Recipe #32 August 19, 2013

Banana Cornbread Muffins

Ingredients:

• 1 box cornbread mix - I used Jiffy
• 1/2 Milk (recipe recommended 2% but I used skim)
• 1 medium banana

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. Smash bananas in a smal mixing bowl using a fork
3. Add milk and cornbread, mix
4. Spray muffin cups and fill 2/3 full
5. Bake at 350 for 22-24 minutes until golden brown on top

Makes 6 muffins

Recipe #31 August 2, 2013

Frosted Banana Bars

Ingredients for bars:

• 1/2 Cup butter, softened
• 2 cups sugar
• 3 eggs
• 1-1/2 cups mashed bananas (about 3 medium)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• dash salt

Ingredients for frosting:

• 1 package cream cheese - 8 oz.
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract

 Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350
2. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
3. Beat in the eggs, bananas, and vanilla.
4. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until blended.
5. Transfer  to a greased 15-in x 10 in. (jelly roll) baking pan.  Bake at 350 for 20-25 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool in pan on a wire rack.
6. For frosting:   In a small mixing bowl, beat cream cheese and butter until fluffy.  Add confectioners' sugar and vanilla; beat until smooth. Frost bars.  

Recipe #30 July 13, 2013

Skinny Spaghetti Squash Alfredo

Ingredients

• 1 medium sized spaghetti squash
• 1 tbsp butter
• 2½ tbsp flour(whole grain is fine)
• 2-3 cloves of garlic, very finely minced, grated or pressed
• 1 tbsp cream cheese(low fat is fine)
• 1½ C milk(low fat is fine)
• 1 C freshly grated, not packed Parmesan cheese(about 60g or 2.1oz), plus 2 tbsp extra for topping
• ¼ tsp salt

Directions

1. First prep the spaghetti squash. Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Cut the spaghetti squash in half using a large sharp knife, scoop out the seeds and place cut side down on a rimmed baking sheet covered with water. Bake until tender, about an hour Alternatively, keep the spaghetti squash whole. Poke a few holes deep into the squash with a large knife. Place in the oven whole. Bake for 60 minutes, remove from the oven and let rest for 10 to 20 minutes before slicing in half with a large serrated knife like a bread knife. Scoop out the seedy inside leaving the spaghetti strands. Once cooked, use a fork to gently scrape the “spaghetti” strands into the center.
2. For the sauce, melt the butter in a small pot. Once hot add the garlic and saute for 1-2 minutes over medium low heat. Add the flour and whisk into the butter. Cook for another minute while stirring. Add the cream cheese, warm it up and stir it in to the butter mixture.
3. Add the milk and whisk well. Bring up to a gentle simmer then remove from the heat. Add the freshly grated cheese and salt and stir until melted, just a minute or two. Pour half the sauce into each spaghetti squash half(or less if using a smaller squash). Gently stir to combine. Top with an extra sprinkle of Parmesan and place under the broiler of your oven for 2-3 minutes until golden and bubbly. Serve immediately.

*I put mine in a large casserole dish and mixing everything that way before putting it back in the oven to broil.