janna banana...and her bunch!: January 2012

Thursday, January 26, 2012

Winter...uhgggg!

Winter has finally caught up with me now that's January is only 6 days from being over. I have been dodging it for several months and for me, it's been a wonderful winter. Now, in all honesty, you really can't live in a state that's known for lots of snow and not have snow in October, November, December AND January!! I have been silently cheering to make it to the end of March and then it would just turn spring. Although we have been known to have snow in July! I just love the dry streets. It can be cold, windy--whatever, just please--no snow. Now in all honesty, it does look really pretty covering up all the ugly old grass.

jannabanana pie

We invented this lazy twist to banana cream pie and now we're crazy about it! You should try it!

1 banana for each person - cut in slices
toasted coconut
any type of chopped nuts
1 - 8 oz. Cool Whip
1 large box Cooked Banana cream pudding & the ingredients - cooled
1 t. coconut flavor extract (stir into pudding)
1 recipe of Cookie Crust (see next 3 ingredients)
1 C. flour
1 cube margarine melted
1/2 C. chopped nuts

Mix together, press in bottom of 9x13 pan and bake 350 for 15 min. cool and break into 1 inch chunks.

The best part is everybody makes their own:

In individual bowls toss cookie crust chunks, banana slices, nuts, pudding & cool whip and top with toasted coconut!

You will dream about this desert at night and it will seriously drive you bananas!!

We also LUVV this Banana cake or muffins;
it's our 2nd favorite!

Put in the frig, it's yummy cold!
2 1/3 C. flour
1 2/3 C. sugar
1 ¼ C. mashed bananas
2/3 C. oil
2/3 C. buttermilk
3 eggs
1¼ t. baking soda
1¼ t. baking powder
1 t. salt

Mix all ingredients. Pour into muffin cups. Bake 350 for 18 min. (or 9x13 pan - bake 30 or until toothpick in center of cake comes out clean)

Frost with Cream Cheese Frosting:
4 oz. cream cheese – softened
1/4 C. (1/2 cube) margarine or butter – softened
1 t. vanilla
2 C. powdered sugar

In a small mixer bowl blend cream cheese and butter til smooth. Add vanilla, blend. Add powdered sugar 1 cup at a time. Blend til smooth and creamy.

BLACK BANANAS
Don't feel guilty about those black bananas that the bunch didn't eat, just lazily toss them (unpealed) into the freezer. They're in their own nature's zip lock bag. To use: pop into microwave for 1 minute. Make a little tear in the top of the peel and squeeze out. The best part...no mess!