Abc muffins (apple, banana, carrot)

I grew up on these muffins. So yummy and healthy too.

1 cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 cup bran
2 beaten eggs
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil (I use 1/4 cup applesauce, 1/4 cup oil)
1 cup grated apple ( 1 apple)
1 cup mashed banana
1 1/2 cup grated carrots

Combine dry ingredients. In separate bowl mix eggs, sugar, and oil. Stir into dry ingredients. Add apple, banana, and carrots. Stir well. Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.

MIA

sorry gang, i've been MIA from this blog for awhile. mainly because i haven't made anything noteworthy is sometime to be honest. but i have a gooder for you tonite! i actually can't believe i haven't posted this yet because it is my go-to recipe this winter, it's super easy, i make it once every 2 weeks at least, and if i ever ask Dick what he wants me to make for dinner he says...stroganoff :) So here you go, it's from the best bites cookbook, but not on their blog. i make it basically true-to recipe except for the sour cream, i only use about a 1/4 C not 1/2 C...but thats just to my liking. anyways, its a good one to try in this deep freeze, warm, and garlicy, and delish!

Beef Stroganoff

1 pound top sirloin or tenderloin steak (About 2 or 3 good sized steaks)

1/2 tsp salt

1/4 tsp black pepper

6 Tbsp butter, divided

1 reg. pkg mushrooms sliced(It calls for cremini mushrooms which I like, but reg. ones are fine)

3/4 C diced onion(1 small onion)

4 cloves garlic, minced

3/4 C warm water

1tsp beef bouillon, or 1 cube

2 Tbsp flour

2 tsp Worchestershire sauce

1/2 C of sour cream ( i use 1/4 C or so)

1 Pkg Egg noodles

1. Slice steak into thin strips about 1/4 inch think. sprinkle generously with salt and pepper and set aside

2. Melt 2 T butter in a large skillet over med. heat and add onions and garlic. sautee for a couple min, then throw another 2 T of butter and sliced mushrooms. continue to saute for 3 or 4 min until mushrooms and onions are tender. Remove everything from the pan, and set aside.

3. Slightly increase heat and melt 2 T butter in the pan. add beef and saute, stirring, for 3-5 min, or until no longer pink

4. While beef is cooking, whisk water, bouillon, flour and worchestershire sauce together until smooth. add this mixture to the beef and return mushroom mixture to the pan as well. bring the sauce to a simmer and cook for 1-2 min to thicken. Remove pan from heat and stir in sour cream. Add additional salt and pepper to taste. Serve over egg noodles, or white rice.( We do egg noddles for sure)

hope that makes up for my lack of contribution:)

Smoothies Rock!

I LOVE a good smoothie. Any time of the day, and any day of the year. Truth: I make them... a lot. Maybe too much. Here are two of my FAVORITE recipes.

a classic..
Orange Julius

• ¾ cup frozen orange juice concentrate
• 2 cups milk
• ½ cup sugar or splenda
• 1 tsp vanilla (make sure it's the real good stuff from Mexico... cue mouth watering... AHHH I LOVE IT!)
• 1 whole tray of icecubes

Put all ingredients into blender, and blend until all icecubes are completely crushed. Then.. gulp it like crazy! It totally tastes like orange creamsicles. YUM!

Makes 6 cups!

Berry-Orange Smoothie
(This is just a "berrified" version of the beloved orange julius. I kind of just throw it together, so I don't really have measurements. Adjust to your liking!)

• 2-ish cups frozen mixed berries (or frozen raspberries and blueberries- whatevs)
• 1 - 2 cups milk (depending on how thick you like it- start out with less, and add more if needed)
• ⅛ - ¼ cup sugar or splenda
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 - 3 spoonfulls frozen orange juice concentrate!!!! Yum...

Put all ingredients into blender, and blend until smooth. Then, once again.. gulp it like crazy! The hint of orange makes my taste buds smile.

Makes 2-ish cups!