Zucchini Bread

We have been making Zucchini bread in my family since before I was born.  My Mamaw always made it during the holidays but I don't know why I don't make it all the time.  Don't let it scare you.  Yes, there is zucchini in it but you cannot taste it (for those of you who are not fans) and the bread is actually sweet.  We eat it for breakfast and my kiddos have no idea it has vegetables in it.  Hehe!  This is my Mamaw's recipe.  I made it recently for my sister's baby shower (here).  Sadly, I do not have a picture to show you but trust me, you will like it.

 

Ingredients:

1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
1 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 c. sugar
1 c. finely shredded zucchini (with the peel on) Note:  Make sure you drain as much of the liquid as you can before you add it to the bowl.
1 egg
1/4 c. oil

Directions:

-  In a mixer combine all ingredients.
-  Pour into a greased loaf pan.
-  Bake at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
-  Makes one loaf.

Motivate Me Muffins

My mom found this recipe in the Dallas Morning News and thought I might want to try it.  I'm so glad she gave it to me because these muffins are seriously GOOD!  Alicia Ross is the Scoop columnist for the paper and her daughters developed the recipe.  Thank you Alicia Ross' daughters!  Your Motivate Me Muffins ROCK!  See for yourself!

Ingredients:

1/3 c. sugar
1/3 c. light brown sugar
1/2 c. vegetable oil
1 egg
1 c. mashed bananas (approx. 2 ripe bananas)
1 c. plain Greek yogurt
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1 1/2 c. flour
2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. instant oatmeal
1 to 1 1/2 c. fresh blueberries

Directions:

-  Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
-  In a large bowl mix sugars, oil, egg, bananas, yogurt and vanilla.  (I used my Kitchen Aid Mixer)
-  Stir in flour, baking powder, baking soda, and oatmeal.
-  Gently fold in blueberries.
-  Fill each muffin tin cup 2/3 full.
-  Bake for 15-18 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Egg In A Hole

I LOVE the Pioneer Woman!  I was watching her new show one morning and she made Egg in a Hole for breakfast.  It looked SO easy and SO good so I had to try it out.  It was AW.SOME!  It took no time to make so I can easily make them before school!  Try these! NOW!

Ingredients:

Slices of whatever sandwich bread you have in your pantry
Eggs
Butter
Salt and Pepper

Directions:

-  Melt a good amount of butter in a large skillet.  The more butter the better!
-  Use a biscuit cutter or a lid from a jar to cut out one circle in each piece of bread.
-  Place your bread and the hole you removed in the skillet.
-  Crack and egg into the hole in the bread.
-  I cook mine until the whites have firmed up before I flip them over.
-  Cook until your desired done-ness.  I like my fried eggs runny!
-  Don't forget to flip your little circles over too!  They become crispy, juicy morsels!
-  Salt and pepper to taste and serve!

Homemade Donuts

I mean, seriously!  These donuts are A-MAZING and the best part is they are super easy to make!  I found the recipe on Pinterest from Southern Plate and it did not disappoint!  Make these!!!

Ingredients:

1 can home style biscuits
1 stick of butter
Vegetable oil
cinnamon
sugar

Directions:

-  Pour oil into large pan.  You will need about 1/2 inches of oil.  Turn heat on medium to medium high.
-  Cut holes in each biscuit (I just used the lid from a bottle in my pantry to punch the holes)
-  Melt butter in a small bowl
-  In a separate bowl mix cinnamon and sugar (use what ever ratio you like)
-  Please donuts in the oil (the oil should bubble around the edges)
-  It will only take a minute or two on each side so watch them closely.
-  Place finished donuts on a paper towel to drain.
-  Repeat the same cooking process with the donut holes
-  While the donuts are still warm, dip them in the butter and then coat in sugar mixture.
-  Get a glass of milk and enjoy!

Blueberry Bread

This bread was really good!  I served it for brunch along side this.  Try it...you'll like it!

Ingredients:

2/3 c. packed brown sugar

3/4 c. milk

1/2 c. canola oil

2 eggs

2 1/4 c. flour

1 c. rolled oats

3 tsp baking powder

1 tsp cinnamon

1/4 tsp salt

1 c. fresh blueberries

1 Tbsp. turbinado sugar

Directions:

-  With an electric mixer combine brown sugar, milk, oil, eggs.

-  Slowly add remaining ingredients except for blueberries.

-  Gently fold in blueberries.

-  Pour mixture into a greased loaf pan.

-  Sprinkle top with turbinado sugar.

-  Bake at 350 degrees for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

Pumpkin Spice Muffins

You are not going to believe how easy these are to make. There is only 2 ingredients and you probably have them in your pantry from your fall baking. Super easy and super good. I cut them in half when I eat them and melt a little butter in the middle. MMMMM!Ingredients:

1 box spice cake mix
1 can pumpkin puree

Directions:

- In a large bowl mix the two ingredients together. The batter will be a thick and sticky consistency.
- Drop a spoon full of batter into your muffin tins.
- Bake at 350 degrees for about 12 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean.

Upside Down Cinnamon Apple Coffee Cake

Oh.My.Word people! This is amazingly wonderful! I got this recipe from Cara over at Pearls, Handcuffs and Happy Hour. I have had it for a while but just got around to making it this weekend and let me tell you, it is delicious! My husband had like 3 helpings this morning and I am pretty sure the rest of it will be gone by the end of the day. You HAVE to make this!
Ingredients:

1 can apple pie filling
1/2 tsp. cinnamon
1 tube cinnamon rolls
2 tbsp. butter, melted
1/3 c. firmly packed brown sugar

Directions:

- In a large bowl mix apple pie filling and cinnamon together.
- Spread a thin layer of the filling onto the bottom of a well greased 9 inch pie plate. Set the remaining filling aside.
- Cut all your cinnamon rolls into quarters and add to the remaining pie filling.
- In a small bowl melt butter and mix in brown sugar. Add to the cinnamon rolls and apples and toss gently to combine.
- Pour mixture over filling in the pie pan.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 28-32 minutes or until a deep, golden brown.
- Remove from oven and let stand for 5 minutes before inverting it onto a platter.
- Remove lid from frosting container that comes with the cinnamon rolls and microwave for 10-15 seconds.
- Drizzle frosting over warm coffee cake and serve.

Egg Chili Casserole

A few years ago we were in Amarillo visiting RT's Grandparents and his Grandma made this casserole for breakfast one of the mornings and I fell in love! It is SO GOOD! And don't Grandmas always have the best recipes?!?! Anyway, I brought it for brunch at my parents house on Christmas day and it was a hit. So, So good!Ingredients:

10 eggs, beaten until light and lemony
1/2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1 (16 oz.) container of cottage cheese
1 lb. shredded Pepper Jack cheese
1/2 c. melted butter
2 (4 oz.) can chopped green chilies
2 lbs. sausage

Directions:

- In a large skillet cook ground sausage until brown all the way through.
- In a large bowl beat eggs.
- Add all remaining ingredients and the cooked sausage and combine well.
- Pour into a greased 9x13 baking dish.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until center is firm.

Strawberry Bread

It is a tradition in my family to have this strawberry bread at our Christmas Day brunch. It has been on the menu for as long as I can remember and it wouldn't be Christmas with out it. You won't believe how easy it is and how yummy it tastes!
Note: This makes 2 loaves

Ingredients:

3 c. flour
1 3/4 c. sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. cinnamon
1 tsp. salt
16 oz. package frozen strawberries, thawed, reserve juices is you want to make an icing
4 eggs, beaten
1 1/4 c. vegetable oil

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
- In a large bowl combine flour, sugar, salt, cinnamon and baking soda.
- Stir in strawberries, eggs and oil.
- Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 1 hour and 10 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
- If you would like to make an icing combine reserved juice and powdered sugar until you get a drizzle type consistency.
- Once bread has cooled, remove from pan and drizzle with icing.

Banana Muffins

This recipe is from my mom. She has made this banana bread for years! I love it because I always have the ingredients in my fridge and pantry and it is a simple recipe. You can make this recipe for muffins or as a loaf. I like to change it up!Ingredients:

3 bananas
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 1/2 c. flour
1/4 c. melted butter
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt

Directions:

- In a bowl, mash bananas and set aside.
- Mix all remaining ingredients in a large bowl.
- Stir in mashed bananas and mix well.
- Spoon into muffin tin.
- Bake at 350 degrees for 20 minutes. {if you make it as a loaf bake for 1 hour}

Easy Sticky Buns

This is another recipe from Ina on the Food Network that my husband requested I try. It really was an easy recipe and the finished product was AWESOME! They do take a little time to make so they are good for a lazy/holiday weekend breakfast!Ingredients:

12 tbsp. (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
1/3 c light brown sugar, lightly packed
1/2 c. pecans, chopped in very large pieces
1 pkg. (17.3 oz/2-sheets) frozen puff pastry, defrosted

Filling:

2 tbsp. unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2/3 c. light brown sugar, lightly packed
3 tsp. cinnamon
1 c. raisins

Directions:

- Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Place a 12-cup muffin tin on a sheet pan lined with parchment paper.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, combine 12 tbsp butter and 1/3 cup brown sugar.
- Place one rounded tbsp of the mixture in each of the 12 muffin cups.
- Distribute the chopped pecans evenly among the 12 cups.
- Lightly flour a board or your clean counter top. Unfold one sheet of puff pastry with the folds going left to right.
- Brush the whole sheet with melted butter.
- Leaving a 1-inch border on the pastry, sprinkle with 1/3 c. of brown sugar, 1 1/2 tsp. of cinnamon and 1/2 c. of raisins.
- Starting with the end nearest to you, roll the pastry up tightly like a jelly roll. Trim the ends of the roll about 1/2 inch and discard.
- Slice the roll into six equal pieces.
- Place each piece, spiral side up, in six of the muffin cups.
- Repeat with the second sheet of puff pastry to make a total of 12 sticky buns.
- Bake for 30 minutes, until the sticky buns are dark brown on top and firm to the touch.
- Allow to cool for ONLY 5 minutes, invert the buns onto the parchment paper and cool completely.
NOTE: My husband does not like pecans and I do not like raisins so I make these plain and they were still awesome!

Sour Cream Coffee Cake

My mom has been making this for years. She got the recipe from her friend Janet Beneke. It is a tradition to have this with our brunch on Christmas morning and it is a great recipe to make when you have out of town guests. You just make it before they come and it lasts all weekend! It's SO GOOD and SO EASY!Cake Ingredients:

1 pkg. Yellow cake mix

3 oz. pkg. Instant Vanilla pudding

4 eggs

3/4 c. Water
1 c. Sour Cream

1 tsp. Vanilla

1/4 c. Cooking oil

Filling Ingredients:

3/4 c. Sugar

2 tblsp. Cinnamon

1 c. Chopped pecans

Directions:

- In a large bowl combine all cake ingredients and mix well with a mixer.

- In a small bowl combine all filling ingredients and mix well.

- In a greased and floured bunt pan layer cake mix and filling mix starting with the filling mix on the bottom.

- With your CLEAN finger or the handle of a wooden spoon gently swirl the mixture around the bunt pan. Be careful not to stir it too much.

- Bake at 350 degrees for 40-50 minutes.