Banana Peanut Butter Smoothie

Smoothies are so yummy and this will definitely hit the spot when you are hungry after a long day or when you have finished a workout. It is my go to snack between meals or on a hot summer day.

I have been making these smoothies for ever, when ever I go out for a run I always whip up one of these when I come back. They make you feel like you just have eaten a big slice of banana bread. And not only is this a heathy treat, but it is super simple as well!

Yields: 2 servings

Prep time: 1 minute

Total time: 2 minutes

Ingredients

• 1 banana
• 1  cup milk
• 6 ice cubes
• 2 tablespoons peanut butter

Directions

1. Put all of the ingredients in the blender.

2. Shut the lid on top and blend for 1 minute. 

3. Serve into 2 glasses and enjoy!

The Perfect Banana Bread

To find a good banana bread recipe is like finding a diamond in a hay stack. It takes a lot of experimenting to find the perfect one. This is by far the best banana bread I have ever made.

For me banana bread is a summer thing. I would eat it a lot when my family would go to our cottage in the summer and in the morning we would have this for breakfast. But I think that banana bread should be a year round thing. Especially after I tried this recipe! 

Yields: 1 loaf

Prep time: 8 minutes

Total time: 1 hour

Ingredients

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, beaten
4 bananas crushed
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon vanilla

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F and spray a loaf pan with cooking spray and then line with parchment paper.  

2. Cream together butter and sugar with your electric mixer. Use a blender to mash the banana if it isn't fully ripe yet. Add eggs, vanilla and banana. Mix until combined.

3. In separate bowl combine flour, baking soda and salt. Turn mixer to low and gradually mix in dry ingredients. Try not to over mix or it will make the loaf tough.

4. Pour into lined loaf pan and bake for 70 minutes or until a knife or skewer comes out dry. Cool completely and serve.  

Originally from food.com 

Peanut Butter Cookies

If you are looking for a fast cookie that never fails to impress then you have found it. Peanut butter cookies can sometimes be too hard but these ones are just right! 

 This weekend I didn't have as much homework as I usually do, so I planned to meet up with two friends to go to the art gallery! I woke up late and only had an hour to get ready, but I still really wanted to bake something to take along for the drive. Since I only had an hour before they came to pick me up, I decided to try these cookies out. They were super fast and both of my friends ended up asking me for the recipe because they both liked them so much. I am not sure which was better, the cookies or the art show. 

Yields: 4 dozen

Prep time: 10 minutes

Total time: 30 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup peanut butter
• 1/2 cup butter, softened
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 1 egg
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt 
• 1-1/4 cups all-purpose flour

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 375F and line two cookie sheets with parchment paper.

2. Put the peanut butter and butter in the bowl of your electric mixer. Beat until smooth on medium for about 1 Minute. Stop and scrape bowl. Add the sugars, egg and vanilla. Reduce the mixer speed to medium-low and mix for 1 minute. Stop and scrap bowl.

3. Turn the mixer on to stir and add the rest of the dry ingredients into the mixture. Turn back to medium-low and mix for 30 seconds.

4. Roll the cookie dough into 1-inch balls. Place 12 balls on a sheet at a time. Press down the cookies with your thumb or a fork. (I used a fork.)

5. Bake for 10-12 minutes or until the cookies are golden brown. Remove the cookies from the sheet immediately and let them cool.

This recipe is originally from the KitchenAid Best-Loved Recipes cookbook.

When Life Gives You Lemons... Make Lemon Bars

Not only are lemon bars easy but everybody remembers having them at some point in their childhood. It was in the 1970's that everybody really got bitten by the lemon bar bug. They were everywhere (so my mother tells me). The memorable combination of heart warming short bread and sweet lemon curd on top is something you can't easily forget.

Ever since I was young, lemon bars were the basic essential to any tea party I went to! Whether it be with my great aunts or my stuffed animals, lemon bars have been a big part of it. These sweet treats hold a special place in everyones heart! This is why I love making them. 

Yields: 16 squares
Prep time: 15 minutes
Bake time: 35 minutes

Ingredients

For the Crust
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup all-purpose flour
1/4 heaping cup confectioners sugar
1 tablespoon cornstarch
Pinch of salt, optional

For the Filling
2 large eggs
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup lemon juice (about 2 medium size lemons)
2 tablespoon milk
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 tablespoon all-purpose flour
2 teaspoon lemon zest
Confectioners sugar, for dusting

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350F. Line an 8-by-8-inch pan with aluminum foil, spray with cooking spray and set aside.

2. Start with the crust. In a large bowl, combine all the crust ingredients and add the butter. Mix until the mixture looks crumbly. You can use a spoon or fork or even your hands for this.

3. Transfer the crust mixture into the pan and press down with your fingers to make an even crust. Make 12 pokes in the crust with a fork to prevent air bubbles. Bake for 12 - 15 minutes.

4. While the crust is in the oven you can start the filling. In      a large bowl, combine the sugar, lemon juice, eggs, milk and vanilla. Whisk until smooth. Add the flour then mix until the the lumps are evenly combined. Last whisk in the lemon zest.

5. Bake for 15 - 20 minutes. You know it is done when it is no longer runny and firm to the touch. Remove from oven.

6. Let the bars cool at room temperature for 10 minutes and then cover pan and refrigerate for 1 hour.

7. When the bars are cool, you can dust some confectioners sugar on the top.

8. Carefully lift the foil out of the pan and cut into 16 squares. Enjoy :) 

Sweet Raspberry Sauce

This Raspberry balsamic reduction works great with puddings, chocolate cakes and Ice cream. Serve it warm or cold. It's hard to forget this one!!!

When I was making a Chocolate pudding one day I decided to make this to pour on top. I wasn't so sure if it would work at first because I was going off of pure experimentation, and it turned out pretty good. 

Yields: 1/2 cup of sauce
Prep time: 1 minute
cook time: 4 minutes
Total time: 1 minute

Ingredients
1/2 cup frozen raspberries
1/2 tablespoon balsamic vinegar
3 tsp sugar

Directions
1. Combine all of the ingredients in to the pot you will be using.
2. Cook on medium low heat for 4 minutes.
3. Let cool or serve warm.
4. Pair with your favourite dessert, how about this Rich Chocolate Pudding!

Rich Chocolate Pudding (microwave)

This tasty pudding is quick and easy. It tastes great and will never let you down. 

 I made this for my family one night, we had all decided on something chocolaty. So I made this, it was a big hit and it took no time at all! It's smooth  and delicious and very rich! The perfect pudding!

Yields: 4 serving (1/2 cup)
Prep time: 2 minutes
Total time: 6 minutes

Ingredients

• 3 tablespoons cornstarch
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 2 cups milk 
• 1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions 

1. Combine cornstarch, sugar and cocoa powder in 4 cup microwave safe glass bowl, whisk together until combined.
2. Add the milk and vanilla and whisk again.
3. Microwave for 2 minutes on high in your microwave then whisk.
4. Microwave again for 1 minute and whisk then another minute and whisk. (add more or take away microwave time depending on the power of your microwave)
5.Pour into 4 serving cups immediately after you take out of the microwave.
6.Top with bananas or other fruit, how about this Sweet Raspberry Sauce!

  Inspired by: http://www.food.com/recipe/super-fast-and-easy-microwave-chocolate-pudding-335601?oc=linkback

Chocolate Salted Almonds

These sweet chocolate covered almonds are a great ice cream topper or a treat on their own. They make a great gift and that kick of salt make them hard to forget.

 I made this dessert out of pure creativity and some leftover chocolate sauce from a macaroon recipe. I had extras on a chocolate drizzle and decided to put it to good use. I was craving some chocolate covered almonds and figured i would make some! I felt like a real chocolatier when i was making these, even though they were super duper simple!

Yields: 2 dozen
Prep time: 5 minutes
Total time: 20 minutes

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup of semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1/2 tablespoon of canola or vegetable oil
• Cracked sea salt 
• Your favourite vanilla ice cream

Note: If you want to make more or less of the sauce you can adjust the ratios of the chocolate chips and oil to fit the amount of sauce that you need.

Directions

1. Combine the chocolate chips and oil in a microwave safe bowl
microwave for 3 sets of 20 second intervals. Stirring in between intervals.

2. Take the almonds and roll them in the bowl. Take out and rest on a sheet of wax paper on a plate.

3. Crack a small amount of sea salt on the tops of the chocolate covered almond.

4. Refrigerate for 15 minutes then store in a cool place.

5. Get a scoop of your favourite vanilla ice cream and top it with these delicious treats.