Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Was looking for a peanut butter muffin recipe and came across this one from Lu.

Peanut Butter Banana Muffins



1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup unsalted butter, soften
1/4 cup chunky peanut butter, soften
2 eggs
3 large bananas, mashed
1 banana, sliced

In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

In another bowl, cream together sugar and butter until fluffy, about 5 minutes. Beat in peanut butter. Add in the eggs, one at a time. Then mix in mashed banana.

With the mixer on low speed, beat in the flour mixture until just combined.

Fill GREASED muffin cups 2/3 full. Top with a sliced banana. Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean.


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These were good, but not great. The taste of peanut butter wasn't much. Next time I'll double the peanut butter. I also won't be adding the slice of banana on top. It makes for a pretty muffin, but within an hour after baking, it turns brown and icky (and creates extra moisture in the container you package them in). Overall though, it was pretty tasty, just not fantastic.. I think the additional pb will make it extra tasty.... right now it tastes more just like a banana muffin, with the tiniest hint of peanut butter.

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

I had some pumpkin to use up, and didn't have enough supplies for my pumpkin apple muffins, so I searched for a new recipe.

I found this one on Tasty Kitchen... called Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins

Pumpkin Doughnut Muffins



1 1/2 Cups Flour
1 1/2 tsp Baking Powder
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1/2 tsp Salt
1/2 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Butter
1 Egg
1 cup canned Pumpkin
1 tsp Vanilla
1/2 cup Milk

Topping:
1/2 cup Sugar
1 tsp Pumpkin Pie Spice
1 tsp Cinnamon
1/2 cup Butter, Melted

In a bowl mix dry ingredients together (flour, baking powder, spice, salt).

In another bowl, cream together sugar, egg and butter. Add in pumpkin and vanilla.

Add dry ingredients and milk to the other ingredients and beat well.

Spoon into GREASED muffin cups (2/3 full), and bake at 350 F for 20-25 minutes (until toothpick comes out clean).

In a small bowl mix up sugar and spices. Melt butter in a separate bowl. When muffins have cooled enough to handle, dip in melted butter, then roll in sugar mixture.

The original recipe coated the entire muffin in sugar and butter, but I opted to just do the tops.. and it's plenty sweet enough.

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These muffins were delicious. We all enjoyed them, but definitely a more dessert type muffin rather than a breakfast muffin. They are moist and light, and just the perfect amount of spices in there. Enjoy!

March Meal Plan

Not sure where March is going, but I'm just now getting a chance to blog our meal plan for the month.

This month I am mostly doing new recipes, with just a few old ones thrown in.

In no particular order (since I grab from the list based on time, what we feel like that day):

1 - Best Slow Cooker Beef Stroganoff*
2 - Grilled Chicken and Pineapple Quesadillas*
3 - Turkey Stirfry and Rice
4 - Stew
5 - Pizza
6 - Slow Cooker Quinoa Casserole*

Source: crockpot365.blogspot.com via Tamara on Pinterest

7 - Mozza Tomato Gnocci Bake*
8 - Matzo Ball Soup*
9 - Slow Cooker Teriyaki Chicken*, Rice
10 - Bubble Up Enchiladas*
11 - Slow Cooker Tikka Masala*

Source: themealplanner.blogspot.com via Tamara on Pinterest

12 - Chicken Taco Chili
13 - Beef and Broccoli*

Source: simplyrecipes.com via Tamara on Pinterest

14 - Cranberry Chicken
15 - Chicken and Cheese Lasagna Roll Ups*
16 - Tacos
17 - Rosemary Garlic Chickpea Soup*

Source: bowllicking.com via Tamara on Pinterest

18 - Creamy Chicken and Broccoli Casserole*
19 - Sloppy Joe Pizza*
20 - Chicken Stuffing Bake*
21 - Spaghetti and Meatballs
22 - Veggie Cheese Soup*
23 - Broccoli and Black Bean Rice*
24 - Slow Cooker Pot Roast, Roasted Veggies, Yorkshire Pudding

Source: veryculinary.com via Tamara on Pinterest

25 - Balsamic Pork Roast*
26 - Waffles and Fruit
27 - Quick Burritos
28 - 15 Min Chicken and Rice*
29 - Hot Dogs, Potato Salad
30 - Slow Cooker Potato Soup*
31 - Slow Cooker Chicken Caesar Sandwiches*

Source: the-girl-who-ate-everything.com via Tamara on Pinterest

*will try to share these recipes with reviews.

Make-Ahead Unstuffed Shells

Recipe was found in Kraft's What's Cooking Magazine (Festive 2011).

Not as pretty on my plate as in the magazine:


Make-Ahead Unstuffed Shells

4 cups medium pasta shells, uncooked
1 lb (450g) extra lean ground beef
1 jar pasta sauce
1/4 cup cup Philadelphia Light Cream Cheese Spread
1/2 cup milk
1/4 cup Parmesan Shredded Cheese
1/3 cup chopped fresh basil
1 1/2 cups Park Skim Mozzarella Shredded Cheese

Cook pasta as directed on package (no salt).

Brown beef in a skillet. Stir in the pasta sauce and simmer for 2 minutes, stirring.

Drain pasta. Wish cream cheese, milk and parmesan in large bowl, add pasta and basil and stir until evenly coated.

Spray a 9 x 13 pan, spread half the meat sauce o the bottom, cover with pasta mixture, then top with remaining meat sauce. Sprinkle with mozzarella. Cover with foil.

Refrigerate for up to 24 hours.

Heat oven to 375 degrees... bake casserole covered for 40-45 minutes (uncovered for the last 10-15 minutes)

You can also bake immediately after making for 30 minutes (uncovering for 20 minutes)

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This was pretty good... nice creamy cheese, good flavour. It was super easy to make, and everyone ate their plate fulls. Probably not 5 stars, but definitely 4. Will be on the meal plan again, most likely. I don't even have any suggestions on this one for improvement. It was good... just not spectacular!

Coffee Creamer

Since my 2nd pregnancy, I still haven't gotten back to black coffee. I love coffee.. but it's like a mini comfort when things are hectic to have that yummy flavoured creamer in my coffee. I discovered this idea a while ago to make my own.

Source: mrshappyhomemaker.com via Tamara on Pinterest

I use the low-fat Eagle brand and skim milk in mine (double the milk of the can of Eagle brand), but boy, does it make coffee even more delicious, and I'm not buying those chemically laden flavoured coffee creamers from the store. I don't think it saves me much money, if at all, but I know what's in it! Maybe I should buy my Eaglebrand in bulk...

Great idea Mrs Happy Homemaker! By the way... it's a fabulous blog you have to check out!

Tip on Hardboiled Eggs

I found this pin on pinterest... and HAD to try it:

Source: momonamission.me via Tamara on Pinterest

I mean, I love hardboiled eggs, but they're such a pain to peel.. and chunks of egg come with the peels, etc... hardly pretty at all.

It's a BRILLIANT way to de-shell eggs, and they're perfect EVERY TIME!! It was too good to be true.... so I tried it. Here's what you do:

-Put eggs in pot, fill the pot with cold water (make sure eggs are covered)
-Turn stove to high, and bring to a rolling boil (don't keep boiling)
-Remove from heat, cover with lid, and let sit for 15 minutes
-Pour out water, and fill with COLD water... add ice, keep adding ice until it doesn't melt anymore.
-After 10-15 minutes, pour off all water except about an inch
-Put the lid back on, and shake it gently back and forth for about a minute.
-When you open the pot... the eggs have peeled themselves and the eggs look pretty much perfect. Any shells that remain should just fall off when you pick up the egg.

It could not be any easier... so easy to do while you prepare something else in the kitchen.. do dishes, etc... super simple and perfect... I don't know how this isn't common practice. Thank you PINTEREST! I now can enjoy hardboiled eggs more often, and also make potato salad more often. YAY!

Honey Sesame Chicken

I found this recipe on Six Sisters' Stuff blog! I love that blog, always lots of great things on it!



Slow Cooker Honey Sesame Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts
Salt and pepper (I omitted)
1 cup honey
1/2 cup soy sauce (low sodium)
1/2 cup diced onion
1/4 cup ketchup
2 Tbsp vegetable oil
2 cloves garlic, minced
1/4 tsp red pepper flakes (optional -I omitted)
4 tsp cornstarch dissolved in 6 Tbsp water
Sesame seeds

Season both sides of chicken with lightly with salt and pepper (I didn't want the extra sodium, so I skipped this), put into crock pot. In a bowl, mix the honey, soy sauce, onion, ketchup, oil, garlic and pepper flakes (I actually added some minced ginger in here as well). Pour this mixture over the chicken.

Cook on low for 3-4 hours or on high 1 1/2 – 2 1/2 hours (until chicken is cooked). Take the chicken chicken from the slow cooker, but leave the sauce. Dissolve 4 tsp of cornstarch into 6 Tbsp of water and add to the sauce in the slow cooker. Stir. Cover slow cooker and cook sauce on high for 10 minutes or until slightly thickened. While the sauce is thickening, cut the chicken into small pieces, then put them back in the slow cooker and stir into the sauce before serving.

Sprinkle sesame seeds on top.

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DELICIOUS. We all really enjoyed this recipe, we even served it to company. I added some minced ginger to it, and I think it made it very good (although I think it would be very good without it).

I think this is one of our new favourites, and it's very quick and easy to make. I didn't even thaw my chicken ahead of time, just put it in about 30 minutes early.

Oh and the toddler asked for thirds!