Peanut Butter Banana Bites

This is Pinterest inspired. I saw this idea quite a while ago and today was the day. I had some ripe bananas, some extra chocolate (from the chocolate fountain this month), and a desire for something sweet and small.
I was not disappointed that I needed to eat two of these PBBB to get a picture in focus. I put these in the freezer for the chocolate to set, and there they will remain for quick nibbles.

There is no recipe. I simply scooped a bit of peanut butter on banana slices, put them in the freezer while I melted the chocolate in my Wilton pot, and then spooned chocolate on top of each Bite. I let most of the chocolate drip off so the chocolate wouldn't pool around each Bite.

They taste just as you would imagine- simply addictive!

Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce

If you like mustard you'll like this sauce. It's also a tiny bit boozy from the full cup of brandy that gets cooked down in the sauce. This is a Pioneer Woman recipe so she doesn't scrimp on the butter and oil that the chicken gets pan fried in.

Overall, tasty. Especially if you like mustard. I think I already said that?

Click here for the stolen recipe for Chicken with Mustard Cream Sauce.

Better Pie Crust (for Pot Pie)

I'm always looking for a better pie crust. I'm starting to think it's not the recipe but my technique that needs to improve. Well, here's a better crust recipe than the one I've been using. It was definitely flakier! I think baking it longer than usual also helped.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Click here for the stolen recipe for Perfect All-Butter Pie Crust.

 

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Mexican Meatloaf

I know what you're thinking. Meatloaf?! Yes. If done right! This is no beef brick (Kiki :) This is moist (Ana!), flavorful, and comfort food.

Beef, salsa, Mexican blend cheeses, chopped green chiles, onion, etc. I've assembled the entire meatloaf the night before and then left it to my husband to put in the oven for dinner. The benefit of a work-at-home hubby! It's so nice to walk into the house with great smelling food in process!

All that salsa keeps it nice and MOIST.

I THINK this was a Cooking Light recipe. I have my own typed out recipe that I use so I don't remember the source any more. Here is the recipe-

Click here for the recipe.

Buca Pasta

We call this Buca Pasta. We didn't know it by the original name NOR did we ever eat it at the Buca restaurants. It's a copycat recipe that we're always thankful that I ran across quite a few years ago now. I'm shocked that I haven't blogged about it until now. It has been one of my hubby's favorites! It's creamy, flavorful and sinful tasting.

It's not terribly hard to put together but there's chopping and specific ingredients that you must have on hand. I usually have artichoke hearts and baby bottles of dry wine in my pantry though. Each of these baby bottles are about 1 1/2 cups- you only need less than a cup. I have been guilty of sucking on the rest of the bottle (:

A close up to tempt you...

Mmmmm red pepper flakes, cheese, and green onions...

This recipe is NOT for calorie counters.

Click here for the stolen recipe for Buca di Beppo Penne Cardinale.

Chocolate Fountain

When I can I join some of my teacher friends at 12:30 for lunch. We decided today would be the day to break in my chocolate fountain. I received it from my M-O-M for my birthday. Can you believe it took me this long to find an occasion for it??

So everyone brought dippables- we had quite the spread of strawberries, bananas, graham crackers, brownie bites, angel food cake, Oreos, rice krispy bars, and marshmallows. Oh yes. We totally got into this!

This is my friend Ann's plate before all the dippables got to the staff lounge. We are not ashamed to admit that we helped ourselves to second plates (:

Everyone has asked so I'll mention that the chocolate needs to be melted beforehand with a bit of cooking oil so that it remains fluid. It then gets poured into the preheated fountain and then it cascades beautifully in a sinful display of chocolate. I followed the directions that came with the fountain.

Thanks friends for a great festive treat- what a great way to end 2nd trimester!

And yes I am still giggling over the one picture I took of the fountain in action! I think middle schoolers are rubbing off on me!