RECIPES

Banana Sour Cream Bread
(A big "Thank You!" to my beautiful friend, Jody)

This will make two, standard sized loafs

  • 3/4 cup butter (1 1/2 sticks, melted)
  • 3 cups sugar
  • 3 eggs
  • 6 very ripe bananas, mashed
  • 1, 16 oz. container sour cream
  • 2 tsps. vanilla extract
  • 2 tsps. ground cinnamon
  • 1/2 tsp. salt
  • 3 tsps. baking soda
  • 4 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
  • Also, mix 1/8 c. sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon in a small bowl and set aside
 Preheat oven to 300*F. Mix butter and sugar until creamy, then mix in eggs, bananas, sour cream, vanilla and cinnamon. Mix in salt, baking soda and flour. Stir in nuts, if using. Grease loaf pan(s) with butter and sprinkle with the cinnamon and sugar you set aside earlier. Then divide the batter evenly between the pans, (or bake one at a time). Sprinkle the top of the batter with the cinnamon mixture, as well. Bake for approx. one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let rest in pan for at least 10 minutes before removing to cool on wire rack. YUM!
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Artichoke Dip

  • 1 14 oz. can quartered artichoke hearts, drained and finely chopped
  • 1 cup mayo
  • 1 cup grated parmesan cheese
  • 1/2 tsp garlic powder
  • 1/3 cup bread crumbs
  • Also, some shredded cheese and bread crumbs to sprinkle on top 
Preheat oven to 350*F. Blend all ingredients well. Top the mixture with some shredded cheese and a light coating of bread crumbs. Bake for 20-30 minutes or until golden brown and cheese is melted. Serve with crackers.
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Bacon-Wrapped Chestnuts
Warning: These will be a BIG hit, and people will always request that you make them, again : ) 

  • 1 lb. bacon 
  • 2, 8 oz. cans of water chestnuts, drained
For the sauce:

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar
  • 1 Tbsp. worcestershire sauce
  • 1 cup ketchup
Preheat oven to 375*F. In a medium bowl combine brown sugar, ketchup, and worcestershire sauce. Mix well and set aside. Open the package of bacon, and cut the entire thing in half, width wise. Wrap one slice of bacon tightly around 2 slices of water chestnuts, stacked neatly. Secure with toothpicks (this will take about 30 minutes, so plan accordingly). Arrange wrapped chestnuts on a wire rack placed over a 9x13 glass baking dish. Bake until the bacon is getting crispy, about 25 mins. Remove from oven, and take the rack off the dish. Wipe the glass dish clean from the drippings. Place the wrapped chestnuts in the dish and coat all of them evenly with the prepared sauce. Bake for an additional 30+ minutes, or until the desired crispiness is reached. Remove them from the glass dish immediately and place on a platter for serving. Enjoy!
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Catalina Taco Salad
This will yield a large amount, perfect to bring as a dish to pass at a BBQ!

  • 1 lb ground beef
  • 1 package taco seasoning mix
  • 1 head of lettuce, shredded
  • 8 oz. package shredded cheddar cheese
  • 1 large bag Doritos, crushed
  • 1 medium bottle of Catalina salad dressing
  • 2 tomatoes, diced 
Brown the meat and drain. Add taco seasoning mix and the amt. of water specified on the packet. JUST BEFORE SERVING- mix with the Doritos, lettuce, cheese and tomatoes. Add dressing and mix well.
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Cookies and Cream Cheesecake Cupcakes 

  • 1 package Oreos (30 left whole, 12 chopped up)
  • 4, 8 oz. packages cream cheese, softened
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1 tsp. vanilla extract
  • 4 lg. eggs, room temp, lightly beaten
  • 1 cup sour cream
  • pinch of salt
Preheat oven to 275*F. Place cupcake liners in tins, and one Oreo in the bottom of each liner. Beat cream cheese until smooth with mixer on medium/high. Gradually add sugar, beat until combined. Beat in vanilla. Drizzle in eggs, a bit at a time, combining well. Beat in sour cream and salt. Stir in cookie pieces by hand. Divide batter evenly among cups, filling each liner almost to the top. Bake, rotating pan half-way through, until the filling sets (approx. 22 minutes) Transfer to wire racks to cool, leaving cupcakes in the tins. Refrigerate at least 4 hours, up to overnight. Remove from cupcake tins right before serving.