Banana Loaf

This turns out great every time. A yummy, moist, traditional banana bread.


1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas (I have used frozen, thawed bananas too)
1 3/4 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs 1 at a time.

2. Add mashed banana.

3. Fold in dry ingredients, only to moisten.

4. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.

Banana Chocolate Chip Pan Muffins

This is a recipe I make when I'm having friends over, it's very kid friendly. Sometimes I leave out the chocolate chips to make it a better choice for breakfast, either way it's very yummy.


1/2 cup butter
1 1/4 cup white sugar
2 eggs
2-3 mashed bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
3/4 cup sour milk
And as many chocolate chips as you like!

1. Cream butter, sugar, eggs, bananas and vanilla.

2. Add flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt alternating with sour milk.

3. Add chocolate chips.

4. Bake in a 9x13 pan at 350 degrees. Check after 35 minutes.

*I always check it with a toothpick and I usually have to leave it in for more time.

Artichoke Dip

When eaten with pita chips made from the pita bread recipe, this dip is delicious. The bulk of this dip is made from white beans and artichokes, unlike a lot of artichoke dips that are mainly made from heavy cream and high fat cheese. So enjoy it! A lot of it!


19 oz can white kidney beans
14 oz can artichoke hearts
1 cup grates swiss or Monterrey cheese (I've used cheddar too)
1 tsp. worchershire
1 tbsp. lemon juice
1/2 cup parmesan
1/3 cup mayo or whipped dressing
2 tsp. minced garlic
1/2 tsp. pepper
1/2 cup sour cream
4 slices bacon, cooked and crumbled
2 tsp. chopped green onions

1. Puree beans and lemon juice.

2. Stir in everything else except the bacon and onions

3. Put in a 9x9 pan and sprinkle with bacon and onion.

4. Bake at 350 degrees uncovered for 25 minutes.

*I puree everything together (except the bacon and onions) just because I don't like big pieces of artichokes. Throw everything in a blender or food processor until puree-ed. It's that easy.

Baked French Toast

Wonderful when made with homemade bread. My family eats this at least once a week. Something about baking it in the oven makes it better (in my opinion) than making it n the stove top. A great recipe shared by my Mom.


3 large eggs
3 tbsp. sugar
1/4 cup butter
2/3 cups milk
1/2 tsp. vanilla
8 1" thick slices of bread

1. Melt butter in a 9x13" baking dish. Cover with bread.

2. Beat together all other ingredients and pour gently over bread. Let stand for 2 minutes.
(I put the bread in the pan, leave for 30 seconds and then flip it. Leave for another 30 seconds and flip again. Keep repeating until most of the liquid has been absorbed by the bread.)

3. Bake at 425 degrees for 15 minutes. Turn and bake for 10 minutes longer.

Chicken Quesadillas

These are wonderful when made with the homemade tortillas. You'll need at least 8 tortillas to fill the pan. These are my husband's favourite. Very saucy and cheesy, with a little spicy kick from the green chilies.

1 cup chopped onion
1/2 cup green pepper
2 tbsp. butter
2 cups cooked chicken
1 can green chili peppers

1. Cook onion and green pepper with butter in a saucepan. Put aside in a bowl, mix in chicken and green chilies.


3 Tbsp. butter
1/4 cup flour
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. ground coriander
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups Monterrey jack cheese
2 1/2 cups chicken broth

1. Mix butter, flour, coriander and salt in to paste over medium heat in a sauce pan. Gradually add chicken broth and cook until thick and bubbly.

2. Remove from heat and add sour cream and 1/2 cup of cheese.

3. Take 1/2 of the sauce and add it to the chicken mixture.

4. Take a few spoonfuls of sauce and spread over the bottom of a 9x13 pan. Lay down a layer of tortillas. Spread half of the chicken mixture over the tortillas, adding some more sauce on top.

5. Put down another layer of tortillas. Spread the rest of the chicken mixture on top, again adding more sauce.

6. Lay down the last layer of tortillas, spread the rest of the sauce over top. Add the rest of the cheese on top of that.

7. Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes.

Pitas (Bread Maker)

A yummy alternative to a traditional sandwich.


Put in bread maker:

1 cup + 1 tbsp. warm water
1/2 tsp. sugar
3 cups flour
2 tbsp. oil
1 1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 tsp. yeast

Put on dough program.

1. Preheat oven to 475 degrees. When dough cycle is complete remove dough and punch down on floured surface.

2. Divide dough into 8 balls.

3. Roll out each ball on the floured counter.

4. Put 2 rolled out pitas on an ungreased cookie pan on the middle rack of the oven.

5. Bake 2 pitas at a time for about 4 minutes. Time depends on the thickness of the dough.

6. Cool between 2 tea towels.

* You can also make these pitas into great chips. When the pitas are done baking mix butter, parmesan, garlic powder and onion powder to taste. Spread the butter mixture over the pitas. Cut the seasoned pitas into triangles or squares and put onto a cookie sheet. Broil at a low temprature until crisp. They are great with dips and hummus.

Strawberry Cornmeal Muffins

These are great even if you don't have the fresh fruit to put in. You can also use any flavour of yogurt and any kind of fresh fruit that you like. Because they are made with yogurt instead of oil like most muffins, they are a healthy choice too.


1 cup all purpose flour
3/4 cups cornmeal
1/2 cups white sugar
2 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
1 cups chopped strawberries
1 cup yogurt
1/4 cup butter, melted
1 egg, lightly beaten

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

2. In a large bowl, mix together flour, cornmeal, sugar baking powder and salt.

3. In a separate bowl gently toss strawberries in 1/2 cup of the flour mixture.

4. whisk yogurt, melted butter and egg together.

5. Stir the yogurt mixture into the flour mixture, and stir just to moisten. Fold in strawberries.

6. Spoon batter into muffin cups and bake for 25 minutes.