Simply Scrumptious Baked Bananas

bananas

What You Need:

4 large bananas in the skins

How to Make It:

Preset the oven to 350 degrees and preheat.
Place the bananas, unpeeled into a baking dish.
Bake 18 minutes or until the bananas are soft but not mushy and the peels have darkened.
Allow the bananas to cool enough to handle then split lengthwise in half.

Makes 4 servings

A fruit side dish can’t get any more budget friendly than this one. Sprinkle the bananas with a little cinnamon sugar or brown sugar. For a dessert instead of a side, top these bananas with a warm hot fudge, chocolate syrup or toffee sauce.

Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 18 minutes
Total Time: approximately 23 minutes

Potato Oatmeal Wheat Yeast Rolls

potato-rolls

potato-rollsWhat You Need:

1/2 C potatoes, peeled and cubed
1/2 C quick cooking oats
1/2 C of butter, room temperature and divided
2 (1/4 oz.) pkgs. active dry yeast
1 C of warm water (115 degrees)
2 eggs
2/3 C of sugar
1 t salt
4 C of bread flour, divided
1 C of whole wheat flour

How to Make It:

In a saucepan put the potatoes and just cover with water.
Over high heat bring the water is brought to a brisk boil.
Boil the potatoes until very tender about 8 minutes.
Drain the potatoes saving 3 TBSP of the cooking water.
In a mixing bowl put the oats and add the 3 TBSP of potato water stirring until the mixture is crumbly.
Mash the potatoes in a mixing bowl and add 6 TBSP of the butter
Stir in the oat mixture until blended together.
In a mixing bowl put the yeast and stir in the water until the yeast is dissolved.
Add the eggs, sugar, salt, 2 C of the bread four and the potatoes to the yeast, stirring to mix in well.
The remaining bread flour is added with just enough wheat flour to form stiff dough.
Lightly flour a flat surface and lay the bread dough onto the flour.
The dough is kneaded 6 minutes or until smooth and elastic.
Place the dough into a non metallic bowl that has been well greased.
Coat all sides of the dough with the oil by turning it over once.
Cover with plastic wrap and chill overnight.
The oven is set to preheat to 350 degrees F
Grease two 9 inch round pans.
Put the chilled dough on a lightly floured surface.
Separate the dough into 32 equal size balls.
Place the balls into the round pans with the sides touching.
Bake in the preheated oven 25 minutes or until golden brown.
Put the rolls on wire racks to cool then brush with the remaining butter.

Makes 32 rolls

The tops of these rolls can be sprinkled with garlic butter or cinnamon sugar.

Nutmeg Rice Fritters

fritters

frittersIngredients:

2 C buttermilk pancake mix
1/2 t nutmeg
1/3 C + 1/2 C sugar, divided
1/4 t+ 1 t cinnamon, divided
1 C cooked white rice
1/3 C of water
1 egg, lightly beaten
1 t vanilla extract

How to Cook It:

The oil in a deep fryer is heated to 375 degrees.
In a mixing bowl put the pancake batter.
Stir in the nutmeg, sugar, and cinnamon and blend together well.
Fold in the rice until blended in well.
Add the water, egg and vanilla and mix just until moistened and thick.
Drop the batter by spoonfuls into the hot oil and fry 3 minutes or until golden brown, turning for even browning.
Place the fritters on paper towel to drain before serving.

Sprinkle warm fritters with powdered sugar or cinnamon sugar. Cinnamon sugar topping is made with 3 parts sugar and 1 part cinnamon and blended together. These fritters can be frozen and then reheated in the microwave. They will stay fresh for 1 month in the freezer.

Makes 32 fritters

Preparation Time: approximately 5 minutes
Cooking Time: approximately 2 minutes per batch
Total Time: approximately 7 minutes