Roasted Apples & Brussel Sprouts

This is a great recipe; the combination of the savory onions and brussel sprouts with the sweetness of the apples it awesome!  It makes a great side dish for roasted pork or poultry.

I found and adapted this recipe from allrecipes.  Enjoy!

Ingredients:

-16 oz. frozen brussel sprouts {I think fresh would be fantastic too!}

-2 apples, peeled, cored and cubed {I actually used 4 apples}

-1 to 2 sweet onions, cubed

-2 tbsp olive oil

-salt, pepper and garlic powder, to taste

-zest and juice of 1 lemon, optional {I didn't use because I didn't have any at the time}

Process:

1. Preheat oven to 425 degrees.

2. Toss onions, apples and frozen brussel sprouts together and arrange in a single layer on a large rimmed baking sheet.

3. Drizzle with oil and sprinkle with salt, pepper and garlic powder.

4. Toss to coat.

5. Roast veggies in preheated oven about 20 minutes.

6. Toss veggies and roast another 20 minutes until golden brown.

Enjoy!

Banana Yeast Bread

We usually end up with just a couple extra bananas no one will eat so I like to either freeze them, make banana bread or banana cake/bars.  

Well, I have gotten bored with basic banana quick bread.  So, I found this recipe from Patty's Food.  Its a keeper!

Ingredients:

- 2 tsp yeast

-3 tbsp honey

-3/4 cup warm water

-3 cups flour {you could use 1 cup whole wheat plus 2 cups white}

-1 tsp salt

-1 tsp cinnamon

-1 tbsp canola oil or other vegetable oil

-2 ripe bananas, broken into pieces

Process:

1. Place water, honey, salt, cinnamon, oil and bananas into breadmaker pan.

2. Top with flour and yeast.

3. Set breadmaker to the dough setting and allow cycle to run, check on dough throughout the first 30 minutes.  If the dough is too liquidy like the picture below add more flour.

4. Once cycle is completed, remove dough, form into a loaf and place in a grease loaf pan.  Allow to rise about 30 minutes.
5. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and bake bread for 35-45 minutes.

6. Enjoy!  

*This banana bread makes fantastic toast and french toast!

Homemade Taco Sauce

I adapted this recipe from joyofkosher.com; its a great one and it really tastes so much better than the store-bought stuff.

A single recipe makes about 1 1/2 cups.

Ingredients:

-8 oz. tomato sauce OR 1/4 cup tomato paste + 1/4 cup water + 1/8 tsp salt OR 16 oz. crushed tomatoes

-1/3 cup water {omit if using crushed tomatoes}

-1/4 tsp chili pepper

-1 1/2 tsp cumin

-1 1/2 tsp dry minced onion

-1 tbsp white vinegar

-1 tsp garlic powder

-1/4 tsp paprika

-1/4 tsp sugar

-1/4 tsp cayenne

Process:

1. Combine all ingredients in a saucepan.

2. Simmer for about 10 minutes.

3. I used crushed tomatoes I canned from last summer's garden; so I ran the sauce through the food processor.

4. Cool and place in an airtight container and use or refrigerate for up to 1 week {or freeze and thaw as needed}.

If you have any extras, it would be great mixed in taco meat, pasta sauce, used as pizza sauce or in a mexican style soup!  Enjoy!

Lazy Daisy Oatmeal Cake

Someone posted this recipe on facebook, it was one of their grandmothers recipes; so of course I had to try it!  And it is an awesome recipe!

Ingredients for Cake:

-1 1/4 cups boiling water

-1 cup oatmeal

-1/2 cup shortening or butter, softened

-1 cup sugar

-1 tsp baking soda

-3/4 tsp cinnamon

-1 cup brown sugar

-1 tsp vanilla

-2 eggs

-1 1/2 cups flour

-1/2 tsp salt

-1/4 tsp nutmeg

Ingredients for Caramel Frosting or Glaze:

-1 1/2 cups brown sugar

-2 tbsp butter

-3/4 cup milk or cream

-1/2 tsp vanilla

Process:

1. Pour boiling water over oatmeal, cover with a towel or a plate and allow to sit for about 20 minutes.

2. In the meantime, beat shortening/butter with sugar until fluffy.
3. Add vanilla, eggs and baking soda, beat well.

4. Beat in salt, cinnamon and nutmeg.

5. Beat in brown sugar.

6. Add soaked oatmeal and flour, mix well.

7. Pour batter into two 8 or 9 inch  greased cake pans or one 9 x 13 greased baking pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
8. Cool at least 30 minutes or completely before cutting.

Prepare Frosting or Glaze:
1. Cook sugar and milk/cream until it reaches 235 degrees.
2. Add vanilla and butter.
*for glaze: serve at this point

For Frosting:
1. Cool completely and beat until it reaches spreading consistency.

Enjoy!