My Grandma's Banana Bread

Surprisingly, this recipe is not from my "cooking" Grandma, but my "book" Grandma. :-)

Although just a basic banana bread recipe, it is moist and sweet and delicious.

One of my local grocery stores sells bags of getting-too-ripe-to-look-pretty-on-the-display-cut-the-price bananas. When I see these, I stock up!

I take the getting-close-to-too-ripe bananas home, peel, package in 1-recipe portions, and freeze for future banana breads, muffins, or baked goods.


Grandma's Banana Bread

1 3/4 cup flour
1 1 /4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup oil
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2-3)

Cream oil and sugar and add eggs until light and fluffy. Add mashed bananas and vanilla.

In a separate bowl, combine all dry ingredients. Add dry ingredients to banana mixture in three additions. Do not beat.

Pour into greased loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for about an hour. Check for doneness at 45 minutes.


Recommend: YES




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Tags: recipes Banana Bread bananas banana recipes quick breads quick bread recipes banana bread recipe

Calling all mommy bloggers and a GIVEAWAY!

I was recently accepted by Mama Buzz, a brand new review group.

Recently launched, Mama Buzz is catering to products especially for children. Since I'm a mama (of two very adorable bundles, I might add!)...I was quite willing to have my children "test" a new book, toy, or homeschool item!

In honor of Mama Buzz's debut, they are giving away the DVD Web Design for Kids.


This DVD looks like a fun, amazing introduction for kids into the basic world of html -- for curious-wanting-to-learn-and-know adults, too! ;-)

*For all of you mommy bloggers out there, Mama Buzz is currently accepting new reviewers. If you think you might be interested, check out their guidelines and application!*





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Tags: giveaways blog giveaway blog contest Mama Buzz Mama Bzz Web Design for Kids Free DVD!

Created to Be His Help Meet by Debi Pearl

"If God created a special woman, perfectly suited to be your husband's helper, would you be that woman?"

Created to Be His Help Meet: Discover How God Can Make Your Marriage Glorious by Debi Pearl is a wonderful tool for the woman who wants to be the wife that God intends her to be. As with ANY book, you must compare what you read with what the Bible says! If the book is in contradiction to God's words, then it is not truth and should not be followed! The words of God always take precedence over whatever man says! ALWAYS!!

Although I did not agree with every point in the book, Debi shares some great insights to the woman who is willing to be what God has created her to be: her husband's help meet. The wise woman desires to follow the Lord and be obedient to His words. From chapter 1, Debi says, "A wise woman doesn't take anything for granted. She is thankful to be loved and seeks to make herself more lovely." Mrs. Pearl talks about practicing the right kind of thinking. If a wife spends all day (while hubby is away at work) playing over and over in her mind the wrong "little" thing that he did (or didn't do), by the time her husband walks in the door at the end of the day, she is grumpy and bitter. A wise woman will allow the Lord to control her thoughts.

Debi reveals to her readers that she believes three kinds of men exist: Mr. Command Man, Mr. Visionary, and Mr. Steady, and then shares how a wife can relate to whichever man hers is. Mrs. Pearl also works her way through Titus 2, sharing practical tips for being sober, loving husbands, loving children, being discreet, chaste, keepers at home, good, and obedient to husbands.

Created to Be His Help Meet is a wealth of information! Even though I feel blessed to have a wonderful husband (I'd say he's a Mr. Steady) and marriage, room for improvement can always be made! Although some of the points seemed obvious, I still found many tips and eye-openers in this book. And, not on my husband's end, either! Things I know I can and need to work on -- especially that thought thing!!

Whether you have a wonderful, established marriage, one that's just beginning, one with an unsaved husband, or one that's struggling to survive, I would encourage you to find a copy of this book. In light of what society today wants us to believe, some of the things Debi shares from God's Word may be hard to swallow. However, God knows what is best for us as women. He created us to be our husband's help meet. This position is not meant to be a dutiful chore, but a blessing - for ourselves, our husbands, and our families. Our responsibility is humble obedience.

297 pages from No Greater Joy Ministries.

Recommend: YES




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Tags: Debi Pearl Created to Be His Help Meet marriage Biblical womanhood book reviews

Grandma's Apple Pie and a Favorite Kitchen Gadget

My grandma made the best apple pie. Ever.

As a little girl, I spent many hours in her kitchen "helping" her bake pies and cookies. Grandma saved the little metal tins that potpies used to come in, and would give me and my sisters the leftover dough to make our own mini pies.

I loved spending time with my grandma, and I know my husband is especially grateful that she taught me how to make a good pie! ;-)

I remember staring, fascinated that my grandma could peel an apple in one long, thin spiral. I never could. Still can't.

In fact, I dislike peeling apples so much, that years ago, I made a trade with my sister. I gave her a Pampered Chef stoneware baker that I was never going to use, and she gave me her Pampered Chef apple peeler/corer/slicer that she was never going to use. It was a happy trade!


Although Grandma always used Macs, I purposely buy Granny Smith apples so I can use my nifty gadget. You need a nice firm apple, or else you'll end up with applesauce! ;-)

Grandma also always "dumped" her sugar over her apples. Some recipes call for stirring the apples together with the sugar and spices, making a syrup. I don't think that method turns out the same pie... so, Grandma's dumping method is mine. :-)


Grandma was also a butter and cholesterol girl. lol. Had to place 4-5 pats of butter on top of the apples. If you knew my grandma, you'd know that my pats are much smaller than hers. :-D



Mmm, yeah. Grandma's pies were the best.

I must *shamefacedly* admit that the pie in the pictures was made with a storebought crust. But, I will still share Grandma's pie crust recipe with you.

I will share her recipes exactly as they are written on my recipe cards from her. No instructions on the pie crust. I'm sure she couldn't imagine that someone didn't already know to make pie crust by blending the shortening into the flour and then adding just enough water to form a dough... I can still hear her voice, "Don't overwork it! It'll be tough!"

So, here is the recipe for my Grandma's Apple Pie:

Pie Crust (2 crust pie)
2 cups flour
3/4 cup Crisco
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/4-1/3 cup cold water

Apple Pie
5-6 apples (peeled and sliced) (I tend to use all but 2 apples in a 3-lb bag...my husband likes a LOT of apples in the pie!)
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon nutmeg
butter

Prepare pie crust. Heap apples into crust. Sprinkle with sugar, cinnamon, and nutmeg. Dot with butter.

Cover with top crust. Cut slit for steam.

Bake at 400 degrees for about 45 minutes.


Mmmm, eat and enjoy!

Recommend: YES




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Tags: apple pie apple pie recipe Grandma's apple pie apples apple recipes Granny Smith apples Pampered Chef recipes