Fried Peanut Butter and Banana Sandwiches

These are my favorite sandwich. Hands down. I could eat one every day.
2 slices of whole wheat bread
peanut butter (we used coconut peanut butter and regular)
banana
butter
cinnamon

slice the banana thin, spread the peanut butter on the bread and assemble sandwich. Cover the outside of the sandwich with butter. Cook on cast iron griddle til golden and crispy. Sprinkle with cinnamon while hot.

Stuffed Quesadillas

Homemade tortillas
kidney beans, about 2 cups
spinach, chopped
corn
2 potatoes, diced
garlic
cooked quinoa, about 1 cup
shredded cheese

Warm some oil in a pan and toss in the garlic to brown. Then add beans, spinach, corn potatoes, quinoa and any other veggies or beans you would like. Cook long enough to wilt the spinach and soften the potatoes. Load all of that into a homemade tortilla with some cheese and cook on cast iron pan til the cheese melts. Serve with avacado, tomatoes, salsa, sour cream, etc.

Chocolate snacks

I dont even know what to call these. BUT THEY ARE DELICIOUS!!!!

I was rummaging thru my cupboards trying to come up with a quick snack to make with my kids.

Heres what we came up with. No measurements, just throw in whatever you like.

ground flax
12 grain cereal (dry)
coconut
raisins
walnuts, chopped
almonds, chopped
dried blueberries
chocolate, we used some organic dark

Combine all the dry ingredients and melt the chocolate on the stove. Mix them together til they are combined well, you dont want it too runny. Add more cereal if its too runny. Scoop onto wax paper to harden. We made them pretty small(ish) so we could just pop them in our mouths.

Italian Bread

I can't believe I have never made my own Italian bread!  I made some last night and it was a hit!  It was just as good, if not better than what you would pick up at the grocery store.  Seriously, it's so easy and it will save you a trip out, so why not!?

3 cups warm water

1 1/2 tbs yeast
2 tbs plus 1/2 tsp sugar, divided
1 tbs salt
1/2 cup butter, melted
7 to 9 cups flour


1 egg white
Sesame seeds {optional}

In a small bowl combine the water, yeast and 1/2 tsp of the sugar.  Let dissolve and stand until mixture is bubbly or foamy.

In a large mixing bowl combine the salt, remaining sugar, butter and yeast mixture.  Add 3 1/2 cups of flour and mix.  Keep adding flour 1/2 cup at a time for a total of 7 cups, but up to 9. Knead and let rise until doubled.

When doubled, punch the dough down and divide in half.  Form into a baguette shape, about 10 inches long.  Place onto large, greased cookie sheet.  With a sharp knife, make 3 angled slits, about 1/2 inch deep on the top of each loaf.  Beat the eggwhite with a fork and brush it over the loaves. Sprinkle with seeds, if desired.  Let rise again until doubled.  It seems to rise pretty fast.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes.

Parmesan Chicken

I found this recipe on Simply Recipes. I had 2 out of 3 kids approve this recipe. Sorry, no picture this time! This recipe took me 45 minutes start to finish.

1 clove garlic
1 stick unsalted butter
1 c dried bread crumbs
1/3 c grated parmesean cheese
2 Tbsp chopped fresh parsley (I used dried, it worked fine)
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 tsp garlic salt
A large pinch of Italian seasoning
1/8 tsp ground black pepper
2 lbs of skinless boneless chicken meat, cut into pieces no larger than 2x2 inches
(this fed my family of five, my kids ate 4-5 pieces each, there weren't any leftovers.)

Preheat oven to 450 F. Pat the chicken pieces dry with paper towels.
In a bowl, combine the minced garlic with the melted butter. In another bowl, mix together the bread crumbs, Parmesan, parsley, salt, garlic salt, Italian seasoning, and pepper. Dip chicken pieces into garlic butter, then into crumb mixture to coat.

Place coated chicken pieces onto a 9x13 baking dish. (I covered mine with foil sprayed with a little cooking spray for easy clean up. My dish was packed edge to edge, so if you increase the chicken at all, I would use a cookie sheet instead)
Bake uncovered for 15 minutes or until chicken is cooked through. Serves 4-6
I served ours with a side of broccoli, yum!

Basic Pancakes and Syrup

My all-time favorite breakfast is whole wheat pancakes with a glass of milk.  I hope they have that in heaven.  But as for my husband, he loves his Bisquick pancakes.  Eww!  I can't even stomach them.  I have to give him credit though because he hates store bought syrup and is all about homemade. 

In an effort to give the Bisquick box the boot, I found an easy alternative.  I can have the dry ingredients ready to go and all my husband will have to do is throw in the wets.  It's just as simple as using Bisquick.

Easy Pancakes
1-1/2 cups flour
3-1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1 tbs sugar
1-1/4 cups milk
1 egg
3 tbs butter, melted

In a bow, mix together the flour, baking powder, salt and sugar.  Create a well and add wet ingredients.  Whisk until smooth.  Cook as usual.

And because I didn't know how to make basic maple syrup {nor did I know people even made it!} until my husband taught me after we got married, I'm including that too.

Maple Syrup

1 cup sugar
1/2 water
1/2 tsp mapeline extract

Mix it all together and boil.

Now there is no excuse to ever use a boxed mix or store bought syrup again!

Crockpot chicken tacos

I got this recipe over on kukis kookbook blog and it is tasty and easy.

2 to 3 chicken breasts
1 can chicken broth
1 package taco seasoning
1 Cup salsa
1 can corn- I used frozen and it worked fine.
1 Can black beans drained

Place all ingredients in the crockpot for 3 to 4 hours on high. Just before serving, shred chicken and mix in one cup sour cream and 1/2 cup shreddded cheese. It will be runny. you can serve in tortillas, taco shells or on scones or on chips. top with cheese, lettuce, tomatoes, onions, avacados, or anything else you like.