Amanda's Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

3-1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup butter
1 cup sugar
4 eggs
2 cups sour cream
6 medium mashed bananas
2 cups chocolate chips

Put flour, baking soda and salt in a large bowl. Stir together and make a well in center.  Cream butter, sugar and 1 egg at  time.  Mix in sour cream and bananas.  Pour into well and stir to mix.  Fill muffin tins.

Bake at 350 for 18-20 minutes.

Makes 42 muffins with large cookie scoop.

Amanda's Cake Batter

*Makes 7 cups of batter*

2 boxes Duncan Hines French Vanilla cake mix
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups granulated sugar
1-1/2 tsp salt

2-2/3 cups water
1/4 cup vegetable oil
6 eggs
2 cups sour cream
2 tsp clear vanilla flavor
2 tsp butter flavor

Mix all dry ingredients by hand using a whisk in a very large mixing bowl.

Add the rest of the ingredients and beat on low speed for 2 minutes.

Bake at 325.

Aunt Karen's Cream of Carrot Soup

2 lengths farmer's sausage, cut into large pieces
8 bay leaves
1 tbsp pepper kernels
6 star aniseed
water

Once sausage is cooked, pull it out and toss into food processor so it's in tiny pieces.

Add:
2 - 3 large onions
3/4 ice cream pail cubed potatoes
2L or more sliced carrots
1 tsp salt

When carrots are done, add:
1/2 cup chicken soup base
1/4 cup parsley flakes
2 tsp salt

Base for all cream soups:
1-1/2 cups milk
1-1/2 cups whipping cream
1 cup flour
Add to soup.

Cindy H's Hamburger Soup

1/2 lb ground beef
2 tsp beef soup base
1/2 c onion, chopped
1/2 c carrot, chopped
1/2 c celery, chopped
1 pint tomatoes, mashed up
1 bay leaf
2 tsp pepper
6 cups water
Salt to taste
1 cup macaroni

In large frying pan, brown ground beef. Add onion and beef soup base. Add all ingredients to soup pot except macaroni (including ground beef mixture). Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer for 45 minutes. Rinse macaroni with hot water and add to the soup. Cook 15 minutes longer. Serve and enjoy!

(If making double recipe, use the big big pot, not just the big one.)

3-Ingredient Baked Ham and Cheese Roll-Ups

1 ball pizza dough

8 oz. thinly sliced deli ham
1 cup shredded mozzarella cheese
Optional:
Fresh parsley, for sprinkling
Mustard or horseradish sauce, for serving

Preheat oven to 400 degrees.

Roll out pizza dough on a lightly floured surface. Press to form a 12 x 8-inch rectangle. Arrange ham slices evenly over dough to within 1/2 inch of edges. Sprinkle evenly with cheese. Starting at one of the short ends, roll up dough to form log. Pinch seam together to seal. Place, seam side down, on a greased baking sheet.

Bake for 50 minutes, or until deep golden brown. Let stand 10 minutes before cutting into 8 slices with a serrated knife.

Serve with mustard or horseradish sauce, if desired.

Makes 8 slices.

TIPS:
- Feel free to assemble the loaf and refrigerate up to 1 day before baking.
- Cooking times may vary based on the thickness of the pizza dough you're using. For instance, refrigerated canned pizza dough may only require a baking time of 20 minutes or so.

Photo and recipe from The Comfort of Cooking.

Homemade Garlic Toast

4 slices bread
1/4 cup margarine or butter
1 tsp parsley flakes
1 tsp garlic powder

This makes strong garlic toast – if it’s too strong for your liking, cut the parsley and garlic powder in half.

Preheat oven to 375. 

Let your margarine sit out to get soft or put in a bowl in the microwave for a few seconds (long enough to soften, not liquefy).  Add your parsley flakes and garlic powder to the butter and mix together until well-blended.  Spread on both sides of each piece of bread.  Place bread on non-stick cooking sheet. 

Bake until toasted on one side (I check it at 5 minutes), then flip over and bake until the second side is toasted.

Recipe from Food Marriage.

Stuffing Meatloaf with Topping

Meatloaf:
1 lb ground meat
1 egg
1 box stuffing mix
1 cup water

Topping:
2 tbsp brown sugar
2 tbsp prepared mustard
1/3 cup ketchup

Mix the meatloaf together, add topping, and bake at 350 for about 45 minutes.  I like to use a pan that lets the drippings fall below.