Rita's Recipes: February 2011

Thursday, February 24, 2011

Quick Banana Muffins

Bake these for an afternoon coffee break treat.
It will only take you 5 minutes to mix these up!

You'll need 3 over-ripe bananas.

Mash with a mixer.

Mix in sugar and a little cinnamon.

Melt 5T (1/3C) butter.

Mix in the melted butter and egg until combined.

I used self-rising flour, but you can use
regular flour and just add 1t baking soda
and a pinch of salt.

Lightly stir in the flour just until combined.

Scoop into well greased muffin pan.
I scooped out 6 muffins and then added
1/4 C chopped pecans to the remaining batter
for the last 6 muffins.

Bake at 400 for about 20 minutes until golden.

Now pour your coffee and enjoy a warm banana muffin
and a little butter.

Banana Muffins

3 over-ripe bananas

3/4 C sugar

1/4 t cinnamon

1/3 C melted butter

1 egg

1-1/2 C self-rising flour*

Mash the bananas with a mixer. Mix in the sugar and cinnamon. Add the egg and melted butter and mix until well combined. Lightly stir in the flour. Scoop into well greased muffin pan and bake for about 20 minutes at 400, until golden.

makes 1 dozen

(*note: in place of SR flour use regular flour and 1 t soda and a pinch salt)

Friday, February 18, 2011

Easy Spinach Ravioli Bake

This is a Friday night special.

If you want a quick and easy dinner, this is almost as easy as ordering a pizza.

It's just assembling a few ingredients.

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray and preheat the oven to 350.

Layer 1/3 of the sauce and 1/2 of the frozen ravioli.

Scatter the spinach on top. Season as desired.

Add 1/2 of the shredded mozzarella and another layer of ravioli.

Add the remaining sauce, mozzarella and Parmesan.

Cover with foil and bake 25-30 minutes, then uncover and bake another 10 minutes until bubbly.

Spinach Ravioli Bake

26 oz jar pasta sauce

18 oz bag frozen large cheese ravioli

10 oz box frozen chopped spinach, thawed and squeezed dry

8 oz bag shredded mozzarella cheese

1/2 C grated Parmesan cheese

a little garlic salt, pepper, Italian herbs,

and about 2T olive oil

Spray a 9x13 pan with cooking spray. Spoon on 1/3 of the sauce. Lay on a layer of ravioli, 12-15. Scatter the spinach over the ravioli. Drizzle with a little olive oil,
garlic salt and pepper.

Scatter with 1/2 of the mozzarella cheese. Add another layer of ravioli, the remaining sauce,

sprinkle with a little Italian seasoning if you like. Then remaining mozzarella and Parmesan cheese. Drizzle with a little olive oil. Cover with foil and bake at 350 for 30 minutes. Uncover and bake until bubbly and golden, another 5-10 minutes.

sides: salad and garlic bread

Enjoy!

Links: Funky Junk

Thursday, February 17, 2011

Chess Squares

This very sweet dessert is a Southern classic. It's similar to chess pie, but much easier to make.

It's has a gooey filling.

Sprinkle a little powdered sugar on top to make them pretty.

Bake in a 9x13 pan,

until golden and slightly puffed.

Let cool and cut into squares. Refrigerate leftovers.

Chess Squares

Cake Base

1 box yellow cake mix

1 stick butter, melted

1 egg

Melt the butter in a large bowl in the microwave for 45 seconds. Add the cake mix and the egg and beat with a mixer until well blended. It will be a soft dough. Pat it into the bottom of a 9x13 pan.

Filling

3 eggs

8-oz package cream cheese, softened

1t lemon extract or 1-2T lemon juice

1 lb box confectioners sugar

Beat the eggs with the cream cheese until blended. Mix in the lemon, then the sugar. Beat until smooth and pour over the crust. Bake @350 for 35-40 minutes.

12 servings

Enjoy!

Wednesday, February 9, 2011

Shrimp Alfredo

I got this recipe from craigslist.

You never know where you'll find a good recipe.

We were picking up a bed that we had bought

on craigslist. While the husbands were loading

all the pieces into our van I was in the kitchen

while the young mom was making dinner for

her family. Good thing!

The ingredients: shrimp, onion, mushrooms,
seasonings and a jar of alfredo sauce.
I didn't think I would like the jarred sauce,
but I was wrong!. Begin by cooking the pasta.
That will take the longest.

Saute the shrimp with garlic and seasonings
until the shrimp just begin to turn opaque;

then remove from the pan.

Add the mushrooms and onion to skillet
and saute. Add more oil if needed.

Cook until tender then remove from heat and
combine with the reserved shrimp.

Add alfredo sauce to the pasta and toss well.

Add a little pasta water to the sauce jar and shake.

Add to the pasta. You want it nice and saucy.

Then combine the alfredo sauced pasta with
the mushroom mixture and shrimp.

Pile it onto a large platter.

Surround with steamed broccoli.

That's how she served it.

Craigslist Shrimp, easy and quick and yummy!

Shrimp Alfredo

1 lb large shrimp

8 oz mushrooms, sliced

1 onion, chopped

1 T chopped garlic

Adobo seasoning or garlic salt and pepper

3/4 pound linguini, cooked and drained reserving 1/2 C pasta water

1 jar (any brand) Alfredo sauce

1-2T butter and olive oil

Start cooking the linguini. While the pasta is cooking, saute the shrimp and chopped garlic in 1T butter and 1T olive oil. Add a good sprinkle of Adobo seasoning and salt and pepper. When the shrimp is just cooked remove from the pan. Add more butter/olive oil to the pan if needed. Add the sliced mishrooms and chopped onion. Season again. Saute until tender and remove from heat. Combine with the reserved shrimp. Scoop out about 1/2 c water then drain the pasta and return the pasta to the pot. Stir in the Alfredo sauce. Add a a little of the reserved pasta water to the jar and shake, then pour into the pot. Stir well to combine. Combine the linguini with the shrimp and mushroom mixture. Stir well and pour onto a heated platter to serve .

Surround with steamed broccoli.

Enjoy!

Links: Remodelaholic