Wednesday, August 11, 2010

Kona Inn Banana Bread {Muffins}

This is my favorite banana bread recipe. And like many favorite recipes, it is one my mom always made, and now I always make. I almost always turn this one into muffins. I love this banana bread recipe because it is pretty much "fail proof" and if you love banana bread, this one is really really good! Plus it is perfect for kids- and my kids eat this right up.  The changes I often make, including how to make this into muffins, are noted at the end.




Kona Inn Banana Bread { +muffins}

2 cups sugar


1 cup shortening


6 ripe bananas, mashed


4 eggs, well beaten


2 ½ cups flour


1 tsp. Salt


2 tsp. Baking soda






Cream together sugar and shortening. Add mashed bananas and well beaten eggs. Sift flour, salt, baking soda together and add. Blend the wet and dry ingredients. Don’t overmix. Bake in 2 well-greased and floured loaf pans at 350 for 45-50 minutes. You can add nuts, raisins, chocolate chips if desired.
For Muffins: Spray or grease muffin tins and fill with batter. For normal sized muffins, bake at 350 Degrees F for about 20-25 minutes.

Other tips/changes for this recipe:

 I substitute applesauce for the shortening, and add ½ wheat flour sometimes. I also add about a cup or two of oats too. I f you don’t have enough bananas, it still works. I have made these with 4 bananas or all 6.  I usually peel and freeze the really ripe bananas and smash those up. It is best to freeze them PEELED. I have also added pineapple to this when I did not have enough bananas and it was still really good. Another substitution I have done is using flax seed meal for the eggs.  You can make these as healthy or as unhealthy as you want, and they always turn out great! If you don't want as strong of a banana flavor, use one or two less bananas. However you make these, I think they are wonderful :)




Enjoy!

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Tuesday, August 10, 2010

Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins {with orange cream cheese frosting}

This recipe comes from my friend JoAnne. She has the best muffin recipes!
This one is SO DELICIOUS! If you don't like cranberries, you could leave them out or substitute something else. I added the frosting- and --whoa-- this could be dessert- or breakfast....or a snack...or a meal. :)
Whatever you want...they are just too too good.

Cranberry Oatmeal Muffins
(I double this recipe)
1 cup oats
1 cup vanilla yogurt-BUT you can use any flavor and it works great
1 cup flour
1 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 cup applesauce
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1 egg
3/4 cup dried cranberries (crasins)
2 tsp. grated orange peel
TIP: when you peel an orange, throw the peel in the freezer in a zip-lock baggie, and then you can use it later for recipes like this. (got that from the Food Network- and it is a great tip!)


Preheat oven to 400 degrees F. Soak oats in yogurt for about 15 minutes. Sift dry ingredients and add oat mixture. In a separate bowl combine egg, applesauce, and sugars. Beat until well blended. Fold in dry ingredients. Add orange peel (grated) and cranberries (crasins). Stir gently until combined. Bake in greased muffin tins for 20 minutes.


Optional Cream Cheese Orange Frosting

1  4 oz. portion reduced-fat Cream Cheese (1/2 a regular package)
1/4 cup butter or margarine softened (but I think I just used a little more cream cheese)
2 TBSP frozen orange juice concentrate
1 1/2 cups Powdered Sugar
1/8 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. vanilla

** I never follow a frosting recipe exactly- so this may need adjustments- w/ sugar or cream cheese. --- That is how I do it. :)


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Monday, August 9, 2010

Let's Hear it for Homemade Muffins


We eat a lot of muffins around here. And with school starting, muffins are the perfect food.
Why?
Well...IF you make them there are so many reasons why muffins are the best:
*You can eat them on the go
*You can add "healthy" ingredients- whole wheat flour, flax seed, fruit
*They freeze well
*They are portable
*They taste delicious!
*They can be good for you
*Kids love them
*Kids can help make them
*The possibilities are endless!

So this next week, I am going to share some of my Favorite muffin recipes with you!
And...If I can figure out how to use Mr. Linky- or someone can please help this non-computer savvy mom-
I will put a linky thingy where you can link your favorite muffin recipe from your blog!
Hopefully we'll have a bunch of great muffin recipes in the end!

And to kick it off- go grab this great book off your shelf and read it to your little ones:


Happy Baking!
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Friday, August 6, 2010

Quiltstory Feature + Robot Bibs

Have you heard of Quiltstory? It is an adorable blog created by two sisters, Heather and Megan. A few months ago, they contacted me about featuring my Mr. Roboto Quilt. And although there are quilters out there who are much more "skilled" than I am, and much more creative and talented, they asked to feature mine. (Although  my inspiration including this quilt is all due to Amy from Diary of a Quilter. :) )



Fresh Poppy Design
 
You can read the story and see the quilt again, here.
 
And because I LOVED this Mr. Roboto fabric, I used every last scrap of it (except for a few kits I am still putting together-which I really need to finish) to make these bibs a few months ago. My big growing boy was in need of more baby bibs. 
 




Happy Weekend!
Make sure you check out all the beautiful quilts on Quiltstory.

 
Now I think I'll try to actually do some sewing this weekend--- I could use a little "down time." :)
 



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Monday, August 2, 2010

What the Cuteness....Round-up Kids + Felt

There is so much cute stuff out there... I almost can't stand it!
So here are a few things I have found out there for you to sneak a peek at....

Girl's Felt Play Mat- from a girl and a glue gun
And here is her boy's felt play mat:

Hello..cuteness! I have one in the works- that I am still working on...but then I saw this and thought- dang- this is WAY cuter!
Total motivation to get mine finished!

Speaking of felt, you must check out this Felt Wall Globe- so cute and educational at the same time!

In case you missed this cute color book, from Everyday Celebrations, I thought I'd share that cuteness too.
Lucky for me, I got one of her cute kits in the mail a few months ago...now to find the time to make my own color book!

This adorable baby mobile- spoke to me- as I LOVE polka dots and color and have had one of these in the back of mind for a while now...
adorable!





And if you did not see Abby's cute felt advent calendar last year, you need to see it! Another thing I'm loving... still.

So many cute things to make, and so little time lately.
What cute things have you seen out there?


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Thursday, July 29, 2010

Feature Friday: Alison from Oopsey Daisy

I am so excited to feature Alison from Oopsey Daisy today! She has an adorable blog with darling projects....and since she was a 1st grade teacher once, and so was I... I feel a "crafty teacher" connection...:) Here she is....

I am so excited to be a guest today on Sharla's amazing blog!!  Sharla's projects always inspire me, and I love that she shares so many ideas for mom's of little boys!  I have been a long-time follower of My Little Gems!

I am Alison, the crazy lady behind Oopsey Daisy.  Once upon a time, I was a first grade teacher.  Now I am a stay-at-home Mom, and I love to make things for the people I love.  This is where I find my inspiration:
I am lucky to be married to a wonderful man who lets me go craft-crazy!  And my 18-month-old Little Man inspires a lot of creativity.  He keeps me insanely busy so I relish any time he's sleeping.  Naptime and bedtime are craft time at my house.

I make lots of messes, pull out lots of stitches, and "Oopsey Daisy" is the name of my game! Here is just a snippet of what you might find on my blog:

Quiet book ideas like this Mr. Potato Head

Fun and festive recipes like these red, white, and blue strawberries (Perfect to celebrate America all month long!)

EASY sewing projects like this denim ruffled table runner




Fun learning activities for kids, like this Old McDonald barn and animals



Simple decor projects like these number placemats

Free printable activities like this Chicka Chicka Boom Boom file folder game (I try to offer a freebie every Friday!)

Fun birthday party ideas like this Cowboy Birthday Party

Did you enjoy your own personal tour?  I hope so!  Oh man, that was fun!  Sharla, thanks a bunch for letting me skip over to your blog for a day.  I hope you will join me for more Oopsey Daisy fun.  Every day is an adventure!  Come by and say hello!  





Make sure to check out Oopsey Daisy for lots of amazing and fun projects! Thanks Alison!

Wednesday, July 28, 2010

Celebrating This

 Many years ago...  THIS happened to my life...











And here we are today 3 children later....and they are my whole life!

I love my husband and children so very much! :)
It's only going to get better from here!



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