Smashed Banana Chocolate Chip Cookies ~ Smashed Banana Blueberry Chocolate Chip Cookies

hosted by Chaya & Min at OUR KrAzY kitchen


No story ~ just craved bananas and chocolate chips!

SMASHED BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP COOKIES
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup butter softened
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon maple extract
2 JUMBO eggs
2 cups milk chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
2 smashed bananas*

  • Preheat oven to 375 degrees.
  • Sift together the flour, soda and salt.
  • Cream butter.
  • Add bananas.
  • Add sugars and vanilla, blend until smooth.
  • Add eggs one at a time until well blended.
  • Gradually add the flour mixture and blend well.
  • Fold in nuts and chocolate chips. (And or blueberries at this point).
  • Drop by spoonfuls onto an ungreased cookie sheet.
  • Bake 10-12 minutes.
  • Cool.

*for the next batch I substituted 1 cup dried blueberries for 1 of the bananas.

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Menu Plans for 3 Sides of Crazy


Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

DATE
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
MONDAY

1/4

CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT
SANDWICHES Jambalaya
TUESDAY 1/5

CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT LEFTOVERS
Tuna Noodle Bake
WEDNESDAY 1/6
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT SOUP
Shepherd’s Pie
THURSDAY 1/7
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT CHEESE & FRUIT
Meatloaf with a KICK
FRIDAY 1/8
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT C.O.R.N.

Peanut Butter Burgers

SATURDAY 1/9
Baked Omelet Split Pea Soup Italian Sausage Bake
SUNDAY 1/10 Depression Eggs Cleaning the Fridge Soup Cheeseburger Cups

Menu Plans for the week


Menu Plan Monday hosted by Laura at I’m an Organizing Junkie

DATE
BREAKFAST
LUNCH
DINNER
MONDAY

1/4

CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT
SANDWICHES Jambalaya
TUESDAY 1/5

CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT LEFTOVERS
Tuna Noodle Bake
WEDNESDAY 1/6
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT SOUP
Shepherd’s Pie
THURSDAY 1/7
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT CHEESE & FRUIT
Meatloaf with a KICK
FRIDAY 1/8
CEREAL, TOAST or YOGURT C.O.R.N.

Peanut Butter Burgers

SATURDAY 1/9
Baked Omelet Split Pea Soup Italian Sausage Bake
SUNDAY 1/10 Depression Eggs Cleaning the Fridge Soup Cheeseburger Cups

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Texas Caviar ~ Simply Delicious Sunday

While researching black eyed peas (not an easy thing to do with a band by the same name) I ran across a reference to Texas Caviar. I read and read all those recipes and found the 2 consistent ingredients are black eyed peas and Italian dressing. So I started with those ingredients and from there added the ingredients I like most. We loved the results. We ate it for New Year’s day with fresh tortilla chips, prime rib and twice baked potatoes. Eating black-eyed peas on New Year’s Day is thought to bring prosperity. See what you think. I also found it ironic, at least in my case that since my family is from and for the majority in Texas that I had never heard of this before.

Texas Caviar

TEXAS CAVIAR
1 pound black eyed peas
2 cups Italian salad dressing
1 cup grape tomatoes, quartered
1 large shallot, chopped
1 bunch finely chopped green onions (tops too)
finely chopped jalapeno peppers to taste
3 cloves finely chopped garlic
Salt & hot pepper sauce to taste (I used Frank’s red pepper sauce)
Tortilla chips
  • Soak peas in enough water to cover overnight.
  • Drain well. Pick out bad beans.
  • Transfer peas to saucepan. Add enough fresh water to cover.
  • Over high heat bring to boil.
  • Let slow boil until tender, about an hour or so, but do not overcook.
  • While peas are cooking chop remaining ingredients and mix well with dressing.
  • Drain peas well.
  • Blend into dressing mixture and let cool.
  • Chill several hours.
  • Serve with tortilla chips.

Originally native to India, but widely grown in many countries in Asia, the black-eyed pea was introduced into the West Indies and from there to the Southern United States as early as the 1600s in Virginia. Most of the black-eye pea cultivation in the region, however, took firmer hold in Florida and the Carolinas during the 1700s, reaching Virginia in full force following the American Revolution. The crop would also eventually prove popular in Texas. Throughout the South, the black-eyed pea is still a widely used ingredient in soul food and various types of Southern U.S. cuisine. The planting of crops of black-eyed peas was promoted by George Washington Carver because, as a legume, it adds nitrogen to the soil and has high nutritional value. Black-eyed peas are an excellent source of calcium. Isn’t Wikipedia wonderful? I learn something every day!

Start your taste buds. We’re having a Superbowl Recipe Round-Up here at the KrAzY kitchen in honor of the Superbowl. Mr. Linky will go up 2/7/2010 to gather all your links.

Simple Saturday 2010

Welcome to Simple Saturday and Happy New Year to all!

There have been lots of changes here at Our Krazy Kitchen over the six months we have been in existence. We’ve had changes with our themes and memes, we’ve had to say goodbye to some great team members, but in the process have made some wonderful new friends who have become part of our team. With that I’d like to welcome our three newest members – Chaya, Min, and Dave, I know it’s going to be a great year here at Our Krazy Kitchen having all of you on board with us!

Me? I’m Martha, my main blog is Menagerie. I was the original host of Simple Supper Saturday here in the early days at Our Krazy Kitchen. I later took over Monday Munchies, but have now returned to Saturdays to host Simple Saturday – sorry about any confusion it may have caused.

Speaking on behalf of our team here at Our Krazy Kitchen, we want this to be a fun and exciting year! We want mix things up a little, offer contests, challenges, special features, maybe even some giveaways! We want you to get to know us more as individuals, and we want lots of participation and interaction with all of you! Just in case you missed it yesterday Kristen got us started with our first challenge! It should be a lot of fun, we hope you’ll play along!

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My goal for Simple Saturday is simply to bring you lots of easy but yummy dishes. My life is very hectic and very full. As much as I’d love spending my days in the kitchen it’s just not possible. I usually have to have meals on the table within 30 minutes or less. I am blessed with being happily married, and have three beautiful children – two boys 12 and 15, and a daughter 22. I work full time as a secretary at a high school, have my 82 year old mother that I care for, and also have the responsibilities of managing and maintaining both her household and my own. As you can see, not much time left for elaborate meals here on a regular basis, but there are always good homemade meals regardless.

I consider quick, easy and inexpensive dishes my specialty. I often cook a main course two or three times larger than what we need for a family dinner in order to intentionally have leftovers to creatively make all new meals over another day or two. I rarely use actual recipes, some ideas from recipes but from there fly by the seat of my pants! I will also admit to sometimes using some kitchen shortcuts to create half homemade meals. I generally do a cook and freeze day once every 4-6 weeks, am a menu planner to keep things simplified and organized, and a bulk food and sale shopper as well. I make sure nothing ever goes to waste in my home!

What you’ll find here at Simple Saturday may often be more of a process than an actual recipe, and as long as you can relate to things like a “handful” or a “splash” of this or that we’ll get along just fine 🙂

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We’ve been having some behind the scenes fun recently here at Our Krazy Kitchen regarding brussels sprouts. In honor of Dave today I’m posting my favorite brussels sprouts (originally posted at Menagerie). The kids call them “The Awesomest Brussels Sprouts!”

At one time we didn’t even like brussels sprouts, not at all – I mean AT ALL! Last summer I was on a mission to revisit some foods we didn’t like and try making them different ways to give them another chance. Made like this brussels sprouts are now my family’s favorite green veggie!

Lightly trim the bottom of each of the brussels sprouts, cut in half, put in a bowl with a splash of olive oil, add a heaping spoon of fresh minced garlic, sprinkle with hot pepper flakes, lightly toss.

Heat a splash of olive oil in frying pan, add brussels sprouts flat side down and fry on med until bottoms are nice crispy browned (about 5 minutes). Transfer to an oven safe pan (or preferably have a large skillet that can go right in the oven). Cook on 400 for 12-15 minutes.

As soon as they come out of the oven, drizzle with balsamic vinegar, sea salt, fresh ground pepper, toss again and top with a sprinkling of fresh grated Parmesan cheese.

These really are the “awesomest!”

If you happen to have a great brussels sprouts recipe I’d love it if you would link it up here, no need for a brand new post, linking up an older post is fine. Of course if you don’t have a brussels sprouts recipe feel free to link up any simple dish – try to think green on this one!

Note – Mister Linky is having trouble today. If a Linky doesn’t appear below please leave your link in the comment section. I will link them manually later when Mister Linky is back up and running, thanks!

What Did You Bake This Month….a challenge

I thought I’d shake things up a little and offer you all a challenge. The holidays are over, the winter doldrums are about to descend. Why not join me in a little cooking/baking adventure?

During the month of January, I’d like you to think of a recipe using a certain ingredient that will be mentioned a few sentences from here. It can be one of your tried and true recipes, it can be a brand spanking new recipe that you make up, it can be a recipe that you have had sitting in your list of “I want to try that.” The only thing I ask is that you actually make it, write up a post about it and include a picture or two. In “What Did You Bake Today” on January 29, I’d like you to link up your recipe.

I will randomly pick one of the linker-uppers and will feature them the following week here and on my personal blog.

Now, for the mystery ingredient…..seeing it’s cold outside….and not much is really in season….it’s

OATMEAL
(you can make a main dish, a dessert, a breakfast item, bread, or whatever!!)
I can’t wait to see what you come up with.

A great way to start the new year ~ Friday fill-ins


Hosted by Janet

1. I enjoy LIFE.

2. LIFE is something I wonder about often lately.

3. In your heart, you knew LOVE would win.

4. Take LIFE, add a little LOVE and you end up with HAPPINESS.

5. Life has gifted me with MY SOULMATE.

6. A HOT BUBBLE BATH is an instant vacation.

7. And as for the weekend, toDAY I’m looking forward to WATCHING THE ROSE PARADE, tomorrow my plans include A LITTLE SHOPPING and Sunday, I want to RELAX & WATCH SOME FOOTBALL!
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DISCLOSURE

While every caution has been taken to provide my readers with the most accurate information and my honest analysis, please use your discretion before taking any decisions based on the information in this blog. I will not compensate you in any way whatsoever if you ever happen to suffer a loss, inconvenience and/or damage because of making use of information in this blog. I may keep updating old posts on a regular basis and am not bound to explicitly state all corrections made… I blog for pleasure and enjoyment and don’t currently have commercial interest in blogging at this moment and may not accept invitations/requests of certain type which I deem inappropriate.

I do not receive monetary compensation for their reviews. I may be sent a complimentary item in exchange for my honest opinions and receiving a free product does not influence my review posts. All opinions and thoughts are my own, and different people may have different opinions. We are not responsible for those who purchase these items and experience different results. Occasionally, the company provides a product to give away as well.

wildatheart