banana bread

I think it’s healthy because it has Greek yogurt in it. Makes 12 muffins, two mini loaves, or one 9x13 or 9x9 pan.

  • 1 stick butter, softened

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 2 eggs

  • 1 cup mashed banana (3 medium or 2 large)

  • 1/4 cup nonfat Greek yogurt (either vanilla or plain + 1/2 tsp vanilla)

  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour (or 1/2 cup whole wheat and 1 cup all-purpose)

  • 1 tsp baking soda

  • 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips or fresh/frozen blueberries

I don’t have an electric mixer, so I make the whole thing in a food processor.

Preheat the oven to 350º. Cream together butter and sugar, and add the eggs one at a time. Add banana and yogurt, blend well. Pour into a large bowl and mix by hand to finish.

Add the baking soda and the flour; mix well.

I like to add the chocolate chips/blueberries to the top of the bread once it’s in the pan, but you can also dust them with flour before stirring into the batter so they don’t sink to the bottom.

Pour batter into greased pan of your choosing - I like using cooking spray for baking that has flour in it. Bake muffins for 20 minutes, loaves or 9x13 pan for 30 minutes, or 9x9 pan for 40 minutes. A knife inserted in the center will come out clean once it’s done.

peanut butter cookies

Just three ingredients. Seriously. Makes 12-16 cookies.

  • 1 cup sugar

  • 1 cup peanut butter, whatever kind you have

  • 1 egg

Preheat the oven to 350º.

Combine all ingredients. Wet your hands so the dough doesn’t stick to you. Roll the dough into 1” balls and place on an ungreased cookie sheet. Use the back of a fork to press each cookie down.

Bake for 12 minutes, and allow to cool on the cookie sheet.

If you’re feeling adventurous, melt 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips and 1 tsp coconut oil or butter in intervals in the microwave. Drizzle or dip each cookie and allow to set.

cake mix cookies

The easiest dessert ever. Your friends will be super impressed. Perfect for the last minute party.

  • 1 box cake mix, any variety

  • 2 eggs

  • 1/2 cup vegetable oil

  • 1 cup mix ins: chocolate chips, nuts, M&Ms…

Preheat oven to 350º.

Combine all ingredients. Spoon cookies by the rounded teaspoon onto a baking sheet and bake for 9-11 minutes. Remove to a cooling rack.

Flavor combo suggestions:

  • red velvet cake + white chocolate chips

  • devil’s food cake + peanut butter, white chocolate, or semi-sweet chocolate chips

  • yellow cake + semi-sweet chocolate chips or M&Ms

  • funfetti cake + white chocolate chips

crockpot apple crisp

Good for when you’re in an apple kinda mood but not a pie-making mood, and still want your house to smell good. Makes 4 small servings.

For the apples:

  • 6 apples, peeled, cored, and cut into thick slices. Most kinds of apples will work here; try to avoid very soft varieties

  • 1/2 cup packed brown sugar

  • 2 tbs white sugar

  • 2 tsp cinnamon

  • 1/4 tsp nutmeg

For the crumble topping:

  • 1 cup oats

  • 3/4 cup flour

  • 1/4 cup packed brown sugar

  • 1 tsp cinnamon

  • 1/2 cup (one stick) butter or similar, cut into small cubes

In the Crockpot, combine the first half of the ingredients. In a bowl, combine the crumble ingredients. Stir the apples one more time and then sprinkle on the topping. Cook on high for two hours or on low for three hours, until the apples can easily be poked with a fork. Let it sit off the heat for at least 30 minutes before serving.

I don’t make the rules, but I would serve this with vanilla ice cream or whipped cream.