Sour Cream Banana Bread

Not a gorgeous photo, but a delicious bread! I omitted the nuts and added mini chocolate kisses. a moist and tasty banana bread.

Hot Cocoa Mix

Hot Cocoa Mix4 cups nonfat dry milk powder1 1/2 cups sugar1 cup non-dairy coffee creamer2/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder1 (4 ounce) package instant chocolate fudge puddingMix all the ingredients together in a large bowl. If a finer consistency is desired, you can pour the mix into a blender or food processor and run it through that. Store in an airtight container. Add 1/4 to 1/2 cup (depending on your cocoa preference) of the mix to an 8 ounce mug of boiling water.

Duchess Potatoes

The star tip I used on my pastry bag was a bit too large so my potato mounds were not that beautiful. they tasted great though!

Roast Pork Loin with Carrrots & Mustard Gravy

The pork was moist and the sauce was tasty. Delicious recipe from FOOD magazine by Martha Stewart.

Pop Up Pancakes

These pancakes were delicious! For 1 topping I sauteed 2 apples in 2T butter and a pinch of brown sugar. I also added maple syrup on top prior to serving.

Crispy Thumbprint Cookies

1 package (about 18 ounces) yellow cake mix
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/4 cup water
1 egg
3 cups crisp rice cereal, crushed
6 tablespoons Smukers Special Reserve (with strawberry, cherry and raspberry)

Preheat oven to 375°F.
Combine cake mix, oil, water and egg in large bowl. Beat with electric mixer at medium speed until well blended. Add cereal and ; mix until well blended.

Drop by heaping teaspoonfuls about 2 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Use thumb to make indentation in each cookie. Spoon about 1/2 teaspoon preserves into center of each cookie.
4.
Bake 9 to 11 minutes or until golden brown. Cool cookies 1 minute on cookie sheets. Remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Saint John of God

SAINT JOHN of GOD Founder(1495-1550)
Nothing in the early life of John Ciudad, born of a poor couple in a town of Portugal, foreshadowed his future sanctity. Following a traveler whose description of Madrid had captivated his imagination, this only son of his parents ran away from his home. Soon regret and misery overtook him, but he was ashamed to return to his abandoned parents. In effect his mother, struck with a fever, but advised by an Angel that John would have to undergo long trials which would strengthen his virtue, departed this life only a few days after his adventure began.

Saint Thomas Aquinas

SAINT THOMAS AQUINAS Doctor of the Church(1225-1274)
The great Saint Thomas was born of noble parents at Aquino near Naples in Italy, in 1225; his century was replete with great names and Christian works, yet he dominates it by the power of his thought and the perfection of his works. In his childhood he was the provider for the poor of the neighborhood during a famine; his father, meeting him in a corridor with the food he had succeeded in taking from the kitchen, asked him what he had under his cloak; he opened it and fresh roses fell on the ground. The nobleman embraced his son and amid his tears, gave him permission to follow thereafter all inspirations of his charity.

Easy Lamb Craft

You will need:

a printer

printer paper

glue

scissors

paper plate

white cotton balls

Directions can be found here.

Simple Birdfeeder

Homemade Easy Birdfeeder.

Paula Deen's Cinnamon Marshmallow Rolls

1 Can of crescent rolls

8 large marshmallows

Cinnamon sugar

On a Silpat lined baking sheet( or parchment lined baking sheet) place 8 triangles of crescent roll dough. Place 1 marshmallow on each triangle. Shake on some cinnamon sugar and wrap up the marshmallow with the dough. Sprinkle on more cinnamon sugar. Bake the rolls for 10 minutes at 375 degrees. Serve immediately.

Saint Colette

SAINT COLETTE Virgin, Reformer of the Poor Clares(1380-1447)
After a holy childhood, Colette joined a society of devout women called the Beguines. Not finding their state sufficiently austere, she entered the Third Order of Saint Francis, and lived in a hut near her parish church of Corbie in Picardy. Here she had passed four years in extraordinary penance when Saint Francis, in a vision, bade her undertake the reform of her Order, then much relaxed. She doubted for a time and was struck with muteness for three days and blindness for another three. Finally, fortified by ecclesiastical authority, she established the reform throughout a large part of Europe, and, in spite of the most violent opposition, founded seventeen convents of the strict observance.

Healthy House Lunch

Whole wheat bread, tuna salad, cheese, pickles and corn cereal.

Cheesecake Factory Bang Bang Chicken & Shrimp

2 tablespoons extra-virgin olive oil

1 pound chicken breast tenders

1 tablespoon chicken broth

1 medium onion, chopped

2 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 teaspoon dried cilantro

1 teaspoon grated fresh ginger

1 teaspoon finely grated lemon peel

1/8 teaspoon ground cumin

pinch of ground turmeric

1 cup coconut milk

2 tablespoons macadamia nuts, finely ground

1 teaspoon sugar

1/4 teaspoon ground red pepper

2 cups fully cooked shrimp

1 tablespoon tamarind paste

2 teaspoons water

Chopped scallion for garnish

Cooked rice

Using a large skillet, heat oil and cook chicken - about 5 minutesper side or until browned and no longer pink in the center. Removeto platter and set aside.2. Using same pan, heat broth; add onion, garlic, cilantro, ginger,lemon peel, cumin and turmeric and cook for 5 minutes or until theonion is tender but not browned; stir in coconut milk, nuts, sugar,red pepper and shrimp.3. Return the chicken to skillet, cover and simmer for 10 minutesor until the chicken is heated through; remove to platter and keepwarm.4. Using same pan (do not discard sauce) add tamarind paste andwater previously mixed in small bowl. Bring to a gentle boil untilthickened and mixture measure about 1 cup.5. Cook and divide rice; evenly divide the chicken and shrimp among4 plates. Top with sauce and garnish with scallion.Serves 4RecipeSecrets.net tip: Tamarind paste is available in Indian andspecialty stores.Source: America's Secret Recipes by Ron Douglas

Saint John Joseph of the Cross

SAINT JOHN JOSEPH of the CROSS Confessor, priest, Franciscan Friar(1654-1734)
Saint John Joseph of the Cross was born on the feast of the Assumption in 1654, on the island of Ischia in the kingdom of Naples. From his childhood he was a model of virtue, and in his sixteenth year he entered the Franciscan Order of the Strict Observance, or Reform of Saint Peter of Alcantara, at Naples. Such was the edification he gave in his Order, that within three years after his profession he was sent to found a monastery in Piedmont. He assisted in its construction himself and established there the most perfect silence and monastic fervor.

Saint Casmir

SAINT CASIMIR King of Poland(1458-1483)
Casimir, the second son of Casimir III, King of Poland, was born in 1458. From the custody of a very virtuous mother, Elizabeth of Austria, he passed to the guardianship of a devoted master, the learned and pious John Dugloss. Thus animated from his earliest years by precept and example, his innocence and piety soon ripened into the practice of heroic virtue.

Homemade English Muffins

Today I made homemade English muffins with the 100% whole wheat dough. Here are the directions.

Blessed Henry Suzo

BLESSED HENRY SUZO Confessor(1300-1366)
Blessed Henry Suzo was born in 1300 at Constance in Germany. There he entered the Dominican convent at the age of thirteen, and made his preparatory studies in the sacred disciplines. In 1327 he became a teacher of theology, and in 1334 began preaching. In 1343 he was elected prior of a convent at Diessenhofen. Blessed Henry is known especially as a mystic who regarded himself as the servant of Eternal Wisdom become Man. He practiced severe austerities and experienced, along with his visions and ecstasies, bitter persecutions and grievous calumnies.

Homemade Oreos

Another great recipe from Lara at Recipe Shoebox, homemade Oreos. Yummy. What a hit with the kids. Thank you for another great recipe.

Spinach and Cheese Ravioli Soup with Spinach

1/2 onion, diced

2 carrots, chopped
1 tablespoon, fresh thyme, chopped
1/4 teaspoon dried crushed red pepper
6 cups chicken broth
1 1/2 C cheese ravioli

5 C fresh spinach leaves

1/2 cup Parmesan cheese
In reserved chicken broth , place the onion ,carrots and spinach. Now add thyme, salt and pepper, to taste, and red pepper flakes.I let the soup come to a boil and then I drop the temperature down to simmer for 6 hours. When you are ready to eat bring the soup back to a boil and add the pasta, boil for 15 minutes( I used the dried spinach and cheese small ravioli)or according to package directions. Serve with grated Parmesan cheese.

Muffaletta Sandwich

In a crockpot place 1 lb. boneless, skinless chicken. 2 carrots roughly chopped, 1 onion quartered, 6 bouillon cubes, celery and parsley. Let cook on high for 4 hours, discard vegetables. Save chicken, shred and save broth for another use.

With 1 round loaf of crusty bread, cut off the top 1/3. Pull out the soft bread from the top and bottom of the loaf, leaving 1/2" shell. In a small food processor, or chopper, place 1 C kalamta olives, 2 T capers, 1 T dried basil1/4 c oil and 2T red wine vinegar. Pulse a few times. Spread 1/2 of olive mix in the bottom of the shell. next layer half of the chicken, 4-6 slices of cooked bacon and 4-5 slices of Provolone cheese. Next place a few hand fulls of Dole salad mix( in the bag or shredded lettuce). On top of the place the remaining olive mix, chicken, bacon(4-6 slices) and 4-5 slices of provolone cheese. You can top with a small amount of salad dressing before placing the top on. We used a hot sauce with peppers and onions. Now place the top of the bread back on and tightly wrap in plastic wrap. Refrigerate 8 hours. Cut into wedges and serve.

Puffed Apple Pancake

6 eggs

1 ½ cups milk

1 cup flour

3 Tbls sugar

1 tsp vanilla

½ tsp sal

t½ tsp cinnamon12T butter

2 apples peeled & sliced

3 Tbls brown sugar
Preheat oven to 425. In a blender or large bowl, mix eggs, milk, flour, sugar, vanilla, salt and cinnamon until well blended. Melt butter in a 9×13” pan in oven, add apple slices to baking dish and return to oven until butter sizzles, do not let it brown. Remove dish from oven and immediately pour batter over apples. Sprinkle with brown sugar and bake for 20 minutes or until puffed and brown, Serve immediately. I put maple syrup on mine. Yummy!

Saint Albinus

SAINT ALBINUS Bishop(470-550)
Saint Albinus was of an ancient and noble family in Brittany, and from his childhood was fervent in every exercise of piety. He ardently sighed after the happiness which a devout soul finds in being disengaged from all earthly things. Having embraced the monastic state, despite his parents’ disapproval, he shone a perfect model of virtue, taking upon himself all the humblest offices and disciplining his flesh by every kind of mortification. In brief, he lived as if in all things he were without any will of his own; and his soul seemed so perfectly governed by the spirit of Christ as to live only for Him.

SAINTS ROMANUS

SAINTS ROMANUSFounder and Abbot(†460)and LUPICINUShis brother, Abbot(†480)
Saint Romanus, born in the late fourth century, left his relatives and spent some time in the monastery of Ainay at Lyons, near a large church at the conflux of the Saône and Rhone. The faithful had built it in honor of the famous martyrs of that region, whose ashes were thrown into the Rhone. His purpose for this retreat was to study all the practices of monastic life, and he obtained from the Abbot of Ainay some recently written books on the lives of the Desert Fathers.

Daring Bakers February

The February 2009 challenge is hosted by Wendy of WMPE's blog and Dharm of Dad ~ Baker & Chef.We have chosen a Chocolate Valentino cake by Chef Wan; a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Dharm and a Vanilla Ice Cream recipe from Wendy as the challenge.February’s challenge was a Flourless Chocolate Cake, Chocolate Valentino.We were to use the following cake recipe recipe and make our own ice cream.I used semi sweet chocolate for the cake. A real Valentino cake is made in a heart shaped pan , but i opted for individual cakes so i made mine in muffin cups and decreased the baking time by a few minutes. We liked the cakes very much. I am not sure I would rush to make these again, I would opt for a brownie instead. These cakes were very rich.

Please be sure and stop by the Daring Bakers Blogroll to see the other Daring Baker's creations.

Here is the Printable Recipe:Chocolate ValentinoPreparation Time: 20 minutes16 ounces (1 pound) (454 grams) of semisweet chocolate, roughly chopped½ cup (1 stick) plus 2 tablespoons (146 grams total) of unsalted butter5 large eggs separated1. Put chocolate and butter in a heatproof bowl and set over a pan of simmering water (the bottom of the bowl should not touch the water) and melt, stirring often.2. While your chocolate butter mixture is cooling. Butter your pan and line with a parchment circle then butter the parchment.3. Separate the egg yolks from the egg whites and put into two medium/large bowls.4. Whip the egg whites in a medium/large grease free bowl until stiff peaks are formed (do not over-whip or the cake will be dry). 5. With the same beater beat the egg yolks together.6. Add the egg yolks to the cooled chocolate.7. Fold in 1/3 of the egg whites into the chocolate mixture and follow with remaining 2/3rds. Fold until no white remains without deflating the batter. {link of folding demonstration}8. Pour batter into prepared pan, the batter should fill the pan 3/4 of the way full, and bake at 375F/190C9. Bake for 25 minutes until an instant read thermometer reads 140F/60C. Note – If you do not have an instant read thermometer, the top of the cake will look similar to a brownie and a cake tester will appear wet.10. Cool cake on a rack for 10 minutes then unmold.

For the ice cream I got the kids involved and we made:

Vanilla ice cream in a bag it was simple, fun and tasty.

Shamrocks

Today we made shamrocks. The shamrock makes us think of the Blessed Trinity-three persons in one God, the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost. All you need for this project is: pin backs, gren buttons, ribbon and a hot glue gun.

SAINT GABRIEL of OUR LADY of SORROWS

SAINT GABRIEL of OUR LADY of SORROWSPassionist(1838-1862)
Saint Gabriel was born at Assisi in 1838. He was guided by Our Lady into the Passionist Order founded by Saint Paul of the Cross, and became a veritable Apostle of Her Sorrows. He was a very great and truly contemplative soul, whose only preoccupation was to unite himself to God at all times. He allowed no distractions to enter his spirit, and even though Italy, his country, was in a state of ferment when he entered religion, he wanted to know nothing of it.

Crispy Ranch Chicken

2 cups crispy rice cereal1/2 cup grated Parmesan cheese1 envelope (1-oz.) ranch salad dressing mix2 egg whites, beaten8 skinless, boneless chicken thighs (about 5-oz. each)1 stick butter, meltedPreheat the oven to 350*FLine a large baking sheet with a non-stick foil. Combine the rice cereal, Parmesan and ranch salad dressing mix in a large bowl.Place beaten egg whites in a medium bowl. Dip each chicken thigh in the egg whites and then the cereal mixture to coat evenly.Arrange chicken on the foil lined baking sheet. Drizzle the melted butter over the chicken. Bake until golden and juices run clear when chicken is pierced with a knife, 20-25 minutes.

Caterpillar Lunch

Banana Bread

In a food processor pulse 3 small or 2 medium sized bananas, add 3/4 cup oil, 1C packed brown sugar, 2 eggs , 1 teaspoon vanilla extract , 1 teaspoon amaretto 1 teaspoon dried grated lemon peel, 2 cups stone ground wheat flour, 1/4 C all purpose flour,1/2 teaspoon salt, 1 teaspoon salt,
1/4 teaspoon baking soda,1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder,1/4 teaspoon nutmeg,1 teaspoon cinnamon and 1/4 C strong black coffee. Pulse to combine. Place in a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until golden and cooked through.