Saturday, December 27, 2014

[ Perfect Banana Bread ]

Perfect banana bread
by Martha Stewart
  • 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 1/2 cups unbleached plain flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas (about 3)
  • 1/2 cup sour cream (I used Fat Free Greek yogurt)
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla
  • 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans (optional; I didn’t use them)
  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. In an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs, and beat to incorporate.
  2. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt. Add to the butter mixture, and mix until just combined. Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla; mix to combine. Stir in nuts, and pour into prepared pan.
  3. Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean, about 1 hour 10 minutes. Let rest in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to cool. Recipe © 2012 Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia, Inc. All rights reserved.

Wednesday, December 24, 2014

[ Hello Dolly Squares. ]


I wanted to add to my Christmas baking repertoire and found this recipe on Pinterest.  Also known as Seven Layer Bars.  Not my image.


Hello Dolly
recipe from Eagle Brand

1/2 cup butter, melted
1+1/2 cup graham cracker crumbs
1 (14 ounce) can Eagle Brand Sweetened Condensed Milk
2 cups semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup butterscotch chips
1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts1 cup chopped nuts
1 cup shredded coconut


1. Heat oven to 350. 
2. Melt butter and pour into a 9x13 pan. 
3. Mix in graham cracker crumbs. 
4. Pour condensed milk over the crumbs and then layer the remaining ingredients evenly. 
5.  Bake for 25 minutes. 
6. Cool.

Sunday, December 14, 2014

[ whipped shortbread ]



These are a standard in our home.  I use Hersey's Chocolate Kisses to decorate tho, rather than maraschino cherries.

Whipped Shortbread

Ingredients:

1 cup butter (not margarine)
½ cup icing sugar
1 + ½ cups flour
Hersey's Chocolate Kisses (small)

Directions:

1. cream butter and sugar
2. add flour and beat for 10 minutes
3. Drop from a small spoon onto a cookie sheet (I use a sil-pad)
4. Decorate with one HCK.
5. Bake at 350F for 10-12minutes

*recipe doubles well.
** not my image