Bacon, egg and cheese croissant ring

Brace yourselves...this is going to knock your socks off.  Croissants, scrambled eggs, melted cheese and BACON!  What could be better?

We have several steps to get through, but I promise it's worth it.

First, preheat your oven to 350.

Next scramble 6 eggs in a bowl and cook them in a frying pan.  I let them a little under cooked since they will continue to cook in the oven.

Then, you want to get your croissants out of the tube and arrange them in a little starburst pattern like this.

 Now, take your scrambled eggs and spoon them around the circle made by your croissant starburst.

After you have done this, add shredded cheese of your choice on top of the scrambled eggs.

I forgot to take a picture of this step; but in this family it's the most important.....add BACON!  I used bacon bits (or as the comedian, Jim Gaffigan, says...the fairy dust of food).  After you add the bacon, fold the croissant points in to form a ring.

Now it's time to put it in the oven.  Let it bake for about 12-15 minutes, or until your croissants are golden brown.  Again, I was not fast enough with the camera.  As soon as I took it out of the oven, my family jumped on it and began to devour it.  I was lucky to get a picture of at least part of it.  Next time, I must remember to make 2.  

Not your average peanut butter cookie

I might have mentioned earlier that I have a bit of an addiction to peanut butter.  When I came across this recipe, I thought it was too good to be true.  It was not.  The cookies are soft but have a crunch on the outside.  Mine were a hair too dry so I will have to make a minor adjustment, but it did not keep me from eating some.

Preheat your oven to 350 F.

List of ingredients:
1 boxed cake mix - yellow
1/2 cup oil (I used extra virgin olive oil)
1 cup peanut butter
2 eggs

That's it!  I literally just threw everything into the bowl and started mixing.  Once it began to get to get stiff, I abandoned my fork and finished mixing with my hands.  It will form a ball...

Once you get the batter all mixed up, form small balls and place on a cookie sheet.  I sprayed my cookie sheet very lightly with non-stick spray.  The batter is thick, so it did not run.

After I had all the little dough balls on the cookie tray, I flattened them out a bit.  Again, I just used my hands to do this.  

Put the cookie tray in the oven and bake for about 6-8 minutes.  You may need to play with this.  My oven runs a bit hot.  When the cookies begin to brown around the edges, remove them from the oven.  Use a clean fork to make the criss-cross pattern and then onto the cooling rack.

If you can wait until the cool...do that.  Otherwise, pop one in your mouth and enjoy!

Banana Bread Brownie/Cake

Oh my how time flies!  It has been a long time since I've posted anything here.  I saw a recipe similar to this on Pinterest.  I made it this morning, and it is delicious!

But WAIT!  Is this bread, brownies or cake?  Yes, yes and yes.

Here's what you will need.  Make sure you get everything together before you start!

1-1/2 c. sugar

1 c. sour cream

1/2 c. butter, softened

2 eggs

1-3/4 (3 or 4) ripe bananas, mashed

2 tsp. vanilla extract

2 c. all purpose flour

                                                     1 tsp. baking soda

                                                 3/4 tsp. salt

                                                   1/2 c. chopped walnuts (optional)

                                                     Frosting:

                                                   1/2 c. butter

                                                   4 c. powdered sugar

                                                 1-1/2 tsp. vanilla extract

                                                   3 tbsp. milk

Step 1:  Preheat the oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit.

Step 2:  Grease and flour (or just use Baker's Joy like I did) a 15 x 10 jelly roll pan or a 13 x 9 pan (I did the 13 x 9 because my guys like thicker brownies).  

Step 3:  Peel bananas, break into pieces in a bowl.  Add 2 tsp vanilla extract.  Mash banana and vanilla together.

Step 4:  In a large bowl, combine sugar, sour cream, butter and eggs until creamy.  Add the banana mixture from step #3 and mix.  Now, add the flour, baking soda, salt and mix for 1 minute.  

Step 5:  This is optional.  My guys are allergic to walnuts, so I left those out.  However, if you are a fan, stir them in the batter.

Step 6:  Spread the batter evenly into the pan.  Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden brown.  If you are using a smaller pan for thicker "brownies" add about 10 minutes.

Step 7:  Make the glaze/frosting:  In a large saucepan over medium heat, melt butter.  Bring this to a boil and continue until the butter has turned slightly brown.  Remove from heat.  Now add the powdered sugar, milk and vanilla.  Whisk together until smooth.  The consistency should be thinner than buttercream but thicker than a ganache or glaze.  You want to time this step to coordinate warm glaze/frosting with warm brownies.  Spread the glaze over the brownies while they are still warm.

Step 8:  If you can, wait until they cool and EAT!