Wednesday, May 29, 2013

Frosted Banana Cake

Luci's Frosted Banana Cake from melskitchencafe.com
½ cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 cup sour cream (I use reduced fat)
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
¼ tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (I use three ripe bananas)

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a large jelly roll pan. In a large bowl, cream together the butter and sugar until smooth. Beat in the eggs, one at a time, then stir in the sour cream and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl; stir into the batter. Finally, mix in the mashed banana. Spread evenly into the prepared pan(s). Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Allow bars to cool completely before frosting.

Whipped Cream Cheese Frosting
2 cups heavy whipping cream - beat until still peaks form
add 1/8 t salt
add 1/2 C powdered sugar beat then set aside and chill

2 oz package cream cheese, softened to room temperature
about 1/2 cup powdered sugar - taste test :)
1 tsp vanilla
In a large bowl combine cream cheese, sugar and vanilla. Beat until light and fluffy. Set aside. Fold whipped cream into cream cheese mixture. Chill for 10-15 min then frost to your heart’s delight! Refrigerate frosted banana bars until ready to serve.

Loaded Baked Potato Soup



Rouge sauce: melt 1/2 C butter in saucepan, whisk in 1/2 C flour and 1 t sea salt
slowly add 4 C milk, 1 C water and 1 T chicken bouillon

Add: 3 lg. peeled, smashed and cubed baked potatoes
1 C grated cheddar cheese
2-4 T diced sweet onion
crumbled bacon (or add later)
salt and pepper to taste

Remove from heat and add sour cream and stir in just before serving.

Add additional: crumbled bacon, cheddar cheese and sour cream to individual bowls before serving if desired

Braided White Bread in Bosch



2 1/4 C. warm water
3 T. olive oil
2 t. salt
6 2/3 C. white flour
1 T. sugar
2 1/2 t. yeast

Place ingredients in Bosch in order listed. Knead on 3 for 6 min. Let rise in Bosch bowl 1 1/2 - 2 hours until about doubled. Use for 2 large pizza crusts or for 2 large braided breads.
For the braided bread divide into 6 parts, roll out like snakes on counter drizzled with olive oil and braid then place on jelly roll baking sheet. Drizzle with olive oil. Let rise 1/2 -1 hr after twisted. Bake at 375 for 15 min. Remove from oven, let cool a few minutes before brushing with butter. Then transfer to wire rack to cool a little more before slicing.
For the pizza crusts roll out on floured surface. Transfer to pizza pan then prick all over with fork. Top as desired and bake at 400 for 15 min or until done.
*Half the recipe for one pizza

chicken marinade

1/2 c. Olive Oil
1/3 c. Soy Sauce
a few swirls of Honey 
1 1/2 t. Cumin, 
1 t. Oregano, 
1/2 Lemon {freshly squeezed}, 
1/2 t. Kosher Salt, 
Pepper {to taste},
2 cloves Garlic {pressed}.