Breakfast or for snack- just make it

Oh my – this bread. This wonderful delightful bread. Peanut Butter Bread. Toast it and slather it with more peanut butter – or Nuttella spread – or more peanut butter! Or plain, good old jelly or jam! It’s like eating a PBJ piece of toast! It is good just by itself. Trust me on this …. it is why I am getting it out of the house!!

Peanut Butter Bread
1 cup milk (any kind will work – fat free, regular, 2%)
2 large eggs
2/3 cup sugar
1 cup peanut butter (I used creamy not the kind with nuts)
1 tsp kosher salt
1 Tbsp baking powder
1 3/4 cups plain flour

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Put milk, eggs, sugar and peanut butter in a mixer bowl (or you can use your blender if you have a good one for this) and mix until blended (if using a blender put on “batters” setting-since mine is 30+ years old I am sure mine does not have a “batters” setting!).

In another bowl, stir flour, baking powder and salt together. Add to mixing bowl with peanut butter mixture (or blender if using it) and mix until combined. (on blender, pulse a few times until combined).

Pour batter (will be somewhat thick) into a prepared 9×5 inch loaf pan.

Look how pretty that batter is! And the smell is so incredible – even before baking.

Bake for 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Mine took exactly 50 minutes.

I just can’t tell you how good this is. Hope you try it soon.

Weddings and food

There’s a wedding in our family on the horizon and we couldn’t be more thrilled. Our oldest granddaughter and her “intended” will be saying the “I do’s” late spring and we love her fiance. He is already part of the family and calls us Grammy and Paw Paw. A true sign that he just may like us a little!

One of the items that will be on the menu are these:

And little old me gets to be in charge of making these! And I couldn’t be happier! These are easy, fun, and don’t fall apart like some cheese straws. But what makes these so good is that they are “Smokey Cheese Straws”, not just your regular cheese straws. We made a recipe for taste testing and they were so good. I wanted to make sure the bride loved them. And what made these a “plus” for her was that the store was out of the “smoked Cheddar cheese, but had the “smoked bacon cheddar cheese” of which I kindly obliged her bacon likings and used it. The recipe, according to her, was great. So I may just make a batch of regular and a batch using the smoked cheddar with bacon. Serve these at your next shower, get-together, or tailgate party!

Smoky Cheesy Straws Makes close to 5 dozen
1 (8-ounce) block of smoked Cheddar cheese, shredded (or the smoked bacon cheddar cheese like I used)
1 (8-ounce) round of smoked Gouda cheese, shredded
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp smoked paprika
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground red pepper (more or less for heat to your taste)

In a medium bowl combine the cheeses and butter. Beat at medium speed with a mixer until well combined.

In a small bowl, combine flour, smoked paprika, garlic powder, salt, and red pepper. Gradually add flour mixture to cheese mixture until just combined. Wrap dough in plastic wrap, and refrigerate for 2 hours.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and line baking sheets with parchment paper. (It took two baking sheets for my recipe)

On a lightly floured surface, roll dough to a 1/4 inch thickness. (err on the thinner of 1/4 inch. Mine were a bit too thick and were not as crisp as we wanted them to be). Using a pizza cutter or ki=nife, cut dough into 6inchx1/2inch strips, and place on prepared pans (I plan on making my next batch 3 inch x 1/2 inch) and place on prepared pans. bake for 12 to 15 minutes or until lightly browned. Let cool on pans for 2 minutes. Remove to racks to let cool completely. Store in air tight containers.

Stay warm and enjoy the rest of your week.

Feeling a little “punchy?”

I had a question about recipes for punch. There are so many recipes out there that it can get confusing. I have several basic and good recipes that we have used at my previous church that are so good and versatile and appropriate for weddings, receptions, baby showers, and family get-togethers. If you have one to share with a request, post your favorite punch recipe below! We all could use a new punch recipe!

A good basic recipe is ginger ale and sprite. Then add whatever color/flavor sherbet you want. Makes a great simple punch for any kind of a gathering.

Here are a few recipes.

Strawberry Punch
1 large can pineapple juice
2 pkg pink lemonade kool aid (regular packages)
1 gallon water
1 small frozen lemonade undiluted
1 pint frozen strawberries
4 cups sugar

Blend thawed strawberries in a blender. Combine all ingredients thoroughly. Freeze. Remove from freezer several hours before use. Will be a slushly punch.
Makes 2 gallons and serves 40-50 people.

Fruit Punch (yellow)
1 large can pineapple can pineapple juice
3 small cans frozen orange juice (add water as directed on can -or i substitute for 72 oz of juice)
2 quts water
1/2 cup frozen lemon juice or 1/2 dozen lemons, juiced
1 (6 oz) pkg lemonade mix (dry)
2 1/2 cups sugar
mix well and freeze. Makes 1 1/2 gallons. serves 40-50 people. Remove from freezer, let thaw at least 3 hours. Before serving, add 1 qt ginger ale.

Passion Tea (this would be great for a bridal tea)
3 cups water-bring to a boil – add 4 family size tea bags – cut off burner and steep for 30 minutes.
Add:
1 1/2 cups sugar and stir until dissolved
then add 1 large frozen lemonade, thawed and
1 6-oz. can pineapple juice

stir – garnish with orange or lemon slices – serve over ice.

So… If you have one to share, let’s hear it! Have a great week, y’all.

Peanut Butter No Bake Bars

Peanut Butter in anything is a win-win for us. And with no flour, 3 ingredients, and no baking, you can’t go wrong. And if you want to get really creative, throw in some nuts, dried cranberries or raisins or other dried fruit, and you have a great afternoon pick-me-up! Or a wonderful breakfast bar.

Keep these in the refrigerator for a firm bar. Or if you prefer, let sit out for a short time for a more softer, chewier bar. But even in the refrigerator, these are still good and chewy. Enjoy and create your own version.

Peanut Butter No Bake Bars

3 cups old fashioned oats
1 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup honey

( halved everything since there are only two of us and used an 8×8 pan and made a really thin bar – that way hubby doesn’t get much honey in each bar)

Line a 9×9 inch pan with foil and lightly spray with non-stick spray.

Melt the peanut butter and honey together in a microwave until smooth. (doesn’t take long!)
In a medium size bowl mix all ingredients together. Press into pan. I find that if I place a piece of saran wrap on top to use to press the mix down, it makes it much easier and less messier on my hands and the mix doesn’t stick to my hands nor to the saran wrap. Works for me!
Place in refrigerator until set. Cut in squares and enjoy!

Here are mine!

(please overlook the grandkids’ almost 20 year old melamine plate that I just can’t seem to throw away!)

Let me know what you plan on throwing in to your concoction! I just may have to give yours a try!

A bunch of healthy nuts

There’s going to be two more healthy nuts running around! The winners of a 5-month e-gift card to “Naturebox” who will get to personalize their selections to their liking is:

First drawn by random.org:

#2 – Karen Goad – congratulations, Karen – I hope you enjoy what you select – I will email you to make sure the email is the one you want your e-gift card sent to!

and the second drawn by random.org:

#6 – Maddie – congratulations, Maddie – I will also contact you for a correct email –

I want to make sure you both get these e-gift cards!

Have a great week, everyone!

Naturebox and all the good things to munch

Have you heard of Naturebox? I have had friends tell me that their munchie healthy snacks are the bomb! The flavors, the quality, are the best. So today, because it is Friday and because I am a newly retired person loving every day of this, I am giving two people to try these wonderful products.

Each of the two winners selected will receive a 5-month subscription to Naturebox which means once you receive your e-gift card from me you will get to go to their site and customize your box to your preference and dietary needs. In the meantime, go to http://www.naturebox.com and have a look around. Read all about it!

When you are through, come back and leave a comment and tell me what you think would be your favorite snack you would like to try. Two winners will be selected Monday. Have a wonderful weekend and get out and enjoy this beautiful weather!

Oh, Nuts!

Hubby loves peanuts – roasted, raw, boiled peanuts. He loves mixed nuts and he loves Cajun roasted or seasoned.

I also like to make him a “trail mix” as he also loves raisins. This recipe has a bit of all that he loves. And this recipe would be a great one to serve at receptions, family gatherings, tailgating, or just healthy snacking. Try some soon.

And come back Friday – there may be a quick giveaway – I have been remiss…I blame a wonderful enjoyable retirement life! You should try it sometime!

Mystery Mix

2 cups whole almonds
2 cups pecan halves
2 cups roasted, salted pumpkin seeds
2 cups sunflower seed kernels
1 (15-ounce) box golden raisins
1 (10-ounce) bag dried cherries (I will probably use cranberries as that is what I like)
1/2 cup butter, melted
1/2 cup honey
1 Tbsp curry powder
1 tsp salt
1 tsp ground red pepper

Preheat oven to 250 degrees (nuts need to roast slow). Line a roasting pan with aluminum foil and set aside.
In a large bowl, combine almonds, pecans, pumpkin seeds, sunflower seeds, raisin, and cherries.
In a small bowl, whisk the melted butter, honey, curry powder, salt, and red pepper until combined. Pour this mixture over the nut mixture and toss until all is coated. Spread the coated nut mixture in an even layer in the prepared pan. Bake for 1 hour, and stir every 15 minutes. Remove and spread in a single layer on parchment paper to cool. Sprinkle with kosher salt and let cool completely. Store in an airtight container. I like to use my large Ball Jars.

Enjoy!