Sweet Carmalized Bananas

Today I have a guest post from Elizabeth from ReadySetEat to share with you - doesn't this look delicious (if you like bananas that is!)

Sweet Caramelized Bananas

This is a guest post by Elizabeth L. on behalf of ReadySetEat. Visit www.readyseteat.com to find easy recipes for dinner or pasta salad recipes for when the weather turns warmer.

Caramelized bananas are such a comforting dish, and they’re also really easy to make!  Even if this dish is a dessert, you are still getting all of the benefits of the fruit, too.  I remember the first time I had caramelized bananas, it was in a restaurant in Washington D.C, and I thought it was so good.  I couldn’t wait to make them at home!  With this simple recipe, you will have a dessert ready in no time, and you won’t even have to pay restaurant prices.  You could pair this with some vanilla bean ice cream or maybe some salted caramel ice cream.  Either would taste great with this!

Ingredients

• 1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
• 3 tablespoons Parkay® Original Spread-tub
• 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 2 slightly firm bananas, peeled, halved and sliced lengthwise
• Reddi-wip® Original Dairy Whipped Topping

Directions

1. Heat sugar, Parkay and cinnamon in medium skillet over medium-high heat; when bubbly, add bananas. Cook 1 minute on each side or until bananas are warm and glaze has thickened slightly, spooning glaze over bananas.
2. Top each serving with Reddi-Wip. Serve immediately.

If you want to find some dinner ideas that are easy like this recipe, swing by ReadySetEat.com!

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Chocolate Chip Muffins

I am on a mission to try to get my husband to eat some breakfast.  Even if it's not something super healthy, I would feel better if he would eat something for breakfast.  He has a physically demanding job, has been known to put off eating if they are running behind.  I can't control what happens on his job site, but I can make sure that he at least has something to eat before leaving home so he has some energy!  However, he is not a big breakfast person, doesn't like milk or cereal or eggs, so I have to be a bit more creative.

He does have a habit of going to the cookie jar on his way out the door and grabbing a cookie (or three) but I was aiming for something a little more filling.  Enter these chocolate chip muffins.  While I am sure they are not the healthiest breakfast item out there, they are a good something to have to start your day and the added chocolate chips make them sweet and make my husband willing to eat them.  I hope you enjoy them as well!

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Recipe adapted from Creative Savings

Ingredients:

•  1 egg
• 1 cup sour cream (8 oz)
• 5 TBSP butter (melted)
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 3/4 tsp baking soda
• 3/4 tsp baking powder
• 1 cup chocolate chips (or mini chips)

Directions:

In a bowl, mix the wet ingredients.  Stir in dry ingredients until just blended - no not over mix.  Finally fold in chocolate chips.  Place paper liners in muffin tin and fill 3/4 full with mix.  Bake at 350 degrees for 18-20 minutes - test center of larger muffin with a toothpick.  Muffins are done when toothpick comes out clean.  Let cool.
These also freeze well and can be re-heated in the microwave for 10-15 seconds.

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Chewy Sugar Cookies

Ahhh March!  So happy you have arrived (and finally brought some warmer weather!)  So glad that spring is on the way?  Did you enjoy the month of letter's post during February?  I hope so!  I know I missed some posts here and there, but I did successfully mail at least one letter each day in February - I was pretty impressed with myself and happy to have me my goal!  Now we are back to our regularly scheduled Peanut Life Adventures posts.  Time for a new recipe on Monday!  Let's start the week off right!

No doubt about it, I love sugar cookies.  Add a little bit of frosting and you have my perfect cookie.  Sugar cookies have always been my favorite.  I like a nice soft sugar cookie - just barely cooked.  I don't like thin and crispy cookies, but rather a chewy cookie that melts in your mouth.  I'm still on the hunt for the "perfect" cookie (and frosting), so if you have any suggestions, send them my way!
In my hunt for my definition of the perfect cookie, I stumbled upon these chewy sugar cookies with a light frosting glaze - definitely worth a try!  And they didn't disappoint!  They were delicious and lived up to their name - nice soft and chewy!

Chewy Sugar Cookies
Recipe adapted from Lil'Luna

Ingredients:

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 2 TBSP shortening (I used Crisco)
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 1 egg
• 1 TBSP light corn syrup
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda

Directions:

Using a stand mixer, cream the butter, sugar, shortening, and salt together.  Add in the egg, corn syrup, and vanilla and beat well.  Add in the dry ingredients.  Using a cookie scoop, drop balls of dough onto a cookie sheet covered with parchment paper or silicone baking mat.  Bake for 11 - 13 minutes.  Remove and let cool on a wire rack.  While cookies are cooling, mix the frosting.  

For the frosting, mix 1 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 teaspoon vanilla, and 1 1/2 Tablespoons of milk (more or less depending on what consistency you want).  Tint with food coloring if desired.  Drizzle frosting over slightly warm cookies, add sprinkles if desired. 

Enjoy!

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Linking up at some of these great parties!

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