(Carrie's Famous) Tater Tot Shepard's Pie

In the beginning of this month I had the pleasure of escaping on vacation with a group of dear friends of mine for a whole week to Cape Cod.  We were all of 15 - 9 women and 7 children (ages 7 months - 9 years old) in one lovely house over looking the water.....

We enjoyed one sunset after another...each one more beautiful and full of magic than the one before.

Watching the sun set each evening was just one of the many highlights of our vacation.  FOOD...absolutely scrumptious food was a huge part of our vacation too.  Making sure those kiddos were well fueled for all their swimming and low-tide adventures was very important.  Carrie, as seen below with her adorable little doggie named, Saki ....

....made 3 scrumptious, kid-friendly casseroles that were gobbled down with happiness by all.  One of the three casseroles that she made was a Tater Tot Shepard's Pie.  It was SO good!  When we came home from vacation it was one of the first meals I made for my family.  They loved it as I know you guys will too.

(Carrie's Famous) Tater Tot Shepard's Pie

Ingredients:

1 1/2 ground beef or turkey

1 medium onion, chopped

1 tsp garlic salt

1/2 tsp ground pepper

2 tsp Worcestershire sauce

1 can cream of corn

1 can sweet corn, drained

1-2 cups grated cheddar cheese

1  bag frozen Tater Tots

Directions:

1.  Over medium heat saute chopped onion until soft.  Add in ground meat and cook to brown. Turn off heat and then drain grease.  Stir in garlic salt, ground pepper and Worcestershire sauce.  Pour meat mixture into a 9x13 baking dish.

2.  Over ground meat mixture layer spoon can of creamed corn and drained can of sweet corn. Sprinkle a layer of grated cheese over corn.

3. Layer frozen tater tots over grated cheese.....

....and then sprinkle with more cheese to finish it off.  Pop into preheated 350 degrees oven.  Bake for 25-30 minutes (check after 20 minutes to make sure casserole is not getting too brown).

Serve up some yumminess!

Happy Tater Tot Shepard's Pie Baking!

Super Yummy Banana Crumble Cake

I know...not another recipe made with bananas! - sorry but I just have to share this one with all of you because it is SUPER yummy and full of delicious and fun ingredients.  White chocolate chips, sour cream, pecans  (or chopped nuts of your choice) and of course, ripe bananas are just a couple of mouth watering characters that come together to make this cake.  And it's not a small cake either. It feeds a crowd. It's a great cake to make to bring to a pot luck or any event that you want to share with others.

Banana Crumb Cake

(recipe from Julie's Eats & Treats...goodness this blog is a gold mine of wonderful recipes!)

Ingredients:

2/3 cup pecans (the original recipe asked for silvered almonds)

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

2/3 cup butter, softened

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

3/4 tsp vanilla extract (if you choose to use the silvered almonds you could do almond extract instead of the vanilla)

3 cups AP flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp baking powder

2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3-4 bananas)

1 cup sour cream

1 cup vanilla or white chocolate chips (YUMMY!)

Directions:

1. In small bowl, combine pecans and brown sugar for the topping.  Set bowl aside for later.

2. In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.  Add in eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.  Add in vanilla extract.

3. In yet another bowl combine flour, baking soda and baking powder.  Add these dry ingredients alternately with the mashed bananas and sour cream to the creamed mixture of butter/sugar/eggs/etc.

4. Fold in the vanilla chocolate chips to the batter.

5. Spread batter into a greased 9x13 pan.  Sprinkle reserved topping mixture over batter.  Pop into a preheated 350 degrees oven for 35-40 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center of cake comes out clean.

Cool slightly and serve.....

 Happy Banana Crumble Cake Baking!

Two flavors of New Hampshire in one muffin

I am always proud to say that I live in NH.  I love that not only does my state have direct access to the ocean but also to the majestic White Mountains. The best of both worlds. 

 Yes, NH has long, WHITE and cold winters but also has a soft and precious (sometime very wet) season of spring that is followed by a HOT and humid summer which then leads into a spectacular season of fall with colors of reds, oranges and yellows. NH is blessed with four seasons....some are easier than others...but usually we can find beauty and happiness at some point in all of them. 

Another special part of NH is what is grown and produced within our state.  Berries of many kinds are grown and cultivated in abundance.  In the dead of winter I will start counting down the days as to when the first day of berry picking will begin.  I live for berry picking! - in particular blueberry picking.  Strawberries are wonderful to pick but the duration of blueberry picking seems to last longer than the quick 2-3 week season of strawberries.  Another speciality flavor of NH is maple syrup.  Pure maple syrup is like gold in my eyes.  Its sweetness not only exists in its flavor but also in how it is produced. Long hours of gathering the sap from the maple trees which is then followed by even longer hours of boiling down the sap is what makes maple syrup come alive.  What a gift PURE NH maple syrup is!  

In my discovery of this muffin recipe I rejoiced that it combined two of my most favorite ingredients in the whole world...blueberries and the flavor of maple syrup.  And let me tell you my happiness was not in vain as the muffins came out AMAZINGLY delicous.  Delicous I say!  Thank you RECIPE girl for sharing this recipe.  Thank you VERY much.

Blueberry Maple Muffins

(recipe from the fabulous blog, recipegirl.com)

Ingredients:

2 cups AP flour

1 Tbsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1 cup plain yogurt (I used greek yogurt)

3/4 cup sugar

6 Tbsp unsalted butter, melted

2 large eggs, at room temp

1/2 tsp maple extract

2 Tbsp AP flour (for tossing over the blueberries)

2 Tbsp sugar (also for tossing into the blueberries)

1 cup fresh blueberries (I am sure frozen blueberries could be used if you don't have fresh)

Directions:

1. Spray a 12 cup muffin tin (although my batter gave me a "bakers dozen" of muffins) with non-stick spray.  Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.

2. In a large bowl whisk together flour, baking powder and salt. 

3. In a medium bowl combine yogurt, 3/4 cup sugar, melted butter, eggs and maple flavoring.

4. In a third bowl combine blueberries with 2 Tbsps flour and 2 Tbsps sugar - toss gently to coat berries.

5. Combine dry ingredients with the wet ingredients.  Do NOT over mix...batter will be lumpy.  Mix just until flour is barely visible.  Add in blueberries, gently.

6. Scoop batter into prepared muffin tins.  An ice cream scoop works great for this step.

7. Bake 20-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in middle of a muffin comes out clean.  Allow the muffins to sit for 5 minutes before removing from pan and goobling up serving.

Happy Blueberry Maple Muffin Baking!

p.s. NH is a great place to live if you are looking to relocate.... ;-) 



Loving my A/C and the combo of Pineapple and Zucchini

  The weather has been EXTREMELY HOT this past week here in Southern NH.  Temps have been in the high 90's to low 100's.  Usually for the month of July we have temps in the high 70's to 80's sometimes the 90's but hardly ever in the 100's.  Believe it or not I have baked more this past week than I have for the whole month of July. What is wrong with me?! 

 Through all my time baking this past week I have developed a very strong relationship with my A/C inside my house. Each time I have turned on the oven to pre-heat I bless and praise my A/C for its beautiful cool air it is providing us as it competes with the heat of the oven.

Just as I have shown appreciation and happiness to my air conditioner I have also grown to love the brilliant idea that combining pineapple with zucchini to make a quick and yummy bread is fabulously d'lish.  Oh. My. Yumminess.  What a LOVELY pair these two make.  The taste and texture of them together marry wonderfully into a quick sweet bread.  I don't know why I haven't seen such a concept until now.  Have I been totally out of the loop not having the knowledge that by adding pineapple to a zucchini bread recipe is not that unusual? For those of you that have yet to see this amazing kind of recipe before definitely join me in stirring up a batch. 

Not to worry this recipe makes TWO lovely loaves of bread - share one with others or plan ahead and freeze it for that perfect occasion that calls for a zucchini and pineapple bread.

Pineapple Zucchini Bread

(recipe discovered on Tasty Kitchen from member, sns717)

Ingredients:

3 whole eggs

1 cup oil (I used canola oil)

2 cups sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups zucchini, shredded

small can of chunk pineapple - I cut my chunk pineapple into 4ths (the original recipe call for crushed pineapple)

3 cups AP flour

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1 tsp salt

1 1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

3/4 tsp ground nutmeg

1 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Grease two 9x5 bread loaf pans and set aside.

2. In a large bowl beat eggs to blend.  Add in oil, sugar and vanilla extract. Beat all together for a couple of minutes until mixture becomes thick and creamy.

3. Next add in shredded zucchini, pineapple, flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, spices and nuts (if you wish).

4. Divide batter into two prepared pans.  Pop in oven and bake for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.   Cool breads for 10 minutes before removing from pans to cool completely.

Yumminess!

For all of you enjoying this HOT weather, stay cool!

Happy Pineapple Zucchini Bread Baking!

FRESH Berry White Chocolate Streusel Bars

I LOVE to bake.  Yes I do.  I also LOVE any kind of FRESH berry - strawberries, blackberries, blueberries, raspberries...they all make me happy.  When I have the opportunity to bake with berries I can't tell you how happy it makes me! VERY happy.  VERY, VERY happy.

That being said grab some berries and bake these bars!  If you only have one kind of berry that's fine as the original recipe only called for strawberries.  I just couldn't resist making these bars with all the berries I had on hand instead of just sticking with just the strawberries. 


What was really fun is that my alteration of this recipe created a RED, WHITE and BLUE dessert bar just in time for the up and coming July 4th holiday.  AND because this recipe makes such a large amount you can take this bars to a couple of BBQ's and still have enough for a stash to keep at home. :-)

Fresh Berry White Chocolate Streusel Bars
(recipe adapted from, Recipes from my Mom - a beautiful food blog that touches my heart and makes my mouth water )

Ingredients:

2 cups oats
1 1/2 cups AP flour
3/4 cup white sugar
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup COLD butter, cut into small pieces
4 oz. fluid strawberry jam
1 tsp lemon zest
2 cups FRESH berries (chop or slice strawberries if you use them)
3 oz. fluid white chocolate (I used white chocolate bark that I melted in the microwave)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  In a large bowl whisk together oats, flour, both sugars, baking soda, baking powder and salt.

2. Add in COLD butter that has been cut into small pieces.  Combine into dry ingredients either with your hands or a pastry cutter until butter is well incorporated as little crumbles.  Remove 1 cup of mixture and with remaining mixture carefully pour into a 15x10 jellyroll pan/cookie sheet.  Press mixture into pan to create an even crust.

3. Place in oven and bake for 12-13 minutes or until it is firm to the touch.  You do NOT want to brown this layer.  Remove from oven.

4. Warm jam in microwave for 30 seconds.  Add in lemon zest and then pour over warm crust.

5.  Spread berries over jam layer and then sprinkle with reserved 1 cup crumb mixture.

Pop into the oven and bake for 20-25 minutes until topping is a light brown.   Remove from oven and let cool 1 hour before drizzling with melted white chocolate. 

Cut into bars and then melt with happiness as you bite into one of these yummy treasures you just created.

My goodness these little treats are yummy if I do say so myself! :-)

Happy FRESH Berry White Chocolate Streusel Bars Baking!

Banana Split Dessert

Such a great dessert we have going on here.  FULL of good layers of creamy and fruity yumminess. The foundation of this dessert is made up of crushed cookies and then is built up with a creamy sweetened cream cheese layer followed up by a layer of crushed pineapple then sliced bananas, a smooth and decadent vanilla pudding layer, finalized with fluffy sweetened whipped cream which is garnished with chopped nuts and toffee bits.  So good.  SO GOOD!!!

Banana Split Dessert

(recipe comes from Butter and Oven Mitts)

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups Nilla Wafer cookies - crushed finely

1 1/4 cup sugar - divided

1/3 cup butter - melted

16 oz. cream cheese - at room temperature

28 oz. crushed pineapple - well drained (reserve a little bit of juice for brushing over sliced banana layer)

4 whole bananas

2 cups milk

1 large box instant vanilla pudding

2 cup heavy cream

1/4 cup powdered sugar

2 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup chopped nuts (pecans or walnuts...your choice)

1/4 cup toffee bits

marachino cherries (with or without stems)

Directions:

1. In a medium bowl combine crushed cookies, melted butter and 1/4 cup sugar.  Press cookie crumb mixture into bottom of 9x13 pan.  Set aside.

2. Beat together cream cheese and remaining 1 cup sugar.  Beat together until light and fluffy then gently spread over cookie crumb layer.

3. Next spread the crushed (and WELL drained) pineapple over cream cheese layer.

....and then top with sliced bananas...

To avoid bananas from getting brown you can brush the tops of them with reserved pineapple juice.

4. In a medium bowl beat together milk and pudding mixture until thickened.  Set aside. 

5. In (yet another) bowl combine heavy cream, vanilla extract and powdered sugar and beat until soft peaks form.  Take 1 cup of whipped cream and gently fold into pudding mixture.  Layer over sliced bananas.....

6. Spread remaining whipped cream mixture over pudding mixture and then garnish with chopped nuts and toffee bits.  YUM!

Chill for a couple of hours and then top off with marachino cherries (and mini American flags too if you want) just before serving.

Hello there yumminess.  Goodness to you look WONDERFULLY edible!

Happy Banana Split Dessert Making!

Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

Ahhh the beauty of summer has arrived.  HOT days filled with trips to a near by beach, ice cream cones, the smell of sunscreen (and bug spray) along with BBQ's with good friends all make summer-time so special.

Yes, I am a lover of summer.  Another thing I love to do (as many of my friends know) is talk about food.  I LOVE to discover new recipes that friends have made.  And I especially LOVE it when they pass on those recipes to me.  There are some people out there that do not like to share their recipes...which I feel is a crime! - but that's just my feeling on that issue.  I honestly think that it is one of the highest forms of a compliment when someone requests a recipe of mine.  I always feel flattered that someone enjoyed the dish or baked goodie that I made and shared with them enough to want to eat it again AND to make it themselves.  Enough said.  I think you get my point. 

Needless to say whenever my friend Diane and I see each other (especially just after the weekend) we most often chat about food and what we have made over the weekend or in the past.  Diane always surprises me with something wonderful.  Recently she passed along a lovely recipe for Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad.  As soon as she started listing off all the yummy ingredients of this salad I knew I had to make it.  Fresh broccoli and cauliflower...YES....chopped red onion...oh yeah!...crumbled feta cheese...for sure!...diced grape tomatoes...absolutely!....all tossed with a lovely dressing (that I thought I had ALL the ingredients for...not so much).  With all those yummy characters in mind I would like to share with you today my version of Diane's Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad.  I will also provide you with the original ingredients that are in Diane's salad...you know the ingredients that I didn't have on hand....;-)

Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad

(many thanks Diane for passing along this recipe to me)

1/2 head of cauliflower - chopped up into bite size pieces

1-2 good size bunches of broccoli - chopped up into bite size pieces

1/2 red onion - chopped

1 heaping cup grape tomatoes - cut into quarters

2-4 oz. feta cheese - crumbled

1 dry packet of Italian dressing (this is where I changed up Diane's recipe for lack of dry RANCH dressing on hand)

2 Tbsp water

1/3 cup balsamic vinegar (Diane's recipe called for red rice vinegar)

1/2 cup olive oil (canola oil could be used in substitution)

Directions:

1. Place cut up cauliflower and broccoli into a large bowl.  Add in chopped red onion and quartered tomatoes.  Set aside.

2. Make dressing by combining dry salad dressing mix, oil, vinegar and water in a jar that can be covered tightly with a lid. Once lid is securely place on jar shake for a minute or two until well combined.  Pour dressing over veggies and toss gently to coat.  Fold in feta cheese.

3. Refrigerate salad for a good hour (if not longer if possible).  All the flavors of the dressing will melt into the veggies as it hangs out in the fridge.

Serve with happiness!

Of course you could always add in any of your favorite veggies to this refreshing summer salad.  Red peppers, cucumbers or black olives are a few additions that come to mind.  Go ahead be daring and toss in different veggies.

Happy Cauliflower and Broccoli Salad Making!