Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

• 4 eggs
• 5 large, ripe bananas
• 1 c. shortening
• 2 c. sugar
• 4 c. sifted flour
• 2 tsp. baking soda
• 1 tsp. salt
• 1 pkg. semi-sweet chocolate chips

In medium bowl beat eggs until thick. Add bananas and beat until smooth and liquid. In large bowl cream together shortening and sugar until fluffy. Beat in egg/banana mixture. Sift flour with baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Stir in chocolate chips. Bake in 2 well greased bread pans at 300 degrees for 75 minutes or until done. Cool 10 minutes. Turn out onto rack to cool.

cheese ball....

A yummy Lion House recipe.
CHEESE BALL

2 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
2 c. grated sharp cheddar cheese
2 T. finely chopped green onion
2 t. Worcestershire sauce
1 t. lemon juice
½ t. lemon pepper
1 c. finely chopped nuts
½ c. chopped parsley

Combine all ingredients, except nuts and parsley, in a medium bowl and mix until well blended. Divide the mixture in half and spoon into 2 small bowls lined with waxed paper. Refrigerate for several hours. Lift out waxed paper from each bowl, and mold cheese into a ball, using waxed paper to protect hands. Roll each ball in chopped nuts and parsley. Refrigerate. Remove about 15 minutes before serving; serve with a variety of crackers. Makes 2 small cheese balls.

Christmas Morning Pull Apart

This one is similar to the one Nicole posted yesterday, but just a little different so I decided to post it anyway. Its one that my mom has made on Christmas morning since I was little and it is so good.
24 frozen dinner rolls
1 C. brown sugar
1 small pk. dry instant vanilla pudding
1 stick butter melted
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 cup pecans
1/2 cup raisins

The night before, grease sides and bottom of Bundt pan. Place frozen rolls in pan. In a bowl, mix brown sugar, cinnamon, & pudding. Mix and pour over frozen rolls. Pour melted butter over mixture. Top with pecans and raisins. let rise over night. Bake at 375 degrees 30 minutes. Cover with foil if the top begins to become too brown during baking.

This is a great idea for Christmas breakfast. It can be baking while you are opening gifts.

Awesome Appetizer

You need a large platter 12 to 14" in size.
Spread two 8 oz. cream cheese that has been softened on the platter.

Mix 1 cup mayonnaise, 3 tablespoons barbecue sauce, 3 tablespoons ranch dressing and spread over the cream cheese.

Cut the following into small pieces:
3 stalks celery
1/2 red bell pepper
1/2 green pepper
1 small purple onion.

Sprinkle over cream cheese platter. Refrigerate. Take out of fridge 1/2 hour before serving. Serve with crackers. You can also sprinkle chopped up cooked chicken or shrimp along with the vegetables.

Looking for Quiche Recipe's

My daughter Baylee is getting baptized on January 3rd at 9:00 AM. Afterwards we want to do a breakfast. Does anyone know of any tried and true Quiche recipe's that I can try. We never made them growing up in the Taylor household so I don't have any recipe's. I just think that would be something that I could make before hand and then heat up. What do you think? Anyone . . . . . . . . . . . .

Overnight Pull Aparts

The first recipe is for a cranberry/orange flavor or you can also make it a cinnamon flavor (in parenthesis is what to use in place of original ingredient). This is another good recipe for an easy, yummy Christmas morning breakfast.

• 12-16 frozen white dough rolls (still frozen)
  
• 1 34 oz. pkg. vanilla instant pudding (*Butterscotch flavor pudding)
  
• 1/4 cup sugar (*1/2 cup brown sugar)
  
• 1/4 cup dried cranberries (*3/4 c. chopped nuts)
  
• 1 orange rind, grated (*2 tsp. cinnamon)
  
• 1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted
  
• frosting (recipe follows)
  

Sprinkle cranberries in bottom of greased bundt pan. Arrange rolls evenly in pan. Mix sugar and dry pudding together and sprinkle over rolls. Combine orange rind with melted butter and spoon over rolls. Cover pan with sprayed plastic wrap. Place pan in cold oven overnight (8-10 hrs.). Remove rolls from oven and pre-heat oven to 350. Remove plastic wrap and bake 25 minutes. Immediately invert pan onto a serving plate. Cool slightly and drizzle with frosting.

Frosting:
1 cup powdered sugar
1 tbs. melted butter
2 tbs. fresh orange juice

(Frosting isn't needed for the cinnamon version, but if you really need it :) , use milk instead of orange juice)

Cranberry Salsa

Cranberry Salsa

• 1 12 oz. pkg. fresh cranberries (you can use frozen but fresh are prettier)
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1 medium jalapeno, seeds removed (I thought this was way too hot, so I would start out with just a little and add more to taste)
• 1 green onion
• 1-2 tbs. fresh cilantro
• 1/4 tsp. cumin

Place all ingredients in food processor. Process until mixture is coarsely chopped. Store in refrigerator for flavors to blend. Serve with tortilla chips. This is also great served with crackers and cream cheese. Delicious as a relish with pork or poultry. Yield: 3 cups

Hawaiian Haystacks

10 to 12 chicken tenders (cut into chunks)
1 cup of broth
2 cans (10 3/4 oz. each) cream of chicken soup, condensed
1 can (12 oz) evaporated milk
6 cups of rice

Place chicken in greased crockpot
Combine all remaining ingredients except rice and pour over chicken. Cover and cook on high heat 3-4 hours or on low heat 6-8 hours

Serve over hot rice with a variety of cold toppings that could include: grated cheese, peas, pineapple tidbits, shredded coconut, raisins. Chinese noodles, olives, diced tomatoes, diced green onions, and other family favorites.

Sweet and Sour Sauce
Juice from canned pineapple
1 Tsp. catsup
1 Tbsp. vinegar
3 Tbsp. brown sugar
cornstarch to thicken

In a separate sauce pan, add above ingredients, stir in cornstarch thoroughly and heat to thicken. If desired pour over the haystack for last topping.

Great Christmas "Funeral Potatoes"

It is a tradition for my family to have Funeral Potatoes on Christmas Eve. This is our favorite recipe from the Mormon Cookbook.

12 large potatoes or 32 oz. bag of frozen shredded hashbrowns
2 cans Cream of Chicken soup
2 cups sour cream
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
1/2 cup melted butter
1/2 cup chopped onion
2 cups crushed cornflakes
2 Tbsp. Butter Melted

Peel potatoes & boil till tender (if your not using hashbrowns). Cool, grate into greased 9X13 baking dish. Combine sour cream, cheese, 1/2 cup melted butter, & onion. Gently blend into potatoes. Combine crushed cornflakes & 2 Tbsp. of butter & sprinkle on top. Bake @ 350 degrees for 30 minutes.

Christmas Morning Breakfast Casserole

This is my favorite recipe for a Breakfast Casserole. I don't really like the ones made with bread and Cream of Mushroom soup because they can be soggy. This one is delicious!

3 1/2 cups frozen shredded hash browns (I have used tater-tots and it was good too)
1 pound (ground)sausage, browned and drained
1 cup grated cheddar cheese
6 eggs, beaten
3/4 cups milk
1 tsp dry mustard
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp black pepper

Spread hash browns into bottom of a greased 9X13 pan. Sprinkle cooked sausage and cheese over top. In a bowl combine eggs, milk, dry mustard, salt, and pepper. Pour egg mixture evenly over sausage and hash browns. Cover and refrigerate 2 hours or overnight. Remove from fridge 20 minutes before baking and preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover and bake 30 minutes, then uncover and bake 5-8 minutes more, or until center is set.
Makes a great breakfast Christmas morning!!!

chocolate bunt cake....

It'll change your life!!
CHOCOLATE BUNT CAKE

1 box devils food cake

1 (3 oz.) package chocolate pudding

1/2 c. water

1/2 c. oil

4 eggs

8 oz. sour cream

1 package chocolate chips

Combine all ingredients. Pour into a greased bunt pan. Bake at 350' for 50-55 minutes.

garden pizza....

I know, I post pizza a lot! When it's your hubbys favorite and your not-so-favorite, you have to reinvent it to fit both taste buds!!

Try this oh-so-good pampered chef recipe. enjoy!
GARDEN PIZZA
2 packages refrigerated pizza crust
1/2 cup mayonnaise
1/2 package ranch seasoning and salad dressing mix
1 garlic clove, pressed
2 cups shredded mozzarella cheese
1 cup chopped broccoli
1/2 cup diced red bell pepper
1 medium carrot
1/2 cup olives, sliced
1/4 cup grated fresh Parmesan cheese

Preheat oven to 425°F. Unroll both packages of pizza dough and arrange on a cookie sheet. In a bowl, combine mayonnaise, ranch seasoning mix and garlic. Spread mixture evenly over crust. Top with half of the mozzarella cheese. Add; broccoli, bell pepper, carrots, and olives. Top with remaining mozzarella and parmesan cheese. Bake 18-22 minutes or until edges are golden brown.

Sugar Cookies

I made these with my girls last night and it is the most workable dough. I gave Brielle her own little ball and she played with it forever. Anyway, I have always been intimidated by sugar cookies, but this recipe is for everyone.

1 1/2 C sugar
1 c soft margarine
2 tsp vanilla
2 eggs
3/4 tsp nutmeg
3/4 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
4 c flour
3/4 c sour cream

Cream sugar and butter, stir in vanilla and eggs till fluffy. Mix dry ingredients in a separate bowl then add to the other bowl. Add sour cream and mix well. To roll out make sure you put flour on countertop and rolling pin so dough doesn't stick. I also just sprinkled a little on the top of the dough before I rolled it out. Place cut out cookies on cookie sheet, then bake @ 350 degrees for about 9-10 minutes. In my oven it worked out perfectly at 10, but all ovens vary so just watch them closely.