Banana Bread

2cups of all purpose flour
1 1/2tsp baking soda
1/2tsp.salt
4overripe bananas
1cup sugar
3/4 cups of butter melted
2 large eggs
1tsp.vanilla
1/2cup pecans
powdered sugar for dusting
Preheat oven 350 grease bread pan.In a large bowl combine flour,baking soda,and salt.Mash 2 bananas so they still have some texture.With electric mixer whip the 2 other bananas with sugar for 3 mins.Add melted butter,eggs,vanilla,bet well scrape down sides,mix with dry ingredients fold in nuts and mashed bananas. Pour into pan get bubbles out Bake for 1 hour 15mins.cool bread dust with powdered sugar

Sarah

Caramel Banana Cake

125g Butter
3/4 cup brown sugar firmly packed
2 eggs
1 cup mashed banana
1 1/2 cups Self raising flour (1 cup plain flour + 1 tsp baking powder)
1 tsp bicarb soda
3/4 cup sour cream
1 tbs milk

Icing

60g butter
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 1/2 cups icing sugar
2 tbs brown sugar

Preheat oven to 180` C. Grease loaf pan. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs, stir in banana, then alternate wet ingredients with sifted dry ingredients. bake for one hour or until skewer inserted comes out clean. Stand for 5 mins before turning. For the icing melt butter and sugar on stove, do not boil, add cream and then bring to a boil. Remove from heat and add icing sugar, spread evenly over cooled cake. Enjoy!!

Mel

Lasagna(Paula Deans)

Lasagna

For the Sauce:
2cups of chopped tomatoes
2cups tomato sauce
1cup water
1/2 chopped onions
1/2cup green bell peppers
2 cloves garlic
1/4cup fresh parsley leaves
1 1/2 tsp Italian seasoning
1 1/2 lbs ground beef or sausage
1 1/2 tsp house seasoning
**House Seasoning:1cup of salt,1/4cup pepper,1/4cup garlic powder
For Lasagna:
6to 9 cooked noddles
12oz.cottage cheese, mixed with one egg
1/2cup Parmesan
1cup grated Gruyere cheese
1cup swiss
2cups cheddar cheese
8oz.cream cheese
1cup mozzerella
For the sauce combine ingredients boil,reduce heat simmer for one hour.Cook ground beef,add to stockpot.Preheat oven to 350 place a layerof sauce on bottom of pan,place 3noodles on top of sauce layer cheese then meat sauce add pinches of cream cheese on top of that continue layering 2 or 3 times cook for 30-45 minutes

Sarah

Lasagna Al a Mel in a hurry

from 500gms to 1 kilo of mince meat (beef)
1x 800gm tin of crushed tomatoes
1x tin of tomato soup or 1 cup tomato paste
1x lg onion chopped
2x cloves garlic minced
a good couple of gluggs of soya sauce
2 tbs beef stock powder ( i often use chicken too, cluck moo whatever)
a dash of sugar if using tomato paste

1 quantity of white sauce equaling about 1 litre
in the white sauce i put 1 tbs of whole grain mustard
1tsp onion powder and 1 tsp of garlic powder
and about 1 cup of grated cheese
grated cheese (i grate form the block so to your taste really

1 quantity of home made pasta

2 cups plain flour
2 tbs oil
salt
1 egg
water

Simply mix together gently with a knife adding water to get the right consistency (not too sticky), cut into portions ( i make 3 as i like 3 layers) roll out on floured surface, i fold into quarters until im ready for them its normally not long.

Brown the onion with a few Rachael Ray around the pan tbs, add the mince and brown. Mix in the crushed tomatoes and tom soup. Then add the garlic, soya sauce, stock and season to taste. At this point i add water if i used more to the 1 kilo of mince about 1/2 cup. let simmer while making your white sauce and pasta. Simmer longer if you like a firm lasagna as this will reduce the liquid in meat sauce.
Layer a small amount of the meat sauce on bottom of pan. Use whatever baking dish you can always freeze what doesn't fit. Then lay down one of your sheets of pasta, a layer of meat then some of the white sauce. Then repeat ending with meat sauce and layer with the white sauce. grate some cheese over the top and bake till nice and brown in a 180`C oven. I know it sounds like a lot of work but it really isn't. Enjoy!!

Mel

Caramel Popcorn

Caramel Corn
1cup Brown sugar
1/2cup butter
1/2tsp.salt
1/2tsp. baking soda
1/2cup corn syrup
In a saucepan combine butter,salt,Karo syrup,brown sugar.Stir constantly until it starts to boil.Let boil for 5mins without stirring.Remove from heat then put in baking soda stir pour over popped popcorn

Sarah

Caramel Corn

12 cups of popped corn : )
1 cup salted peanuts ( i also use salted cashews)
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup butter
1/2 cup corn syrup
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp bi carb soda

Place pop corn in a lined roasting dish. Melt butter, corn syrup, sugar and salt, bring to boil over medium heat, biol for 5 mins without stirring. Take off heat and stir in vanilla and bicarb. Pour over pop corn as evenly as possible. Bake in a pre heated 120`C oven. Stir every 15mins for one hour. Pour out onto waxed paper and break up. Do this while it is still warm or it will clump. MMMM enjoy!

Mel

Strawberry Banana Split cake

Crust:
2cups graham cracker crumbs
1/2cup butter,melted
1/4cup sugar
Filling:
1/2cup butter,melted
2cups powdered sugar
1T.milk
1tsp.vaniila
3large firm bananas cut into slices
28oz.cans of crushed pineapples,drained
2qt.fresh strawberries,sliced
Topping
2cups whipping cream
1/4cup powdered sugar
1 1/2cups chopped walnuts
Combine crust ingredients and press into 7by 11 dish.Chill one hour.In a mixing bowl,cream butter powdered sugar,milk and vanilla.Spread over crust.Chill 30minutes.Then layer with bananas,pinapple,and strawberries.Ina small bowl,beat cream until soft peaks form.Spread over fruit.Sprinkle with nuts.Chill
Another great recipe from Patsy:)

Sarah

Banana/Strawberry/Pineapple Split cake, Or you can call it Yummy!!

2x 20 cm round banana cakes (1 quantity of banana cake baked in two tins will do)
2 cups sweetened whipped cream (or if you come from the land down under you don't need sweetener coz our cream is sweet enough : ))
1 cup sliced fresh strawberries
1x 225g crushed pineapple well drained
a Jar of fudge topping
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Divide whipped cream into half. In one half fold in strawberries, and in other fold in drained pineapple.
To assemble, slice the two cakes into half horizontally. Place the base of one of the cakes onto a serving plate. Spread the strawberry cream to the edges of this cake, place the top of that cake on the strawberry cream. Spread the top of this with some warm fudge sauce, then layer on the fudge sauce the other bottom of the other cake. Spread this cake half with the pineapple cream then top with the cake top then drizzle over the desired amount of fudge sauce mmm Enjoy

Mel

Creamy Garlic Meatballs

Sauce
3T.flour
1can of cream of mushroom soup
1can of cream of chicken soup
31/2 cups water
1T.Italian seasoning
1tsp.(or more if you like) garlic
1/2tsp.salt
1/2tsp.pepper
Meatballs
1 1/2 lbs ground beef
1egg
fresh garlic
onions
bread crumbs
salt and pepper
parsley
basil
Mix all meatball ingredients,make into bite size balls.Cook in skillet over medium heat.

For the Sauce
In a large saucepan,combine flour and soups.Stir in water and seasonings until blended.Bring to a boil,reduce heat cook and stir until thick.Add meatballs, serve over mashed potatoes,rice or noddles
Recipe brought to you courtesy of Pasty Engstrom thanks!


Meatballs

750g beef mince
1/3 cup ketchup
dry minced onion as desired
Garlic salt salt and pepper if desired
3/4 cup rolled oats
1 pkt of french onion or onion soup mix
1-2 eggs

Combine all ingredients and form into balls. Layer into a baking dish.

Brown gravy sauce

1 can cream of mushroom soup
1/4 cup sour cream
1 pkt dry brown gravy mix
water

combine all ingredients in a bowl add enough water to make a thin, but not too runny consistence. Pour over meatballs and bake at 180`C for 1 hour. Serve with herb rice and green beans Yummy Enjoy!

Mel

Lets Find Sarah a Sewing Machine

It's true I don't own a sewing machine! I usually borrow my friend Linda's,or have her finish a project for me,hehe! So let's see what kind of machine should I get,which ones should I avoid? Any tips?

Coming Soon.....

Upcoming events..... sewing projects(lets see who can finish first)project find Sarah a sewing machine.Yes it's sad but true I do not own a sewing machine! Book club,what are you reading?

Chicken Nuggets,Herbed Rice,Green Beans

Chicken Nuggets
Chicken breast,cut into strips
1cup Flour
1cup Breadcrumbs
1/2cup grated parmeasan
Combine these
1or 2eggs
Dip chicken into flour mixture then egg,then back into flour mixture. Fry in a shallow pan with vegetable oil.

Herbs Rice
1 cup Rice
2cups Chicken stock
2tablespoons butter
1/2teaspoon of each Parsley,Basil,Thyme,Tarragon
Combine rice and butter in pan over medium heat.Add chicken stock turn up heat bring to a boil,reduce heat to medium when it boils add herbs.DO NOT COVER. Watch rice when stock is absorbed take off heat fluff with fork


Get your kids involved in cooking.My kids loved it! Yes all the pictures were taken the same night,Lily just loves to change her clothes!

I forgot the flour but I did use it

The Finished product YUMMY!!!!!

Coming Soon To Australia....

Melanie has told me that they don't get many marinades,seasonings.If they do it cost an arm and leg! So I'm sending these lovely ''gifts" from America! Hope you enjoy them.....