Banana Cake with Cream Cheese Frosting

So simple yet so delicious!

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What to to with 2 nice bunches of very ripe bananas, but bake?!  This cake is made with a recipe I’ve been using since the early 90’s.   It is very simple, with few ingredients, but it is so delicious and moist!

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I usually top it with a Brown Sugar Glaze, but since I had cream cheese, this time I decided to make a traditional Cream Cheese Frosting for the cake.

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BANANA CAKE

1/2 cup shortening or butter (I used softened butter)

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 cup (2 med) bananas, mashed

1 1/4 cups self rising flour

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Cream shortening (or butter) and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.   Add flour to mashed bananas and mix well.  Next, add the banana and flour mixture to the cake batter.  Stir well.  Pour into greased pan.  Bake at 350º for 45 minutes or until cake is browned on top and springs back to the touch.

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***NOTE- I used a 7 x 11 glass baking dish and the cake rose to the top of the dish and was fairly thick.  The layer could be sliced and a filling added to make a 2 layer cake.

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Cream Cheese Frosting

½ cup butter
1 (8 oz.) package of cream cheese
½ teaspoon of vanilla

 3 ½ cups of powdered sugar

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In a medium sized mixing bowl cream the butter and cream cheese together.  Add the vanilla.  Slowly add the powdered sugar.  When you are adding the powdered sugar, use a low speed on the mixer.   After you have it all in, put up on a medium to high speed.   Mix the frosting until it is fluffy.

Make sure your cake is completely cooled and spread the cream cheese frosting on it. 

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Vintage Recipe: Pineapple Cheese Ball

The holidays are just around the corner

and eating delicious goodies that we only make on special occasions has become a tradition.

Cheeseballs, Spinach Dip, Peanut Butter Balls, Spiced Pecans…these are a few of my favorite things.

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The special occasion was a wedding on Saturday night.  My friends Terry and Angie decided to tie the knot.  I wanted to help them celebrate by bringing a treat to the reception.  It was all eaten up.   Pictured below was the little bit I had left at home for a midnight snack or early morning breakfast.

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This started out as my friend Laura’s recipe.  I’ve made some tweaks of my own with favorable results.

 

Pineapple Cheese Ball
 
cream cheese, 16 oz
crushed pineapple, (small can) drained dry
pecan pieces, 2 C
chopped onion, 1/4 cup
shredded cheddar, 2 oz
seasoned salt, 1 T
 
Mix all togther.  Refrigerate and roll in chopped pecans.
Serve with crackers.

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Watch for more vintage recipes and hopefully a give-away in the near future!

Forkland Fall Festival yummies

As I promised…

Forkland Festival

here’s the Forkland Festival food pics.  Yum, yum!

 

Country Ham and Biscuit

I was so busy taking pics of other people’s food in between bites of yummy CH&B, that I only got a pic of my last little bit.  I passed over the Ribeye Sandwich for this delicious Country Ham and Biscuit.

 

Chili Cheese Fries

My youngest daughter went for the Chili Cheese Fries, her favorite.

 

Ribeye Sandwich

My hubby’s Ribeye Sandwich.  They cook onions and peppers to top the ribeyes right on site.  The smell is wonderful and draws a big crowd.

 

Yummy Butterfly Fries

Butterfly Fries are a festival favorite and big time seller.

 

Hot Roasted Corn with butter

My older daughter picked up some roasted corn.  I think we all had a bite of this hot, buttery treat.

 

Funnel Cake

And last but not least, my hubby’s all time favorite, Funnel Cake.

 

While at the festival, we also purchased a homemade fried Apple Pie and a jar of Honey to take with us.  

 

The Forkland Festival is a must on our fall vacation event list.  If you’re ever in that area in October, be sure and stop by.

For more information on this wonderful fall festival, go here.

Peanut Butter Cookies (low carb)

In the fall, I get a hankering to bake, bake, bake!

 

Since I try to live the low carb lifestyle, that limits my baked goods choices.  When I want to bake cookies, this easy recipe always comes to mind.

 

I found this recipe several years ago in my Aunt Mary’s little recipe box.  Last night when I baked these little gems, I subbed Splenda for the sugar.   I have written the recipe here as it is on her recipe card and added my own tweaks.

 

 

Magic Peanut Butter Cookies

1 cup creamy peanut butter

1 cup granulated sugar (I subbed Splenda)

1 egg

1 tsp vanilla, optional

 

Mix the peanut butter and sugar well.  Add the egg.  Mix well.  (As the egg is added to the peanut butter mixture, it  causes the mixture to have a cookie dough texture)

Drop by rounded spoonfuls on baking sheet.  Using a fork, press the cookies down to give them that classic peanut butter cookie look.  Bake at 350º for 8-10 minutes.  Do not overcook.

 

Cool and enjoy!

Easy Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad

I love a good pasta salad and if it’s easy and simple, that’s even better!

 

A few Sundays ago, my sister-in-law called to invite me to a family picnic and so I decided a simple pasta salad would be a great addition to the meal she had already prepared. 

 

After the afternoon service, she, her husband, 2 daughters, 8 grandchildren and my family of 4 plus my baby great-nephew, all met at the park for an evening of food and family fun.

 

There was Homemade Vegetable Beef Soup, Cornbread, Sandwiches, Chips, Pasta Salad, Fresh Veggies and Ranch Dip, Sweet Tea, Banana Pudding, and Coconut Cake.

 

There’s no time like Family Time!

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More great homestyle recipes:

Vegetable Beef Soup with Southern Cornbread

Steak and Onion Salad with Creamy Homemade Dressing

Chocolate Fudge Pie

Easy Ranch and Bacon Pasta Salad

1 box pasta, cooked ( I used Dreamfields Penne Rigate – low carb)

1 cup homemade ranch dressing

1/2 cup bacon pieces

4 oz shredded cheddar cheese

salt and pepper to taste

cherry or grape tomatoes, sliced – optional

Mix the cooked, drained and cooled pasta with the dressing, cheese, and bacon.  Chill and serve.

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Fall Festival time in Kentucky

We love spending time with our family in Kentucky. 

We always try to make it to the Forkland Festival in October.  Since I wasn’t cooking I got to take some picture of festival food which I’ll be posting soon.

My husband and daughters went fishing and returned with enough for a good size meal. 

Below is today’s dinner.

Fried Crappie and Bass

Homemade Hush Puppies

Home canned Green Beans

Homemade Mac & Cheese

Fried Potatoes (it’s been so long!)

Garlic Texas Toast (by special order from my youngest)

 

My hips will never forgive me!

The Holidays and your favorite recipes

The holiday season will soon be here. 

Thanksgiving is a very special holiday for our family and usually centers around our family dinner.  

Mom’s Southern cornbread Turkey and Dressing is the usual star of the main meal.  There are other favorites that complete our meal.  My brother has to have Chunky Potato Salad, made the same way my grandmother made it.  I usually enjoy the Sweet Potatoes and baked Ham.  

One daughter loves the Green Bean Casserole and Yeast Rolls while daughter #2 loves the Ham and Cream Style Corn.

And of course, the dessert choice wouldn’t be complete without mom’s Angel Salad on the menu.  (Pictures and recipe forthcoming)

 

 I’m a dessert eater.  Below are some of my favorites.

 

Peanut Butter Balls

 

Southern Pecan Pie

 

Chess Pie

 

Sour Cream Pound Cake

 

And if you’re watching your sugar intake…

Low Carb Mini-Chocolate Chip Cheesecake

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What special dish are you looking forward to? 

Beating Cancer

Note:  Please forgive this discombobulated post.  I felt to write about this today, but I’m very busy and have had many interruptions today, so my writing may be a little hard to follow.

My friend’s mom has cancer. 

So many people are affected in some way with this horrible disease.

 My friend’s mom…let’s call her Bev…has a very positive outlook on life, even though the doctors have done almost all they can for her.  Bev is a very active woman and is always encouraging others.

 The other day, Bev received a phone call from a lady telling her about her cancer story.  How she had been given up to die 6 years ago and decided to live to the best of her ablility.  She said she is now cancer free.

 This lady shared with Bev what she now eats.

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.  No canned or frozen.

 

No white potatoes, only red.

No sugar or Splenda, only Stevia.

No margerine, only real butter.

Only a very small amount of pasta.

 

Green tea.

 

Lots of fresh fruits and vegetables.

 

Fresh herbs.

 

And lots of garlic.

Lots of garlic…up to 6 “pods” per day.

 

Bev is excited, uplifted, and encouraged.  Hopefully I’ll be back in a few months telling you that Bev has beaten cancer!

 

My mom also has cancer,  since 2003.  A rare sinus cancer.  She has had chemotherapy and all the radiation that she can have.  Her only hope is a very drastic surgery involving removing most of the left side of her face, then rebuilding with bone and skin taken from her leg and arm.  She decided against the surgery.  I hope to be able to encourage her to follow the diet that Bev is following.  Maybe some of Bev’s excitement will encourage my mom to hope again.

 

If you pray, please say a prayer for my mom, Genelle, and for my friend’s mom, Bev.  These are two very special ladies and we need them around a while longer.

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More information on foods to boost health can be found at WebMD.

*Images courtesy of Microsoft

Cheesy Sausage Balls

The high carb version of this recipe has been a family favorite for years now.

Usually we get together the night before Thanksgiving or Christmas to cook for the holiday family dinner.  While we’re putting Mom’s Potato Salad together and making her fabulous Coconut Cream Pie, we stick a pan of Sausage Balls in the oven to snack on.  It’s become a family tradition.

 

Having a little extra sausage on hand, I attempted a low carb version of this easy recipe.

 

They turned out fairly tasty, tho I think I can back off the onion powder next time or leave it out all together.

 

All you need is sausage, grated cheese, and something to bind it all together.  I’ve read where some use eggs and others use crushed pork skins.  I used a bit of Carbquik (similar to Bisquik and can be purchased at Netrition) and some parmesan cheese to make up the dry ingredients. 

 

It worked and they were quite tasty, although they didn’t have the traditional sausage ball taste, because of the added spices, I think.  So in the future, I think I’ll skip the spices and hope for that famous sausage ball flavor.

Other tasty low carb snacks and appetizers:

Deep Fried Cauliflower

Aussie Squash Fries

Bacon-wrapped Jalapeño Poppers

Cheesy Sausage Balls

1 lb. sausage
12 oz. shredded cheddar cheese
1 cup of your choice low carb baking mix, such as Carbquik and parmesan cheese

Preheat the oven to 375 º F.  Spray a baking sheet with vegetable oil cooking spray.  Combine all ingredients in a large bowl.   Mix well with your fingers. The mixture may very crumbly.  Form into 1 inch balls, squeezing the mixture so it holds together, then rolling it between the palms of your hands to form balls.  Place the balls on the baking sheet.  Bake for 16-18 minutes or until golden brown.  To prevent sticking, move the balls with a spatula halfway through cooking or use parchment paper to line your pan.  Remove from oven and serve warm.

Beefy Rotel Cheese Dip and Chips

Beefy Rotel Cheese Dip

1 lb Velveeta

1 can Rotel tomatoes and chilies

1/2 cup sour cream

1 cup prepared taco or chili flavored ground beef

In microwave safe bowl, add cheese and Rotel tomatoes.  Nuke until cheese is fully melted, stirring once or twice.  Remove from microwave and add sour cream.  Stir; then add the cooked ground beef.  Serve with your choice of chips or other dipper.

Chips shown in pic above: Fried low carb tortilla triangles.  Frying them instead of baking them made them crispier.  I cut the tortillas into chip size triangles as best as I could, then pan-fried in about a 1/2″ of oil until golden brown.  As I drained them on paper towels, I sprinkled with a touch of salt.