Banana bread!

Just made this, and it turned out really well. Didn't actually measure the bananas, but there were 4. Not as overripe as I usually use (a day in the freezer would have been better, next time!), but it turned out well. Very moist. Next time, though, I plan to use my (not actually secret) secret ingredient: a Sonic Death Coffee.

One to two tablespoons of instant coffee,, mixed in as little boiling water as needed to dissolve it. Add that to the batter at the end, mix it in, then pour the batter into the bread pan and bake.

I use a Sonic Death Coffee whenever a recipe calls for an espresso or strong coffee to be added. Here, it really enhances the flavour of the banana bread, and it's delicious.

Bread is excellent with peanut butter.

Coffee and banana bread… what could go wrong >D

If I wasn't trying to not eat ALL THE CARBS I would be making that tonight :(

So I accidentally made some really good chicken for dinner the other night, lol.  I looked at a recipe, and decided to make it better.  Take about a pound of chicken, and cut it into large chunks.  I browned it in a pan with some olive oil until golden on both sides.  I then added a bottle of abbey ale, about a 1/4 cup of honey, and 1/3 cup of soy sauce.  I let it simmer in the pan for a good half hour, flipping the chicken over a couple times.  I then took the chicken out of the pan, and simmered the sauce down a bit to put it over rice.  Turned out REALLY good.

That sounds amazing @_@ I'm definitely gonna try that since I have a ton of chicken in the freezer

Baked Cream Cheese Spaghetti Casserole!
Preheat 350
12oz spaghetti
28 ounce jar of prepared spaghetti sauce
1 lb lean ground beef
1 tsp italian seasoning
1 clove garlic, minced
8 ounces of cream cheese
1/2 parmesan cheese, grated

skillet - cook your beef through, grain fat (i moved the beef to a taller pan for the next part) add in your sauce. SET ASIDE!
cook your spaghetti. drain and put into another bowl! add your cream cheese, italian seasoning, and minced garlic. stir until cream cheese is melted and spaghetti is coated!

Greease a 9x13" pan! spread a small amount of your meat sauce on the bottom! put the spaghetti in and on top of that put the rest of your meat sauce. Sprinkle the parmesan cheese on top!

bake for 30 minutes, until bubbly!


Italian chicken, Potatoes, and Green bean bake!

3 red potatoes quartered!
2 cans cut green beans
1-1 1/2lb chicken breast (it says 4 but 2 of mine were 1 1/2 lbs xD) 
2 italian dressing seasoning/mix packets (I just sprinkled italian seasoning from the last recipe over it with seasoning mix)
3/4 stick butter, cut into pieces!
pre-heat to 350
line one side with potatoes, one side with green beans, put the chicken in the middle.
Cut the butter up and spread it out over everything.
Sprinkle your seasonings (which ever one you used) over everything.
Cover with foil
Bake for 1 hour!

This is absolutely delicious!!!! as for the casserole I haven't even scooped into it yet :P

drain** rofl

21 Chefs Share Crucial Cooking Tips And Tricks That Everyone Should Know.

These are some very basic cooking tips, and useful for anyone who is interested in improving their skills.

Went looking online for something else to do with pork steaks other than BBQ, and ran across this. It's really good!

http://www.vietworldkitchen.com/blog/2010/06/garlicky-panfried-pork-steaks-recipe-thit-cotlet-chien.html

So I tried something a little different for dinner, and it turned out really good!

http://iowagirleats.com/2014/02/12/chicken-with-cherry-wine-pan-sauce/

I served it with baked brown rice and salad.  Definitely one to try if you're in the mood for something different.

And again, I accidentally created something amazing.  We had a potluck at work, and I decided to make potato casserole.  It's super simple, and easy to make ahead of time.  Here ya go!

Charlotte's Potato Casserole
1 Bag tater tots
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoon flour
1 3 oz bag of bacon pieces (real bacon!)
3 cups milk
1 cup shredded cheddar cheese

1. Leave tater tots out to thaw.
2. Melt butter in a non-stick pot over medium high heat.  Add bacon and cook for about a minute.
3. Add in flour, and stir continuously for about a minute.
4. Add the milk a cup at a time until the sauce is the desired consistency, and stir in half the cheddar cheese.
5. Taste sauce for salt and pepper, suggested add ins are Tabasco, or garlic powder.
6. Stir in the thawed tater tots until well mixed.
7. Pour into either a foil lined baking pan, or a lined slow cooker, and top with remaining cheese.  Bake in the oven at 375 for 1 hour, or in the slow cooker on high for about 3 hours.