Pasta loaded with Garlic

This pasta is YUM-MY!!! I can't stop making it! It makes the house smell all yummy and garlicky. It's quick and easy,  but be sure to make enough for everyone because it gets eaten up quickly!

1/2 cup extra virgin olive oil
10 cloves garlic, minced
1/2 tsp salt
3/4 tsp crushed red pepper
1 pound dry penne
1/2 cup Romano cheese, grated


Cook pasta according to directions, drain and dump back in the pot. In a skillet, brown garlic in olive oil. When brown, add salt and pepper flakes. Toss pasta with the garlic mixture and cheese. Serve. So simple and so yummy!

Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

So, normally when I mention I'm going to make something new, Kati turns up her nose, makes faces, and and says dozens of comments about how I should not try it. Can we say picky eater? As we're shopping, I pick up bananas and casually mention my plans for this recipe. Kati responds with, "That sounds DELICIOUS!" I froze. Who is this child and what did she do with my daughter? After I made them, she ate them, and didn't say a word. Hours later, while sitting on the couch watching an HGTV marathon, she says, "I love those pancakes." She has had them, three times since them! These pancakes are amazing. Make them. Seriously, go make the, right now!

makes 18 small pancakes

2 cups all purpose flour

4 tsp baking powder

2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/2 cups milk (I used skim)

6 Tbsp melted butter

4 eggs

2 Tbp granulated sugar

3 tsp vanilla extract

2 large bananas, diced

1 large banana, sliced

1 cup mini chocolate chips

powdered sugar

cooking spray

chocolate syrup, warmed

Combine flour, baking powder, salt, and soda in a large bowl. In another bowl, mix milk, eggs, vanilla, butter, and sugar. Pour into dry ingredients and mix well, but be careful not to over mix. Gently stir in chocolate chips and bananas. Heat flat pan over medium heat, spray with cooking spray, and pour batter into pan. I use an ice cream scoop for this because it makes good size pancakes.  When the pancakes start to bubble, flip, and cook until the other side is brown. Serve with powdered sugar, sliced bananas, and warm chocolate sauce. YUM!!

Banana Bread with chocolate peanut butter cups

Cody asked me to make peanut butter bread this weekend and Kati asked me to make banana bread. I LOVE banana bread and LOATHE peanut butter! So, I was torn. Of course, I wanted to make Cody happy, but I also did not want to eat bread that tasted like peanut butter. So, we compromised. I made yummy banana bread and instead of using chocolate chips, I used peanut butter cups. This bread was moist, gooey, and eaten very quickly! You should definitely try it!


1 3/4 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/4 cup butter, softened but not melted
4 over ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sugar , plus 1 Tbsp for sprinkling
2 eggs
1 Tbsp vanilla
1/2 cup fat free milk
1/3 cup fat free plain yogurt
1 bag individually wrapped peanut butter cups, chopped

Preheat oven the 350 and grease loaf pan. I used a 9 inch. Mix together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In a separate bowl, mix bananas, butter, sugar, vanilla, and eggs, Add flour, milk, and yogurt. Stir in 3/4 of the chopped peanut butter cups. Pour into pan. Sprinkle remaining sugar and peanut butter cups on top. Bake for 55 minutes. Cool before cutting.

Banana Muffins with a Brown sugar topping

I made these for the kids for breakfast and they gobbled them up so fast they didn't even last a day! 12 muffins!

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour, plus 2 Tbsp for topping
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon , plus 1/4 tsp for topping
4 very ripe bananas, mashed
2 Tbsp melted butter, plus 1 Tbsp chilled butter for topping
1/2 cup dark brown sugar plus 1/4 cup for the topping
2 egg whites
2 tsp vanilla
1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt, plain or vanilla (I used plain)
2 2/1 Tbsp skim milk


Preheat oven to 350. Spray 12 muffin cups with cooking spray. (you could use cupcake liners instead) Mix 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, and salt. In a separate bowl, mix bananas, 1/2 cup brown sugar, vanilla, 1/2 tsp cinnamon, egg whites, melted butter. Combine with flour mixture. Add milk. Fill muffin cups about 2/3 full. In a bowl, mix remaining brown sugar, cinnamon, and flour. You could add 1/4 cup of chopped walnuts with this as well. Cut in butter. When crumbly, sprinkle over muffins. Bake for 20 minutes.

Amazingly good fruit salad!

1/2 pineapple, cut into cubes
2 sour mangos, peeled and cut into cubes
1 sweet mango, peeled cut into cubes
1 cup whole red grapes
1 orange, peeled and sliced
1 green apple, peeled and sliced
1 lime, juiced
3 Tbsp honey
3 Tbsp fresh mint, chopped


Mix everything into a bowl. Chill one hour. MMMM, yummy!

Orange Bread!! So yummy!!

I had some oranges taking up space, so this is what I came up with....

Preheat oven to 350. Grease 9x5 inch loaf pan.

1/2 cup butter
1 cup white sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 tablespoons grated orange zest
1/2 cup fresh orange juice
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/4 cup white sugar

Combine flour, salt, and baking powder.

In large bowl, beat 1 cup sugar with the butter. Beat in eggs. Stir in orange juice and zest.

Slowly stir in flour mixture. Pour into loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour.  Remove from oven.

Combine remaining orange juice and sugar in saucepan and heat until sugar dissolves. Spread over bread. Let sit in pan for at least 10 minutes before removing, then cool on wire rack.

Strawberry Bread!!

This was sooooo yummy, I can't wait to make it again! YUMMMMMMMMM!!!


Strawberry Bread!!

4 cups fresh strawberries
3 1/8 cups flour
2 cups sugar
1 1/4 cups vegetable oil
4 beaten eggs
1 Tbsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda

preheat oven to 350. butter and flor two 9x5 inch loan pans. slice strawberries and place in medium sized bowl. sprinkle lightly with sugar. In large bowl, mix flour, sugar, cinnamon, salt, and baking soda. Blend oil and eggs into strawberries. Add strawberry mixture to flour mixture, blending until dry ingredients are just moistened. Divide into pans. Bake for 45-50 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool on wire rack 10 minutes. Turn loaves out and cool completely.