Banana Blueberry Muffin

3/4 cup mashed banana (~ 1 1/2 bananas)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup 2% plain yogurt or sour cream
1/2 cup blueberries

Directions:
1. In a large bowl, mix together bananas, sugar, egg and vanilla until well mixed.
2. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, stir in with wet ingredients.
3. Stir in yogurt, fold in blueberries.
4. Cook in oven about 20 minutes.

Watermelon Limeade

8 cups chopped seedless watermelon (about 6 pounds)
1/2 cup freshly squeezed lime juice (about 4 limes)
2 tablespoons sugar, plus 2 tablespoons more, if needed
1/2 cup vodka, (optional)
Mint leaves

Directions:
1. Working in batches, puree in blender watermelon with lime juice and sugar until smooth. Add more sugar, if needed.

2. Transfer puree to a pitcher; add vodka, if desired. Cover; chill until ready to serve.

3. Stir; pour into tumblers, over ice. Garnish with mint.

Beef Pot Roast

1/2 cup onion, chopped
2 tablespoons water
2 1/2 lbs. beef chuck roast
2 cups hot water
1 cube beef bouillon
2 tablespoons orange juice
1/4 teaspoon ground allspice
1/8 teaspoon pepper

Directions:
1. Simmer onion until tender in 2 tbs water in heavy deep skillet.
2. Add roast to skillet. Brown on all sides.
3. Combine beef bouillon cube with 2 cups hot water; stir until dissolved.
4. Combine orange juice, allspice, pepper and beef broth. Pour over meat, Cover and simmer about 2 hours.

Serves 8.

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

Cinnamon Sugar Pull-Apart Bread

Makes: one 9x5x3-inch loaf


For the Dough:

2 3/4 cups plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
1/4 cup granulated sugar
2 1/4 teaspoons (1 envelope) active dry yeast
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 ounces unsalted butter
1/3 cup whole milk
1/4 cup water
2 large eggs, at room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

For the Filling:
1 cup granulated sugar
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon fresh ground nutmeg
2 ounces unsalted butter, melted until browned

In a large mixing bowl (I used just the bowl of my stand mixer) whisk together 2 cups flour, sugar, yeast, and salt. Set aside.

Whisk together eggs and set aside.

In a small saucepan, melt together milk and butter until butter has just melted. Remove from the heat and add water and vanilla extract. Let mixture stand for a minute or two, or until the mixture registers 115 to 125 degrees F.

Pour the milk mixture into the dry ingredients and mix with a spatula. Add the eggs and stir the mixture until the eggs are incorporated into the batter. The eggs will feel soupy and it’ll seem like the dough and the eggs are never going to come together. Keep stirring. Add the remaining 3/4 cup of flour and stir with the spatula for about 2 minutes. The mixture will be sticky. That’s just right.

Place the dough is a large, greased bowl. Cover with plastic wrap and a clean kitchen towel. Place in a warm space and allow to rest until doubled in size, about 1 hour. *The dough can be risen until doubled in size, then refrigerated overnight for use in the morning. If you’re using this method, just let the dough rest on the counter for 30 minutes before following the roll-out directions below.

While the dough rises, whisk together the sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg for the filling. Set aside. Melt 2 ounces of butter until browned. Set aside. Grease and flour a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Set that aside too.


Deflate the risen dough and knead about 2 tablespoons of flour into the dough. Cover with a clean kitchen towel and let rest for 5 minutes. On a lightly floured work surface, use a rolling pin to roll the dough out. The dough should be 12-inches tall and about 20-inches long. If you can’t get the dough to 20-inches long… that’s okay. Just roll it as large as the dough will go. Use a pastry brush to spread melted butter across all of the dough. Sprinkle with all of the sugar and cinnamon mixture. It might seem like a lot of sugar. Seriously? Just go for it.


Slice the dough vertically, into six equal-sized strips. Stack the strips on top of one another and slice the stack into six equal slices once again. You’ll have six stacks of six squares. Layer the dough squares in the loaf pan like a flip-book. Place a kitchen towel over the loaf pan and allow in a warm place for 30 to 45 minutes or until almost doubled in size.


Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Place loaf in the oven and bake for 30 to 35 minutes, until the top is very golden brown. The top may be lightly browned, but the center may still be raw. A nice, dark, golden brown will ensure that the center is cooked as well.

Remove from the oven and allow to rest for 20 to 30 minutes. Run a butter knife around the edges of the pan to loosen the bread and invert onto a clean board. Place a cake stand or cake plate on top of the upside down loaf, and carefully invert so it’s right side up. Serve warm with coffee or tea.

Soft Pretzels

Auntie Anne’s Pretzels

1 1/2 C. warm water
1 1/8 tsp active dry yeast (1 1/2 pkg.)
2 Tbsp brown sugar
1 1/8 tsp salt
1 C. bread flour
3 C. regular flour
2 C. warm water
2 Tbsp baking soda
To taste, coarse salt
2 – 4 Tbsp butter (melted)

Sprinkle yeast on lukewarm water in mixing bowl; stir to dissolve. Add sugar, salt and stir to dissolve; add flour and knead dough until smooth and elastic. Let rise at least 1/2 hour.

While dough is rising, prepare a baking soda water bath with 2 cups warm water and 2 tbsp baking soda. Be certain to stir often.

After dough has risen, pinch off bits of dough and roll into a long rope (about 1/2 inch or less thick) and shape. Dip pretzel in soda solution and place on greased baking sheet. Allow pretzels to rise again. Bake in oven at 450 for about 10 minutes or until golden. Brush with melted butter and enjoy!

Toppings:
After you brush with butter try sprinkling with coarse salt.

BBQ Fried Chicken

2 lbs Boneless, Skinless Chicken Strips
2 3/4 C. Flour
1 tsp. Salt
1 tsp. Fresh Ground Pepper
1 C. Buttermilk
Vegetable Oil (for deep frying)

Mix flour, salt and pepper in bowl and set aside. Place buttermilk in separate bowl. Heat oil for frying and dip chicken strips in flour then in buttermilk and then finally flour again. Place in hot oil, the temperature of the oil should be 375. Never over crowd chicken strips, fry until lightly golden brown. Remove strips and drain.

BBQ Sauce
1 C. Hickory Smoke BBQ Sauce (Heinz)
1/4 C. Water
2 Tbsp. Honey
1 Tbsp. Ketchup
1 tsp. Liquid Smoke

Place all above ingredients in a small sauce pan mix thoroughly and simmer on low heat stirring frequently for 20 minutes. After cooking for 20 minutes. Let sauce cool slightly, dip one chicken breast strip in sauce at a time and place in a baking pan that has been sprayed lightly with a none stick spray. Place in a preheated oven at 350 and bake for 20 minutes.


Use this simple substitute for buttermilk if you don't have any:

Prep Time: 5 minutes
Total Time: 5 minutes

Ingredients:
Milk (just under one cup)
1 Tablespoon white vinegar or lemon juice

Preparation:
1. Place a Tablespoon of white vinegar or lemon juice in a liquid measuring cup.

2. Add enough milk to bring the liquid up to the one-cup line.

3. Let stand for five minute. Then, use as much as your recipe calls for.