Gramma's Banana Nut Bread

A solution to having over ripe bananas? 

Banana Nut Bread!

There isn't a Fall/Winter season that goes by that I don't make 

at least one loaf of this delicious bread!
I could sit and eat the whole loaf...

okay, well maybe not the whole loaf, but pretty close to it.

And of course, not all in one sitting

Oh, who am I kidding?

This warm, moist, delicious bread...

smothered in butter....

need I say more?

Banana Nut Bread

1/3 cup Shortening

3/4 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 cup chopped walnuts

In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. 

Add eggs and beat well.

Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

Add to creamed mixture. Stir until mixed. 

Stir in bananas and nuts, until all is blended well. 

Pour into a well greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.

Bake at 350* for about 50 minutes, or until done.

Remove from pan and cool on rack.

Me, personally....I don't give it time to cool. 

I get out my trusty bread knife and slice up a thick slice

and smother it with butter. 

It's hard to stop at just one piece...so make it a thick one! 

Grilling and Campfire Cooking Review and Giveaway

Grilling and Campfire Cooking is a recently published cookbook from Gooseberry Patch. And of course, it's just as awesome as the others.
One thing I know for sure about Gooseberry Patch cookbooks....they are full of tried and true recipes....down home cookin' type of recipes. The kind that momma and Grandma used to make.
Yep, the kind of recipes that you know your family thinks about when they think about your cooking.
The recipes that bring the family together at the dinner table. 

And being together...that's important.

Just like any cookbook from Gooseberry Patch, 

you're going to find pages and pages of wonderful recipes, 

but also tips for serving up your favorite dishes,

ideas for changing up their published recipe, 

and crafty ideas to make your dinner table be the one that friends and family

will remember for many years to come.

How can one go wrong with Chapter titles like these?

Hot Off the Grill

Burgers, Kabobs & More

Gather 'Round the Campfire

Foil Packet Dinners

Cooking Out Indoors

Flavorful Marinades, Rubs & Sauces

Icy-Cold Fresh Salads

Delicious Desserts & Refreshing Beverages

Wow...that's only a hint of what you'll find in this cookbook!

You'll be able to enter for a chance to win this cookbook below, 

but why wait to see if you're the lucky winner. 

Go ahead and order a copy for yourself now.
And while you're at it, or a copy for your favorite 'griller'!

Gooseberry Patch

Amazon

I get excited each time I've received a letter in the mail stating that I am going to be published in a new cookbook. The following recipe is one of the many that I have published.

Blackberry Skillet Dessert 

brings back good memories of my Aunt Lola.
Oh, my sweet Aunt Lola...the aunt that lived alone, in the country, with no running water.
You can read about my memories of her
and find the recipe by clicking on the photo below. 

Sweet and Sour Chicken

is a recipe you won't be disappointed with.
The foil packet allow the flavors to 'mingle' together for 

a delicious meal.

How would you like to enter for two chances to win 

a copy of Grilling and Campfire Cooking?

1. Leave a comment with your name.

2. Go to Gooseberry Patch Facebook page and click like on their page. 

Come back and leave a comment telling me that you did, 

and you will be entered for a second time.
If you have already liked their page, then just let me know in the second comment, instead.

And that's it!

The giveaway will end on Saturday, June 7th.
Winner will be announce on Sunday, June 8th.

Sweet & Sour Chicken - in foil packets in the oven or on the grill

 I'm a big fan of sweet and sour anything.
So, when I found this recipe,

in the Gooseberry Patch cookbook
Grilling and Campfire Cooking,

I knew I had to try it.

I have found that preparing dishes in foil packets 

is one of my favorite ways to grill or bake.
Everything is right there together. 

The flavors blend together and are force to 'mingle' with each other.
You can't help but have a delicious meal waiting for your 

when your open your steaming hot foil packet!

Sweet and Sour Chicken

4 boneless, skinless chicken breasts or thighs

1 cup sweet and sour sauce, divided

8 oz can pineapple chunks, drained

1 green pepper, thinly sliced

1/4 onion, thinly sliced

On each of four 18 inch lengths of heavy duty aluminum foil, place one chicken piece, one tablespoon sauce and 1/4 each of pineapple, pepper and onion. 

Drizzle with remaining sauce.

Fold over foil; seal edges to make a packet.

Grill, covered, over medium heat for 15 to 20 minutes, until chicken juices run clear.

You may also bake the packets on baking sheets at 350* for 35 to 45 minutes.
Serves 4

The chicken is tender, juicy and full of flavor!

Ground Beef & Rice

When I was younger, my momma would make this dish. When she made it, she just used the ground beef and Beef flavored Rice a Roni then she'd sprinkle a little black pepper over it before she served it up.
We always had my grandma's homemade Bread n Butter pickles on the table. One night a little bit of the juice from the pickles leaked over in to my rice. When I tasted it, I thought it was the best thing ever! Funny how our tastes buds are when we're kids...we could eat the weirdest combination of foods.

But..to be honest...I'd still think it's delicious. Only thing is, I miss Ma's pickles. I haven't had them in a while and I haven't even tried to make them. Guess it's time that I did, huh? .

Momma called it Ground Beef & Rice...so that's the name that has stuck with this recipe over the years. I do add a few more ingredients now. Without the pickles, I felt like it needed a little extra flavor.

Ground Beef & Rice

1 lb ground beef

1/4 cup chopped onion

1/4 cup green bell pepper
1 1/2 tsp hamburger seasoning
1/2 - 1 tsp black pepper (depends on your tastes)
1 (6.8 oz) box beef flavored Rice a Roni

In a large skillet, brown ground beef, onion and pepper 

until beef is no longer pink and onion and pepper are soft.

Drain. 

Add hamburger seasoning and pepper.

Stir until seasonings are mixed in to the beef and veggies.
Remove beef mixture from skillet and in to a bowl.

Prepare the Rice a Roni according to directions on package. (step 1 and 2)

After you add the water and seasoning mix, add the beef mixture back to the skillet.
Stir until it's all pretty much covered with water.

Continue to cook according to pkg directions.

Serves 4 - 6

Serve with veggies and a dinner roll 
and call it supper!

Enjoy!

Gooseberry Patch cookbook Good-for-You Everyday Meals giveaway and review

 I try to eat healthier, but it doesn't always happen that way.
My rule has always been to eat in moderation. But, with the recipes in this cookbook, I don't have to worry so much. I know that I can have a good hearty meal with healthier ingredients.
It wouldn't hurt to have an extra serving from time to time.
I love meals like that!

In this new Gooseberry Patch   

Good-for-You Everyday Meals cookbook
you will find recipes that will ease your mind 

knowing that you are feeding your family 

delicious and nutritious meals. Meals containing ingredients such as....
  Quinoa, barley, flax seed, protein foods, whole wheat pastas, 
and fresh, frozen and organic fruits and veggies.

The contents in a cookbook is always the selling point for me.
I knew this cookbook was another real winner when I looked at the chapters listed.
I was sold even more when I browsed through the recipes....

Mom's Best Orange Muffins, Garden Bounty Egg Bake,

Healthy Strawberry Drink, Laurel's Nutty Granola,

Hearty Hamburger Stew, Citrus & Beet Spinach Salad,

Savory Barley-Mushroom Bake, Cherry Tomato Hummus Wraps, 

and Lemony-Fresh Dill Dip

I had a hard time choosing the recipes to prepare for you.
So, I asked my family what they were in the mood for...fish was it.
I found one of the yummiest recipes for Tilapia we've ever had. And of course I needed a veggie to go along with it and that's where the potato wedges come in. 

Let's start with the new seasoning recipe for my potatoes...

No-Salt Seasoning

submitted by Barb Rudyk    Vermillion, Alberta

1 T garlic powder

1 T onion powder

1 T dry mustard

1 T paprika

1 tsp dried thyme

1 tsp dried basil

1 tsp cayenne pepper, or to taste

1/2 tsp pepper

Mix together all ingredients and place in a shaker jar.

Makes about 5 tablespoons.

This seasoning was perfect for Lori's Tater Wedges!

Lori's Tater Wedges

submitted by Lori Peterson Effingham, KS

And now for the main course...

Sauteed Tilapia in Lemony Butter Sauce

submitted by Shirin Blackwell Garden Ridge, TX

And we can't forget dessert!

Mom's Fruit Smoothies
submitted by April Haury  Paramus, NJ

How would you like a chance to win a copy of 
Gooseberry Patch's Good-for-You 
cookbook?
I knew you'd say yes...so here's how...

1. You must go to Gooseberry Patch's facebook page and 'like' their page, then come back and let me know.. 

2. You must leave a comment on this page. You have to leave, at least, your name and if you chose, you can also leave your email address.

You will then have TWO entries in the giveaway!

Winner will be announced on Saturday, March 22nd.
You will have 48 hrs to reply with your mailing address.
If I haven't heard from the winner by that time, a new winner will be chosen.
Best of Luck to you all!

*You may purchase this and many other Gooseberry Patch cookbooks on their web page HERE 
*Or from Amazon.com HERE 
~Looking for more recipes?
**Take and look at their cookbook index HERE!
**Do you Pin? Follow them HERE

Find even MORE from 
Gooseberry Patch online!

www.gooseberrypatch.com
http://www.gooseberrypatch.com/blog
www.facebook.com/gooseberrypatch
www.twitter.com/gooseberrypatch
pinterest.com/gooseberrypatch/
www.youtube.com/gooseberrypatchcom
www.scribd.com/gooseberrypatch

Gooseberry Patch has graciously furnished me with two copies of this cookbook. One for me to keep and review and the other to giveaway to the lucky winner of the giveaway.
All reviews are of my own opinion.

Giveaway will only be open for ten days.
It will end on March 22nd, 2014.
The winner will have 48 hours to respond.
At this time another winner will be drawn.