Banana Cake

Ingredients

• 1 (18.25 ounce) package yellow cake mix
• 2 very ripe bananas, mashed
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• optional  add 1/2 c nuts

Directions

1. Prepare yellow cake mix according to package directions.
2. Mash the bananas with the baking soda and stir into the cake mix batter. Pour batter into one greased and floured 9x13 inch baking pan.
3. Do not preheat oven. Place uncooked cake in oven and turn oven on to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Bake for 1 hour (watch time). Let cake cool thoroughly and then refrigerate.  Bake less time if making cupcakes          Only 100 calories per serving!

Broccoli Rice Soup

This is super fast and easy to make for a last minute meal...


Ingredients:
1 package Rice-a-Roni Wild Rice (can be chicken flavored)
5 cups water with 5t chicken broth
10 oz pkg frozen broccoli-I use 1-2 bunches of fresh, chopped up
1 shredded carrot
1 can cream chicken soup, I use fat free
1 8oz  cream cheese, low fat work best
2 tsp dried minced onion
slivered almonds to garnish

Directions:
Cook Rice-a-Roni in water for 10 minutes using rice and seasoning packet.  Add broccoli, carrot and onion and simmer for 5 more minutes.  ( hint: prepare your vegtables while rice is cooking).  Stir in cream of chicken soup and cream cheese.  Heat on low until cheese is melted.  
Serve with slivered almonds.

Elise's Homemade Vanilla Granola

I am  heading to Rockville this week with my girls and the only request I had was to take granola.   love  granola and  found this recipe on my Kathy G's blog and it is our favorite.

8 c. oats
2 c. sliced almonds
1 c. wheat germ
1 c. brown sugar
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp cinnamon
craisins or raisins, to taste (optional)
3/4 c. canola oil
1 c. honey
3 Tbsp. vanilla (use the real stuff if you have it-- it tastes much better)

Preheat oven to 300-degrees. Combine first 8 ingredients (dry ingredients) in a large bowl. In a saucepan combine oil, honey, and vanilla and bring to a boil. Let boil for 1 minute then pour over oat mixture. Mix until all ingredients are moistened. Divide and spread mixture over 2 large cookie sheets and bake at 300-degrees for 20-30 minutes. Remove from oven and leave on pans until the granola hardens (it may be a little chewy and that's ok.. if you prefer it not to be chewy at all, allow to dry completely). Break up granola and store in large Ziploc bags or containers. Serve plain, with yogurt, or with milk.

Rhodes Lemon or Orange Pull-aparts

Being Relief Society president, I am always looking for ways to make quick and easy yet not too sweet things to take people.  These are great...I  have tried both flavors, both my favorite!


20 Rhodes dinner rolls, thawed

2 lemons or 1 orange peel, grated

¼ c. butter, melted

½ c. sugar

Citrus Glaze:

1 c. powdered sugar

1 Tbsp. butter, melted

2 Tbsp. fresh lemon or orange juice

Thaw rolls until soft (about 2 hours at room temperature). Grate lemon or orange peel and
mix with sugar. Cut thawed rolls in half and place in 9 X 13 inch pan that has been sprayed
with nonstick cooking spray. Melt ¼ cup butter and pour over rolls. Sprinkle with rind/sugar
mixture, reserving ½ of the mixture to sprinkle just before baking. Cover with plastic wrap that
has been sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. Let rise until double in size. Remove wrap and
sprinkle on remaining rind/sugar mixture. Bake at 350 F. for 20 to 25 minutes.
I used two round pans and they cooked more even....then you can give away one and keep one!

To make citrus glaze, combine powdered sugar, citrus juice, and melted butter and mix until
thin. Glaze rolls while still warm.

Tortilla Soup

This was on my friend, Halli's blog...now it is our favorite too!!
I made home made broth and boiled a 1/2 cup of brown rice in 4-5 cups till cooked then added 1 can diced tomatos and 4oz fresh green chilis, beans and chicken it was great!

Jackie James's Tortilla Soup

1 family-sized (or 3 small) can of chicken and rice soup
1 can diced tomatoes and green chile's (11.5 ounce)
1 can Ranch Style beans (15 ounce) - black label
1-2 chicken breasts cooked and shredded
3 cups chicken broth

Cook over medium heat. Spoon into bowls and add tortilla chips, shredded cheddar cheese, sour cream (we use plain Greek yogurt instead), avocados, and cilantro. Serves 4-6.

No Knead Bread

Lisa Billings in our ward taught us how to make this bread, it is super easy and always turns out great. You have to have a dutch oven or a pan or pot with a lid that can go in the oven.

in a large bowl add:
1 1/2 c water, warm
sprinkle with 1/4 t yeast
Dump on top:
3 cups flour, any kind, can use 1/2 ww
1 1/2 t salt
Then mix together with a wooden spoon just till a dough is formed, should be sticky
Leave in bowl and cover with saran wrap and let sit on counter for 12-24 hours
(dough will triple in size)

When ready to bake, preheat oven with dutch oven in it to 425( light color) 450 (darker)
remove dough from the bowl onto well floured surface and fold over a few times and form into ball. Remove pot from oven, plop dough in hot pot cover with lid.
Bake for 30 minutes, remove lid and continue to Bake for 15 minutes.
Remove from pan and cool on counter.

Baked Ziti

super easy-my kids loved it....

1 jar (26 oz) pasta sauce
2 cups water
1 cup ricotta cheese or cottage cheese( reg or low fat) I liked cottage cheese better
2T Parmesan cheese
1/2 c grated mozzarella cheese
12 ounce uncooked ziti

Preheat oven to 400. Combine pasta sauce and water in a large bowl. Stir in Ricotta and Parmesan cheese , then the uncooked ziti.
Evenly spoon in to a 13x9 pan cover tightly iwth foil and bake 50-55 minutes
Remove foil and sprinkle with mozzerella cheese
Bake uncovered an additional 5 minutes