Banana Cream Pie

With its bananas and velvety custard, this banana cream pie is full of old-fashioned flavor.

A 16 oz. carton of whipping cream is pictured, but only an 8 oz. carton is needed if making your own whipped cream.

Banana Cream Pie

1 cup sugar
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 tsp. salt
3 cups whole milk
4 egg yolks, beaten
3 tbsp. butter
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 (9") baked pie shell 
medium firm bananas (3 medium-sized or 2 large)
whipped cream and additional sliced bananas

In a medium (3 qt.) saucepan, combine sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk. Cook and stir over medium heat till thickened and bubbly. Reduce heat; cook and stir 2 minutes more. Remove from heat. Gradually stir 1 cup of the hot mixture into the yolks. Return egg mixture to saucepan; bring to a gentle boil. Cook and stir for 2 minutes more. Remove from heat, and stir in the butter and vanilla. Press plastic wrap onto surface of filling; refrigerate 30 minutes.

After the filling has chilled for 30 minutes, slice bananas and arrange in pastry shell.  Stir filling and then pour over bananas. Refrigerate for several hours (about 4).  Before serving, garnish with whipped cream and banana slices.

Click here for printable format 

Perfect Pie Crust:  http://easyaspiecanbe.blogspot.com/2013/12/perfect-pie-crust-recipe-and-tutorial.html  

Whipped Cream:  http://easyaspiecanbe.blogspot.com/2013/12/whipped-cream-recipe-and-tutorial.html

3-Ingredient Dog Biscuits

We try to limit the amount of wheat, corn and soy in the diet of our two very-spoiled Boston terriers.   But quality dog biscuits with limited ingredients are expensive.  3-Ingredient Dog Biscuits to the rescue!  They're fun, easy to make, and you have complete control over the ingredients.  Instructions for grain-free biscuits are also included!

3-Ingredient Dog Biscuits

1 1/2 cups brown rice flour*

1/2 cup quick oats

2 (4 oz.) containers pureed baby food (Make sure there is no onion powder in it.)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Line a baking sheet with parchment paper.  Mix the flour, quick oats, and baby food together to form a stiff dough.  Add extra flour or water as needed.  It should be the consistency of pie dough.  On a lightly floured surface, roll the dough out evenly until it's about 1/4 inch thick.  Cut into desired shapes or use a pizza cutter to make strips or cubes.  Bake for 20-25 minutes at 350 degrees.  Turn off the oven, and let the biscuits sit in the oven until the oven is completely cool (this dehydrates the biscuits).  Store in a paper bag or cardboard box.  

YIELD:  38 2-inch dog bone-shaped biscuits

*Whole wheat flour can be used (NOT all purpose or self-rising). For a grain-free biscuit, you can eliminate the oats and use 2 cups of bean flour, buckwheat flour, quinoa flour, coconut flour, or peanut flour.  You will also want to make sure your baby food does not contain grains.  

If the recipe is made as written, I usually have to add 2 tsp. of water to the dough to get it to the right consistency.

Click here for printable format

Recipe adapted from bakeatmidnite.com:  http://bakeatmidnite.com/2-ingredient-dog-biscuits/

Note:  I like to use brown rice flour for this recipe.  To read about the health benefits of brown rice and brown rice flour for your dog, click here.

My Boston babies Daisy and Capone--both rescues.  Adopt; don't shop!

I use this box to store the 3-Ingredient Dog Biscuits.  I think you can see why!  :)

Cherry Chocolate Cake

 Cherry Chocolate Cake only calls for three ingredients...how easy is that? ♥

Cherry Chocolate Cake

1 Devil's Food cake mix

1 (21 oz.) can cherry pie filling

3 eggs 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray a 9x13 baker with a cooking spray that has flour in it like Baker's Joy.
 

In a large mixing bowl, combine the cake mix, cherry pie filling, and eggs. Mix with an electric mixer on low just until combined. If you want whole cherries in the cake, mix batter by hand instead of with a mixer.  Pour batter into prepared baker and bake at 350 degrees for 35-40 minutes or until cake springs back when lightly touched.  Cool.  Frost with chocolate frosting of your choosing.

Click here for printable format 

 Baking Tip:  When making a recipe that uses a cake mix, put your cake mix into the mixing bowl first, and run your electric mixer through it on low speed to break up any lumps.