Thursday, September 8, 2011

Banana Bread

6106515530_748f368ed2

Move oven rack to low position so that tops of pans will be in the center of the oven.  Pre heat oven to 350 degrees F. 

IMG_7969

Grease bottoms ONLY of 2 loaf pans.

Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. 

IMG_7965

Add eggs and mix until blended.

IMG_7966

Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla.  Beat until smooth.

IMG_7967

Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until flour mixture is just moistened. 

IMG_7968

If you choose to add nuts do so at this time.

Pour into your greased pans and bake for about 1 hour or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes.  Loosen sides of loaves from pans and cool on a cooling rack for at least two hours before cutting to retain moisture. 

IMG_7970

Pizza Pasta Pie from Campbell’s Kitchen

IMG_7998

Can you say that three times fast?  We had a go and couldn’t do it without fits of laughter! This recipe was e-mailed to me by Campbell’s Kitchen.  If you are not a subscriber it’s pretty cool they send you recipes and coupons.  Campbell’s Kitchen is not paying me for this post.

Pasta Pizza Pie
from Campbell's Kitchen
Prep Time: 20 min.
Bake Time: 35 min.
Stand Time: 5 min.

Vegetable cooking spray

1 tablespoon vegetable oil

1 large onion, chopped (about 1 cup)

1 cup sliced mushrooms (about 3 ounces)

1 egg, beaten

1/4 cup milk

1/2 of a 1-pound package tri-color or plain corkscrew-shaped pasta (rotini) (about 2 1/2 cups), cooked and drained

1 cup shredded part-skim mozzarella cheese (about 4 ounces)

1 1/2 cups Prego® Traditional Italian Sauce or Tomato, Basil & Garlic Italian Sauce

1. Heat the oven to 350°F. Spray a 12-inch pizza pan with the cooking spray.
2. Heat the oil in 12-inch skillet over medium heat. Add the onion and mushrooms and cook until they're tender and the liquid is evaporated, stirring occasionally. Remove the skillet from the heat.
3. Stir the egg, milk, pasta and 1/2 cup cheese in a medium bowl. Spread the pasta mixture on the pizza pan.
4. Bake for 20 minutes. Spread the sauce over the pasta crust. Top with the onion mixture. Sprinkle with the remaining cheese.
5. Bake for 15 minutes or until the cheese is melted. Let stand for 5 minutes before slicing.
Serving Suggestion: Serve with a mixed green salad with walnuts and red wine vinaigrette. For dessert serve fresh fruit salad.
Makes: 4 servings (about 1 1/4 cups each).

IMG_7999

These are the ingredients I added simply to sneak some veggies into the dish.  I also added the meat for extra protein it was not called for in the recipe.  You can make this meal complete like we did with a nice green salad and fruit salad for dessert.

IMG_8001

TaDa!  The kiddos give this meal four stars so it will be put into the rotation.  Mommy gives it four starts as well because it was fast and easy.

Friday, September 2, 2011

Tuesday, August 30, 2011

Hello Kitty Bento


Hello Kitty Bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
WHO DOES NOT LOVE HELLO KITTY?

In my house we are big fans of all things Hello Kitty!  So for the girls lunch we have a Hello Kitty ham, cheese and cucumber sandwich with the obligatory Hello Kitty cheese head.Paired with a side of fruit, broccoli and of course a Hello Kitty head filled with yummy fruit dip (recipe below).  My first grader has an early lunch and gets hungry in the afternoon so her teacher allows for a small snack so the repurposed easter egg Hello Kitty head is filled with animal crackers to tide her little tummy over until she gets home from school. 

Super Easy Fruit Dip

1 box of cream cheese
1 jar of marshmallow fluff

Mix both items together until creamy, chill and serve.

Monday, August 29, 2011

Peanut butter apple wrap


Peanut butter apple wrap, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Another fast bento lunch with peanut butter and apple wrap, veggies, oreo yogurt, and fruit.

Game day bento box


Game day, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

This was the bento for the second day of school which was also my son's first football game so I threw together a quick bento with a football theme. I love it when I am able to find themed items to make a quick bento for morning that are a rush. Oreo has come up with football shaped cookies and Ritz crackers have football themed crackers.

O "FISH" ally a 7th grader


O "FISH" ally a 7th grader, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

First day of school bento.
The baggies say O'FISH"ally a 7th grader.

Pretty Princess bento PB&J version

My youngest has yet to find a liking for sushi so today she has a peanut butter and jelly pocket sandwich. The princes is made of a hard boiled egg shaped with an onigiri egg mould.

Pretty Princess sushi version

For anyone in the Indianapolis area I have found a fabulous shop for finding cupcake picks to be used in bento. Mrs. B's right off Crawfordsville road has a amazing assortment of picks. I found the adorable cupcake princess decorations and paired them with a hard boiled egg in todays bento lunch for the girls.

Giraffe sushi bento


Giraffe sushi bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

It's back to school time here in Indiana and bento lunches are back on the menu. Oh Bento how I have missed thee! I think I really did need a bento break to recharge the creative juices. I have found getting back in the bento groove is going to take time. As full creative potential has yet to be hit. But we are on the right track. Today my son requested sushi so we have a sushi bento that is very simple yet yummy!

Tuesday, February 15, 2011

Fried chicken bento


Fried chicken bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Really simple thrown together bento with leftovers for a busy morning.

Monday, February 14, 2011


, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Valentines day bento


Valentines day bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Valentines day bento for the kids. Heart shaped pasta with meatballs (veggies mixed into the the meatballs) topped with cheese hearts.

Hubbys Valentines day bento


Hubbys Valentines day bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Normally don't do cute for my husbands lunch but just had to for Valentines day. He's not one to get embarrassed easily so I'm sure he'll be fine with it.

Thursday, February 10, 2011

tonkatsu


tonkatsu , originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Made tonkatsu for the first time tonight and it was a hit. The kids really enjoyed it and are looking forward to the leftovers for lunch tomorrow. Tonkatsu with bulldog sauce, rice with purple potato and fish cake hearts, orange, grape, nectarine, strawberries and cucumber slices.

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Elephant bento


Elephant bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Bunny bento


Bunny bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Pig bento


Pig bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.

Snowflake bento


Snowflake bento, originally uploaded by texasmomof4.
After moving and much trial and error I have made a light box so I can continue to post pictures. My new kitchen is lovely but was lacking in quality photo lighting.