Alison's Aloha Bread

My high school friend Alison said "It's called Aloha bread because it's gone in seconds!" I liked that so much I named the recipe after her!

Alison's Aloha Bread
2 and 3/4 cups flour (I used white whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
2 cups sugar
1 tsp salt
3 eggs, beaten
1 cup canola oil
1 tsp coconut extract
1 (8 oz.) can crushed pineapple, drained
1/2 cup coconut
2 mashed bananas

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour two loaf pans. Mix first 4 ingredients in a bowl by hand.
2. Add the rest of the ingredients and stir until well blended.
3. Pour into prepared loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Makes 2 loaves of 8 servings each.

The Verdict
This is so moist and delicious, it's more like a cake than a quick bread. Josh likes it with cream cheese, I like it with butter, Jim likes it plain, and Julia likes it in her hair, on her face, on the floor... this one is definitely a hit. I wrap the second loaf tightly in plastic wrap and then foil to freeze it for a later date. Thaw it out and it's ready to slice!

Aunt Lina's Banana Bread

I'm not sure who Aunt Lina actually is. If you come from a big Italian family, anyone of your generation is your cousin and anyone of your parents' generation is your aunt or uncle, regardless of their actual relation to you (or lack thereof!) So finding a recipe in my mother's scrawled handwriting titled "Aunt Lina's Banana Bread" only tells me that someone my grandmother's age gave this to her. No recipe I've ever gotten from a grandmother has ever been bad! And I had some superripe bananas to use up!

Aunt Lina's Banana Bread
5 tbsp. butter
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup firmly packed dark brown sugar
1 egg
2 egg whites
1 tsp. vanilla extract
3 very ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 and 1/2 cups)
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup milk
1/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of loaf pan.
2. Beat butter with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add sugars and beat well. Add egg, egg whites, and vanilla, beat until well blended. Add banana and beat on high for 30 seconds.
3. Combine dry ingredients (except nuts) in a bowl. Add half the flour mixture to better mixture and beat. Add milk and beat. Add rest of flour mixture and beat well. Add walnuts if desired and mix well.
4. Pour batter evenly into prepared pan. Tap twice on counter to make sure it is even. Bake until brown and a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes.
5. Cool in pan on wire rack for about 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on rack. Wrap well and let sit overnight for best flavor.

The Verdict
It was delicious, it was hearty, it was... gone in two days. Success!

Who Needs Cinnabon? cinnamon rolls

The only bad thing about these is that they take a lot of time, so I can't make them for breakfast. Although I wonder if I could refrigerate them after the second rise, and then take them out first thing in the morning and back them after they come to room temperature...

Cinnamon Rolls $0.26 per serving, $3.15 total cost
1 cup warm (about 100 degrees f) milk ($0.20)
2 eggs, room temperature ($0.20)
1/3 cup butter, melted ($0.35)
4.5 cups bread flour ($0.65)
2.5 tsp bread yeast ($0.05)

1 cup packed brown sugar ($0.20)
2.5 tbsp cinnamon
1/3 cup butter, softened ($0.35)

3 oz. cream cheese, softened ($0.50)
1/3 cup butter, softened ($0.35)
1.5 cups confectioners sugar ($0.25)
1 tsp vanilla extract
pinch salt

1. Place first 5 ingredients in bread machine in the order recommended by the manufacturer. Select dough cycle and press start.
2. When the cycle ends, turn dough out onto lightly floured surface, cover, and let rest for 10 minutes. In a small bowl, beat 1/3 cup softened butter until smooth. In a separate bowl, combine brown sugar and cinnamon.
3. Roll dough into a 16x21 inch rectangle. Spread beaten butter on dough, then sprinkle evenly with cinnamon mixture. Roll up dough and cut into 12 pieces. Place rolls in a lightly greased 9x13 inch baking dish. Cover and let rise 30 minutes. Preheat oven to 400 degrees F.
4. Bake rolls in preheated oven until golden brown, roughly 15 minutes. WHile baking, beat together final 5 ingredients. Spread on warm rolls before serving.
Makes 12 servings.

The Verdict
Wow. Just wow :)

Mom's Muffins ~ Twisted!

My mom used to make these muffins on Saturday mornings... and it was a miracle if any of them were left by lunchtime! This is her exact recipe, but with my new twist... white whole wheat flour! I never use regular white flour anymore. In everything but bread, white whole wheat flour is a perfect substitute, it is healthier and has more fiber, but doesn't change the taste or texture!

Mom's Twisted Muffins
2 cups white whole wheat flour
1 cup milk
3 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract (almond is also very good in these. Play around with flavor!)
1/4 cup canola oil
1/2 cup sugar
4 tsp. baking powder

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees
2. Mix all wet ingredients in one bowl. Add dry ingredients and mix well.
3. Pour into lined muffin cups and bake for 20 minutes at 350.
Makes 12 - 15 regular sized muffins

The Verdict
Josh ate 3 of them and still wanted more. I guess he likes them just as much as I did when I was a kid! These freeze beautifully. I like them best fresh from the oven with a tiny bit of butter and grape jelly :)

2 dinners in 1 post! Hearty Corn Chowder ($1.34 per serving) and Nana's Quiche ($1.11 per serving)

I've been so swamped with holiday preparations that I forgot to post! The chowder was last night's dinner and the quiche was tonight...

Fast and Hearty Corn Chowder ~ $1.34 per serving, $5.35 total
2 tbsp. butter ($0.15)
1 medium onion, chopped ($0.35)
2 tbsp. flour
1 can corn, drained ($0.65)
2 medium potatoes, chopped ($1.00)
4 cups milk ($1.20)
8 oz. deli ham, chopped ($2.00)
white pepper
salt
nutmeg

1. Melt butter in soup pot. Saute onions until slightly colored but not brown. Add flour and make roux. Stir constantly till bubbly.
2. Add corn, potatoes, and milk. Simmer until thickened.
3. Stir in ham and spices to taste. Continue to simmer until heated through.
Makes 4-5 servings

The Verdict
Everyone enjoyed this soup. It was VERY filling. We all needed to add more salt and pepper, so you can be a bit heavy-handed with the spices, the milk soaks a lot of it up. This was SUPER fast and easy!

Nana's Quiche ~ $1.11 per serving, $6.85 total

1 Pre-made frozen pie shell ($1.80)

8 oz. deli ham, chopped ($2.00)

1 cup shredded cheese ($1.80)

3 eggs ($0.75)

1 cup heavy cream ($0.50)

2-3 Tablespoons grated cheese

1/4 teaspoon salt

pepper, to taste

Add Cooking Step
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1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees.

2. Bake pie shell for about 10 minutes or until golden brown.

3. Place ham in the bottom of the browned pie shell.

4. Top with grated parmesan cheese, then shredded cheese.

5. Blend slightly eggs, cream, salt and pepper and pour over cheeses.

6. Bake 45 min. to 1 hour. Should be golden brown.

7. Let the quiche sit for nearly an hour before serving for best results (and easier slicing.)
Makes 6 servings

The Verdict
My stepmom makes this, Josh calls her Nana. You can replace the ham with bacon, artichokes, or mushrooms. Play with the cheeses and spices. Ham works best with cheddar, artichokes with italian blend, and bacon with swiss. This is one of the only ways I will eat eggs!!!! Serve with a green salad for dinner, or with hash browns and fruit for brunch.

$0.30 per serving ~ Butterscotch Pumpkin Cupcakes

We're heading off to my sister's house today to celebrate my nephew's birthday. No cooking for me, but I baked these yesterday and they were a BIG hit!

Butterscotch Pumpkin Cupcakes ~ $0.30 per serving
1 and 3/4 cup white whole wheat flour ($0.05)
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg
2 eggs, lightly beaten ($0.50)
1 cup canned pumpkin puree ($0.90)
1/2 cup canola oil ($0.15)
1/2 cup honey ($0.35)
1/3 cup water
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional) ($0.40)
1 cup butterscotch chips ($1.00)

Frosting:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened ($0.50)
2 tbsp. butter, softened ($0.15)
1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
1 cup confectioners' sugar ($0.50)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a large bowl, combine the first 7 ingredients. Combine the eggs, pumpkin, oil, honey, and water in a separate bowl, miz well. Stir wet mixture into dry mixture just until combined. Fold in nuts and chips.
2. Fill foil muffin cups 3/4ths full. Bake 20-25 minutes. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completel.
3. For frostin: beat cream cheese, butter, and vanilla until fluffy. Gradually beat in confectioners' sugar until smooth. Frost cooled cupcakes.
Makes 15 servings.

The Verdict
These were amazing. If I hadn't given the leftovers to my pregnant friend who loved them so much, we'd be eating them for breakfast :)

$1.01 per serving ~ Bean Picadillo with Rice Pilaf and Corn Bread ~ Three meals in one!

It's the weekend, and I am sick as a dog! Thank goodness Jim cooked breakfast...

Breakfast
$0.30 per serving ~ Stuffed French Toast
4 slices of bread, halved with crusts cut off ($0.40)
4 tbsp ricotta cheese ($0.25)
2 tbsp jam of your choice ($0.15)
1 egg ($0.25)
1/2 cup milk ($0.15)
1 tsp. vanilla

1. Spread 4 bread halves with ricotta and the other 4 with jam. Make into sandwiches.
2. Combine egg and milk to make egg wash. Dip sandwiches in egg wash and cook on griddle.
Makes 4 servings

Lunch
Grilled Cheese sandwiches served with carrots and ranch dressing

Dinner
Bean Picadillo ~ $0.56 per serving
2 14.5 oz cans pinto, black, or great northern beans ($2.00)
1/2 red onion, chopped ($0.35)
1 cup raisins ($1.00)
2 tsp. chili powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. cumin
1/2 tsp. pepper
2 tbsp. minced garlic
2 medium apples, peeled and finely chopped ($0.85)
2 14.5 oz. cans diced tomatoes with green chiles, undrained ($2.00)
1/2 cup slivered almonds, toasted ($0.50)

1. Mix all ingredients except almonds in a large crockpot.
2. Cook on low 4 hours or until most of the liquid is absorbed.
3. Remove 2 cups (4 servings) into a separate container (I did this twice.) Can be refrigerated up to 4 days or frozen up to 4 months.
4. Stir almonds into remaining mixture and serve.
Makes 12 servings!!!

The Verdict
This recipe is usually made with ground beef (I got it from my girlfriend Jenny R a few years back and we LOVE it). But I couldn't be bothered defrosting the beef, and I had thebeans, so I figured, what the heck? I love this big gigantic recipe... we're having the picadillo in burritos on Monday, and I froze the second container to enjoy later in the month.

It was spicier than I expected, so we stirred in some sour cream and WHOA was it good! Jim's mom loved it, and so did Josh. I served it over rice pilaf (I only buy boxed rices on 10 for $10 sales) and found a Tex-Mex cornbread "beer bread" mix in the closet to go with it. Yum! Definitely making burritos with it Monday... adding cheese, wrapping it in tortillas, and dipping it in sour cream. It's going to be awesome :)