ELVIS COFFEE CAKE

2 cups bisquick
1/2 cup peanut butter
4 tbs butter
2 ripe bananas, smashed
2 eggs
3/4 cup plus 2 tbs brown sugar, separated
1/3 cup milk

GLAZE:

1 tbs peanut butter
2/3 cup 10x sugar
1 tbs water
3 slices bacon

preheat oven to 350 degrees.

add the butter and peanut butter to a medium microwave-safe mixing bowl and heat on HIGH for 30 seconds. stir to combine before adding the bananas, eggs, 3/4 cup brown sugar, and milk. stir to combine before adding the bisquick, then mix until the wet and dry ingredients are well mixed, but don’t overmix.

spoon the batter into a greased 8″ round cake pan and smooth the top with a rubber spatula before scattering over 1 of the 2 tbs of brown sugar that was set aside. bake at 350 degrees for 40-45 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.

to make the glaze, stir together the peanut butter, water and 10x sugar until smooth; set aside.

fry the bacon until crispy, then drain on paper towels and sprinkle with the remaining tablespoon of brown sugar. once cool, use a pair of kitchen shears to cut the bacon into small pieces and set aside.

when the cake is done, let it cool for 10 minutes before removing it from the pan. once it has cooled completely, top it off by alternating bacon crumbles and peanut butter glaze until both are used up and evenly dispersed.

RICE MEDLEY

1 cup uncooked long-grain rice
2 1/4 cups water
2 cups frozen peas, thawed
1 carrot, shredded
1 1/2 tsp herb seasoning
1 tsp chicken bouillon granules
1 tsp lemon juice

in a large saucepan, combine the first six ingredients; bring to a boil. reduce heat; cover and simmer for 15 minutes, or until rice is tender. remove from heat; add lemon juice. fluff with a fork.

10 servings

PEANUT BUTTER BANANA BUNDT CAKE WITH REESE’S PEANUT BUTTER CUPS

3 cups flour
2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup (2 sticks) unsalted butter, at room temperature
2 cups sugar
2 tsp vanilla
2 lg eggs
4 ripe bananans, mashed (you should have 1 1/2-1 3.4 cups)
1 cup sour cream
1 1/2 cups chopped reese’s peanut butter cups
1/3 cup creamy peanut butter

FOR THE PEANUT BUTTER GLAZE:

1 1/2 cups sifted 10x sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
1/2 tsp vanilla

preheat the oven to 350 degrees. generously butter a 9″-10″ (12 cup) bundt pan and set aside.

in a medium bowl, whisk the flour, baking soda and salt together. set aside

in the bowl of a stand mixer, beat the butter until creamy. add the sugar and beat at medium speed until pale and flluffy. beat in the vanilla, the add the eggs one at a time, beating for about 1 minute after each egg goes in. reduce the mixer speed to low and mix in the bananas. finally, mix in half the dry ingredients, all the sour cream, and then the rest of the flour mixture.

carefully stir in the reese’s peanut butter cup pieces. scrape half of the batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top. swirl in half of the peanut butter, using a toothpick. add the rest of the batter and smooth the top. swirl in the remaining peanut butter, using a toothpick. pound the pan on the counter so the cake batter will settle and even out.

bake the cake for 65-75 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the cake comes out clean. Check the cake after 30 minutes. If it is browning too quckly. cover it loosely with a foil tent. transfer the cake to a rack and cool for 10 minutes before unmolding onto the rack to cool to room temperature.

while the cake is cooling, make the peanut butter glaze. in a medium bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, sugar, milk, and vanilla. whisk until smooth. when the cake is cool, drizzle glaze over the top of the cake. cut into pieces and serve.

VERSATILE SALAD DRESSING

2 cups sugar
3 tbs flour
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp ground mustard
3 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup vinegar
1 cup water
mayonnaise

in a saucepan, combine sugar, flour, salt and mustard; stir in eggs. gradually stir in vinegar & water until smooth. bring to a boil over medium heat, stirring constantly; cook and stir for 2 minutes. cover and refrigerate. just before serving, combine desired amount of “base” with an equal amount of mayonnaise. serve as a dressing for potato salad, coleslaw or salad greens. refrigerate leftovers.

makes 3 3/4 cups “base”

DOUBLE PEANUT BUTTER CAKE

1/2 cup creamy peanut butter
1/4 cup butter OR margarine, softened
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp salt
3/4 cup milk

FROSTING:

1/3 cup chunky peanut butter
3 tbs butter OR margarine, softened
3 cups 10x sugar
1/4 cup milk
1/2 tsp vanilla

for the cake: in a mixing bowl, cream peanut butter, butter and sugar. add eggs; mix well. combine flour, baking powder and salt; add alternately with milk to creamed mixture. mix well. pour into a greased 9″ square baking pan. bake at 350 degrees for 30-35 minutes.

for the frosting: cream peanut butter and butter. add sugar, milk and vanilla, mix until smooth.

WHITE TRASH DIP

1 (15 oz) can chili
2 (8 oz) pkgs cream cheese, softened
2 cups cheddar cheese, shredded
1 lb bacon
4 green onions, chopped
1 tsp red pepper flakes

heat oven to 350 degrees.

cook bacon. crumble.

mix together chili, cream cheese cheddar cheese, bacon and green onions in a large bowl.

spread mixture into a pie pan.

cook for 20 minutes in a 350 degree oven.

sprinkle with red pepper flakes

serve with chips.

PEANUT BUTTER CUP ICE CREAM

1/4 cup sugar
3 eggs
3/4 cup peanut butter
3/4 cup sweetened condensed milk
1/2 cup half and half
2 tsp vanilla
12 miniature peanut butter cups, chopped

in a medium bowl, beat the sugar and eggs with an electric mixer until thick, about 3 minutes. set aside. pour mixture into a small saucepan and bring to a simmer over low heat. gradually drizzle the hot milk into the eggs while whisking vigorously. then pour the whole mixture into the saucepan. cook over low heat, stirring constanty, until thick enough to coat the back of a spoon. do not boil.

remove from heat and whisk in peanut butter. allow to cool slightly, then whisk in the sweetened condensed milk, half-and-half, and vanilla. cover and refrigerate until chilled.

pour the mixture into an ice cream maker and freezer according to the manufacturer’s instructions. fold in peanut butter cups when mixture is still soft, then transfer to a container and freeze until solid.

8 servings

BLACK BEAN SOUP WITH CHICKEN AND SALSA

4 cups chicken broth
1 large OR 2 small boneless skinless chicken breasts
2 cans black beans, drained and rinsed OR 1 cup dried black beans soaked overnight
1 jar salsa
1 cup frozen corn
1 cup sliced fresh mushrooms
1/2 red onion, chopped
1 jalapeno pepper (whole)
1 1/2 tsp cumin
salt and pepper to taste

for garnish: shredded cheese, sour cream, cilantro, avocado

in a slow cooker, add all of the soup ingredients and give a quick stir. cook on LOW for 6-8 hours. before serving, take the chicken breast(s) out and shred. replace shredded chicken in the slow cooker and stir.

serve in a bowl with a dollop of sour cream and a sprig of cilantro with shredded cheese around the outside. Serve each bowl with a couple slices of avocado to the side of the sour cream.

CHERRY AND SPICE RICE PUDDING MIX

1/2 cup cornstarch
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp salt
1/8 tsp ground nutmeg OR mace
1/2 cup dried cherries
1 cup instant rice

combine cornstarch, sugar, cinnamon, salt and nutmeg in a small bowl. pour into a 1 pint wide-mouth jar with a tight-fitting lid and pack down firmly. layer remaining ingredients attractively. pack down lightly before adding each layer. seal jar.

cover top of jar with fabric. attach gift tag/recipe with raffia or ribbon. attach wooden spoon, if desired.

makes 1 (1 pint) jar

ATTACH THE FOLLOWING RECIPE TO THE JAR:

CHERRY AND SPICE RICE PUDDING

1 qt whole milk*
1 jar cherry and spice rice pudding mix
6 cinnamon sticks (optional)
6 maraschino cherries (optional)

*for richer pudding, use 3 cups milk and 1 cup half-and-half

bring milk to a simmer over medium heat in a large saucepan. gradually stir in cherry and spice rice pudding mix. cook over medium-low heat, stirring constantly until thickened, about 20 minutes.

spoon pudding into 6 heatproof cups. set aside to cool. to serve, garnish each with a cinnamon stick and a maraschino cherry, if desired.

6 servings

SALMON-BROCCOLI SALAD IN SHELLS

1 (9 oz) pkg frozen cut broccoli
12 uncooked jumbo pasta shells
1 (6 oz) can salmon, drained, flaked
1 cup cherry tomatoes, quartered
1/4 cup sliced green onions
1/4 cup ranch salad dressing
1/4 cup mayonnaise
1 tbs chopped fresh parsley

cook broccoli as directed on package; drain. cool.

cook pasta shells to desired doneness. drain; cover with cold water to cool.

in a medium bowl, combine broccoli, salmon, tomatoes and onions. add salad dressing, mayonnaise and parsley; stir gently to coat.

drain water from cooked pasta shells. spoon about 1/4 cup salmon mixture into each shell. arrange over lettuce.

4 servings