The Beginning!

My 1st blog! I have mentioned to many of you that this was an idea of mine to keep us in touch and drooling. I have had a curious obsession and interest in cooking since I was young and I sure do like to eat (especially when its made for me). This Blog is for OUR ideas and creations in the kitchen. I would like a combined effort from all of you family and friends to add your culinary ups and downs. Share your advice, Play with your food, and then BLOG! Blogging is a horrible word so think of it as food critiquing or a food journal. As soon as we get enough people using it, your recipe book will be full. You will also have a easier time deciding what to make throughout the week. The average American spends $163.5 a week on food. The reason why is because they just pick items and do not plan. This blog will hopefully help you plan your recipes for the week and also inspire us all to try what you made. My wife and I each week switch off who is cooking and try different recipes from various cookbooks. We both have very distinct and different palates, her's is simple with many flavors and usually vegetarian, while mine leans towards hearty and homestyle. There are many types of palates out there especially in our circles of friends and family. Sweet to Sour, Light to Heavy, European to Asian, Winter to Summer, Party or Dinner for One. This Blog will hopefully bring ideas and recipes from all these palates and let us explorer and adventure. This blog is mainly for me because I miss all of you and want to hear from you but I thought this idea would be a great experience. Hope to hear and see things from all of you!

Love,
Chad..der Box

Wednesday, April 28, 2010

Banana Muffins












First blog post of my life. (Except for that thing Xanga we did 100 years ago before the word "blog" was invented.) Anyway- here is a tasty recipe next time your bananas turn brown. (The ones I used were only semi-brown, and therefore we had chunky banana muffins, but anyway...)
Ingredients
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 large ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, lightly beaten
1/2 cup butter or margarine, melted

TOPPING:
1/3 cup packed brown sugar
1 tablespoon all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon cold butter

Directions

  1. In a large bowl, combine dry ingredients.
  2. Combine bananas, sugar, egg and butter; mix well.
  3. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fill greased or paper-lined muffin cups three-fourths full.
  4. Combine the first three topping ingredients; cut in butter until crumbly.
  5. Sprinkle over muffins.
  6. Bake at 375 degrees for 18-20 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
If you are bored with generic recipes like I was, you can also add a bit of vanilla, cinnamon, or anything else you think will taste good. That's what I did, and rave reviews followed.