Easy Mini Pizzas

Mini Pizzas are one of my all time favorite quick dinners to make.I could eat a whole pan to myself! I used to make them with english muffins but recently my father-in-law told me of a different way of making them..Grands Jumbo Buttermilk bicuits! They turned out amazing and we will no longer be using english muffins for this recipe. :)

Easy Mini Pizzas

One package Grands Jumbo Buttermilk Biscuits[Makes 8 pizzas]
1 jar pizza sauce
Shredded cheese
Pizza toppings of your choice.[I used chopped olives and pepperoni.You can buy mini pepperoni but since I already had a package of regular size in the fridge I just cut it up.]

Heat oven to 375 degrees.
Flatten each biscuit dough with hands and place on ungreased cookie sheet.
Layer pizza sauce,cheese and toppings.
Cook for 10-12 minutes.Let cool and enjoy!

Banana Bread

I love love love banana bread.Especially on cold Fall/Winter mornings.So yummy hot out of the oven with melted butter on top.My mouth is watering just thinking of it.I had to experiment with several recipes for banana bread before I found one I liked.I don't think there is a better way to use up over ripe bananas!

Stephanie's Banana Bread

3-4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted butter
1 cup sugar
1 egg
1 tsp vanilla
Pinch of salt
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour
Walnuts[optional]

Preheat oven to 350

Mix butter into mashed bananas.Stir in sugar,egg,and vanilla.Add baking soda and salt.Mix in flour.
Pour into greased bread pan and bake for 1 hour.

Remove from oven and let cool.

Taking on Pies

I started cooking around the age of ten.I am now 24 and during those 14 years I had never once made a pie.They terrified me! I always thought they were hard to make.Well I met my husband in the Summer of 2008..and learned he was a pie man.We've been together for almost 4 years now..I'd cooked him everything..but his favorite dessert..apple pie.Until a couple months ago that is.We moved into a house with a huge,beautiful kitchen.I decided that if I couldn't make a pie in an awesome kitchen like that,then I never would be able to.So I got my grandmother-in-law's pie crust recipe and set to it.It was extra special because Rob helped me.I made the crust and mixed the apple seaonings,he peeled and cut all the apples for me.It was so much fun! I couldn't believe how easy it was..and why I had waited so long to try it! My first one turned out good..tasted great,the crust on the top was a little thick though.Since then I have gotten the hang of it and it's one of my favorite things to make.I love being able to put a plate of fresh hot apple pie that came from my kitchen in front of my husband. :)

Stephanie's Apple Pie

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

Apple Filling
8 apples[of your choice]peeled and cut into 3/8-inch slices
1/4 tsp salt
1/2 cup sugar
2 tbsp all purpose flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
2 tbsp unsalted butter

In a large mixing bowl mix sugar,salt,flour and cinnamon to combine.Add apples and toss.Make sure all the apples are coated in mixture.

Grandma's Pie Crust
3 cups flour
1 1/3 cups shortening
1 tsp salt
1 egg
water

Mix flour,shortening and salt.Add eggs.Then add just enough water to make a dough.Cut in half.

Roll one half of the dough out and line your pie plate.Add apple filling.Dot the fruit mixture with butter.Then cover the top of the pie with secong half of dough.Seal edges and cut vents in top of crust.

Place the pie plate on a cookie sheet.Bake on lowest shelf in oven for 55-65 minutes,or until golden brown and the liquid in filling is bubbling.

Remove and let cool.

Valentine's Day Goodies

Mmm Valentine's Day is one of my favorite times to bake! All the pink[my favorite color] and red..hearts and sprinkles! I made two batches of cupcakes this year..this is what I call the 'Sweatheart Cupcake'.Made with my yellow cupcake recipe and strawberry icing,pink sprinkles and candy hearts!

These are the second batch..I call these 'Red Hot Heart Cupcakes'.Also made with my yellow cupcake recipe..then topped with cream cheese icing,red hot candies and red sprinkles!

And what Valentine's Day would be complete without heart shaped sugar cookies??? I had so much fun making these..can't wait to deliver them!

Stephanie's Cupcakes

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour
1 1/3 cups sugar
3 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 cup shortening
1 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 large eggs

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.Line cupcake pans with paper liners.

Combine flour,sugar,baking powder, and salt in a large mixing bowl.

Add shortening,milk,and vanilla.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape side of bowl with spatula.

Add eggs to mixture.Beat for 1 minute on medium speed.Scrape bowl again.Beat on high speed for 1 minute 30 seconds until well mixed.

Spoon cupcake batter into paper liners until 1/2 to 2/3 full.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.

Cool 5 minutes in pans then remove and place on a wire rack to cool completely.