great Recipe ~ Caramels

'Tis the season for Caramel Apples! I found this wonderful recipe a few years ago when I was hosting the Martha Stewart Good Things group at Barnes & Noble. It is easy to make and oh sooo yummy! You can dip your apples in it for Caramel Apples or just make it into individual Caramels. Add some chopped nuts to the finished hot caramel for Nut Caramels or add a little black food coloring and some anise oil for Halloween Black Licorice Flavored Caramels. You can even roll your caramels in crushed candy canes, chopped nuts or sprinkles! Be creative!
April

Microwave Caramels

• 1 cup butter
• 2 1/2 cup dark brown sugar
• 1 can sweeten condensed milk
• 1 cup light corn syrup
• dash of salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
  

Combine all ingredients in a microwavable glass bowl -use large bowl 4 quart bowl to allow for boiling. Microwave 2 minutes and stir continue to microwave for 16-20 minutes (depending on the wattage of your microwave) stirring every 2 minutes. Careful the caramel will be very hot! Have a bowl for ice water on hand in case of burn. Add vanilla-nuts or black food coloring & anise oil( in place of vanilla)to fully cooked caramel. Maybe even add some crushed candy canes! Caution vanilla & anise will make the caramal mixture boil up a bit. For caramel apples dip apples in caramel allow extra caramel to run off. Then dip bottoms of caramel apples in chopped nuts, crushed cinnamon grahman crackers or what ever suits your fancy! For caramel candies pour hot caramel in butter 9X13 pan and cool completely. Cut in to pieces and wrap in wax paper squares.

Tips:
~Chill your apples to help prevent caramel from running off your apples
~Use hot pads when you handle the bowl it will be hot!
~ Cut squares of vellum paper to place under your finished Caramel Apples

Ribbon: The ribbon in the picture is by American Crafts & May Arts. It can be found at your local scrapbook supply store.