New blog to check

I just came across a new "food" blog today, check it out!

Click HERE!

It has tons of recipes that are featured each day (with GREAT pictures) and you can click on the picture for the details.

Basic Bread with a twist

Remember the bread recipe that I use ALL the time? This is that same French bread recipe, with 1/3 white flour and 2/3 wheat flour. Instead of forming a French bread loaf, I used a larger loaf pan and sprinkled oats on top to try and mimic the whole grain bagels and bread from Panera Bread. It turned out great!!!

Banana Muffins

This recipe combines the great taste of banana bread and the fast results of muffins to make a great and easy snack!

Ingredients:

1 c sugar
1/2 c canola oil
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
2 c flour
1 t baking soda
1/2 t salt

Directions:
Cream sugar and oil. Add eggs and mashed bananas and beat. Add flour, soda, and salt. Pour into greased or lined muffin tins. Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes. Makes 18-24 muffins. Also fun to make for kids in mini-muffin tins.

Ande's Mint Cookies

These are my favorite cookies. I'm not just saying that. They are my very very very favorite.

Ingredients:

3/4 cup butter
-
1 1/2 cups brown sugar
-
2 tablespoons water
-
12 ounces chocolate chips
-
2 eggs
-
2 3/4 cups flour
-
1/2 teaspoon salt
-
1 1/4 teaspoons baking soda
-
24 Andes mints

( I prefer the Ande's mint baking chips you can buy next to the chocolate chips)

Directions:

In a medium-sized sauce pan, melt together the butter, brown sugar, and water, stirring occasionally.

Add the chocolate chips and stir until melted. Let stand 10 minutes to cool.

Add remaining ingredients. Chill dough at least 1 hour.

Roll into balls and place on lightly greased cookie sheet.

Bake at 350° F. for 8 to 9 minutes.

Remove from the oven and on top of each cookie, place half an Andes mint (or some baking chips). Allow the mint to melt and then swirl the mint over the cookie with the back of a spoon or knife (I think a fork works best)

Fruit Dip

This is such a fast and easy way to make a side dish that much better.

Delicious Fruit Dip

1/4 cup lime juice (recipe calls for lemon, but it's so much better with lime)

1 can sweetened condensed milk

1 tub (regular size) Cool Whip

Whisk the first two together, then fold in the Cool Whip. Wah-lah.

You can put food coloring in if you prefer pink fruit dip, or green for St. Patty's day

This is also perfect for a fruit pizza.