Banana Walnut Belgian Waffles

Hello everyone. Today, I made a banana walnut belgian waffles. Here are the ingredients:-Belgian waffle mix
-Banana
-Walnuts (chopped)
-Oil
-Egg
-Water
-Whipped Cream

First, I mixed the ingredients according to the directions on the waffle mix. Then I added the banana and walnuts to the batter.
Once the waffle iron was ready, I added the batter.
And here's the finished result:

Easy Red Velvet Cake

I thought that I had everything necessary to make red velvet cake in my pantry and refrigerator, but low and behold was missing one ingredient: buttermilk. I had regular milk in the refrigerator, but I could not find a recipe that called for regular milk. I wasn't going to drive to the store just to pick up buttermilk. So, I decided to keep searching the internet for red velvet cake recipes. I wasn't going to give up that easily. I wanted red velvet cake. So, after searching for another five or so minutes; I found a recipe that used prepackaged cake mix. I had a small box of cake mix and everything else the recipe called for, so I decided to make this recipe. The recipe called for a regular size box of cake mix, and the box I had was half the size. So, I cut the recipe in half, and made a single layer cake. Here are the ingredients needed for the recipe:

-white cake mix
-3 tbsp cocoa powder
-water (the amount stated on the cake mix box)
-1 tbsp oil + the amount of oil the box mix states
-egg whites (according to box mix)
-1 1/2 tsps. red food coloring
-cream cheese frosting (not pictured)

Directions:

1.Prepare the cake mix according to box directions. Add the food coloring and cocoa powder.
2. Pour the batter into a greased and floured cake pan. Bake according to cake mix package directions.
3. Once cooled I frosted the cake.
The cake was very delicious and easy to make. I would definitely make this cake again. I was very satisfied with my results.

Chicken Stir-Fry with Jasmine Rice

Today, I made Chicken Stir-Fry with Jasmine Rice. Stir-fry's can be made with a variety of meats and/or vegetables. Here are the ingredients I used:
Chicken (cut into small pieces)
Broccoli
Sugar Snap Peas
Carrots
Green Beans
Onion
Baby Corn
Water Chestnuts
Red Bell Pepper
Champignon Mushrooms
Soy Sauce
Vegetable Oil

First, I prepared the jasmine rice in the rice cooker. Next, I put enough oil in pan to coat the bottom. I heated the oil on high heat. Once hot I browned the chicken on both sides. Then, I added all the vegetables to the pan and cooked for about 7 minutes. Lastly, I add soy sauce, pepper, and salt to taste.

Here are pictures of the plated dish.

Ultimate Cinnamon Rolls

I found this recipe for Ultimate Cinnamon Rolls here. I decided to omit the brown sugar and use cream cheese frosting instead of the vanilla frosting.

Ingredients:

• 1-1/2 packages (about 3-1/4 teaspoons) dry yeast
• 1/4 cup warm water
• 1/2 cup shortening
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1-1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup milk
• 1 egg (not pictured)
  
• 4 to 5 cups sifted flour
• butter or margarine (not pictured)
  
• cinnamon sugar
  
• raisins (optional)
• cream cheese frosting
  

Directions:

Add the yeast to the warm water and let sit for 10 minutes.

Scald milk; then add the shortening. Add sugar and salt and cool until tepid. Add the dissolved yeast and the beaten egg. Add 4 cups flour adding one at a time beating after each addition.

Dough should be soft yet firm enough to handle. Knead on floured board until elastic and smooth. Avoid too much flour. Turn dough into well oiled bowl. Let rise for 1-1/2 hours.

Press dough down and divide into two pieces. Roll dough out into a rectangle.

Cover with melted butter or margarine. Add a generous layer cinnamon sugar. If you like raisins, layer on a layer of raisins.

Roll up jellyroll fashion.

Using a piece of string, I cut off slices about 1 or so inches thick.

I place the slices in a rectangular pan. Press rolls down to even out and fill pan. Let rise for an hour.

Bake in a 350 degree oven about 15 - 20 minutes.

Spread cream cheese frosting on cinnamon rolls.

The recipe yielded 25 small cinnamon rolls. These cinnamon rolls are delicious. I will definitely be making this recipe again.

Chili

I made a large pot of chili for tonight's dinner and for chili dogs tomorrow.
Ingredients:
5 pounds of ground chuck
1 green bell pepper
1 medium onion
salt
pepper
2 cans of diced tomatoes
3 packages of Mild Chili Seasoning
3 cans of dark red kidney beans

Directions:
Brown ground beef with onions and bell peppers. Season ground beef with salt and pepper. Drain browned beef.
Add tomatoes, seasoning, and kidney beans. And fill an empty can of kidney beans with water and add to pot.
I cooked some rice to go with the chili. Here are the finished pictures:

Chocolate Cake

I got this recipe from Bettycrocker.com and I modified the recipe slightly to use cocoa powder instead of bakers squares. According to the cocoa box, 3 tablespoons of cocoa and 1 tablespoon of oil is equivalent to a 1 ounce baker's square of chocolate.

Cake Ingredients:
2 cups self-rising flour
2 cups sugar
1/2 cup shortening
3/4 cup water
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
12 Tbsp. cocoa powder
4 Tbsp. oil
2 eggs

Chocolate Frosting Ingredients
-I got this recipe from the back on the tollhouse cocoa container.
3 cups sifted powdered sugar, divided
2/3 cup Baking Cocoa
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter softened
5 to 6 Tbsp. milk, divided
1 tsp vanilla extract


For the cake:

	Heat oven to 350°F. Grease and flour bottom and sides of 13x9-inch pan, two 9-inch round cake pans, or three 8-inch round cake pans. In large bowl, beat all cake ingredients with electric mixer on low speed 30 seconds, scraping bowl constantly. Beat on high speed 3 minutes, scraping bowl occasionally. Pour into pan(s).
	Bake rectangle 40 to 45 minutes, rounds 30 to 35 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool rectangle in pan on cooling rack. Cool rounds 10 minutes; remove from pans to cooling rack. Cool completely.

For the frosting:
Beat 1 cup of powdered sugar, cocoa, butter, 2 tbsp. milk and vanilla extract in small mixer bowl until creamy. Gradually beat in remaining sugar and milk until smooth.
And here's the finished cake:
The cake tasted pretty good, not the best chocolate cake that I've had (as claimed by the recipe), but it's not the worst either. I'm not sure if I would make this cake again, I think I'll keep looking for a great chocolate cake recipe. I had fun making the cake and will have lots more fun making other chocolate cakes. I, however, think that the frosting tasted really good, but I needed to make a little more of it.

Collard Greens

Ingredients:
1 large bunch of collard greens
Smoked pigtails
Sugar
Water

Place the smoked pigtails in a large pot. Cover with water. Boil for 1 hour. Making sure that all the water doesn't evaporate.
Remove most of the stem from each of the collard green leaves. After on left, before on right of picture.

Stack about ten leaves, making sure that the largest leaf on the bottom of the stack. Roll up the leaves. Slice 1/2 inch rounds off of the log.

Place all of the sliced collard greens into the pot. Add 1/4 cup of sugar to cut the bitterness of the greens. Cook for an hour or until greens are tender but not mushy. Add salt and pepper to taste.