Banana Bread

1/2 c. butter
1 1/4 c. sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon baking soda
4 tablespoon sour cream
3 bananas, mashed
1 1/2 c. cake flour
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon vanilla

Preheat oven to 350
Cream butter and sugar, add eggs very lightly beaten, and the soda dissolved in the sour cream. Beat well; then add bananas, flour, salt and vanilla.   Mix well.
Bake in well greased and floured 8 inch square or 9 inch tube pane for 35-45 minutes.

*This is the original banana bread I make from "The Settlement Cook Book" that I have made for many years.  Nuts optional.

Pumpkin Bread with Mini Chocolate Chips....YUMMY

3 1/2 c. all purpose flour
3 c. sugar
2 t. baking soda
2 tsp cinnamon
4 eggs
1 can pumpkin ( not filling)
1 c oil
1 c water
1 pack mini chocolate chips

bake at 350 for 60-70 minutes. 

yields 2  9 inch loaf pans...plus some mini muffins :)

Butter aka Butta

When I was in second grade (a very long time ago) I remember a lady coming into class and making butter right in the classroom.  I still remember it as the best tasting butter I ever had!!  Today I found this recipe at www.southernplate.com and it was exactly like the childhood memory in my mind.  I can't wait to try it.
I promise to get back to some of my own recipes soon, but I have been in a rut and looking for new things myself lately.  I hope you will try the butter yourself or with your kids.

Making Butter At Home (Fun activity for all ages!)

• Whipping Cream
• Mason Jar
• Salt (optional)

Fill jar 1/2 to 3/4 full with cream. Place lid on tightly. Shake for ten to thirty minutes, or until you hear solids shaking around and can see through the glass that the solids have separated from liquid (read up in post for more details of what the shaking stages will be like). Pour into colander to separate liquid from butter. Place butter in a ramekin or bowl and stir in salt, if desired. Refrigerate until hardened. Enjoy!
(photo and recipe from www.southernplate.com - she has a great cookbook out too!!!)

Meal Ideas - Breakfast Edition

Special:
French toast
waffles / pancakes
Sausage gravy / biscuits
Ham biscuits
Blueberry muffins or braid
Cinnamon rolls / orange rolls
Breakfast casserole

Quick / Easy:
oatmeal
grits
eggs
bagels or breakfast sandwich
pop-tarts / toaster strudel
yogurt
fruit
waffle / toaster stix
gravy
bacon / sausage / sausage links /  country ham /bologna
cereal - frosted flakes, apple jacks, mini wheats, raisin bran, cheerios, cinnamon toast crunch

All Season Bread

3 c. flour
2 t. soda
1 t. baking powder
1 1/2 t. cinnamon
3 eggs
2 c. sugar
3/4 c. oil
2 t. vanilla
8 oz crushed pineapple
Add 2 cups seasonal fruit (blueberries, strawberries,etc.)

Combine flour, soda, salt, baking powder, cinnamon and set aside. Beat eggs lightly in large mixing bowl and add sugar, vanilla, oil, and beat until creamy. Drain pineapple, reserving juice and stir in pineapple and fruit. Add dry ingredients. Spoon batter into 2 well greased and floured 9X5 pans. Bake 350 for 1 hr. Cool 10 minutes.