Iced Coffee

You know how some things just taste better when they are not homemade? That's how I've long felt about iced coffee. It just tasted better when I bought it vs. made it at home. I tried brewing super-strong coffee, buying instant coffee, using my Keurig, using a French press, etc.

But that was before I learned about cold-brewing coffee. The secret is so simple - letting the coffee grounds brew in cold water overnight. That's it. That is the secret to iced coffee at home. You and your fat wallet can thank me later.

Iced Coffee Concentrate

10 oz coarse ground coffee
4 L water

Dump the coffee grounds into a large container (I used a Pampered Chef pitcher.) Add water. Put in fridge overnight (at least 8 hours).

The next morning, give yourself an hour. Pour the coffee water through a fine mesh strainer lined with a coffee filter or cheesecloth.  Stir with a spoon to help it through. I cleaned the kitchen and did some other chores as the coffee slowly made its way into the new pitcher. I went through about 4 or 5 coffee filters along the way as they clogged up.

But it was worth it. I now have 4 L of iced coffee concentrate that will keep in the fridge for up to a month. I used it to make a Vietnamese iced coffee this afternoon, which is just iced coffee concentrate, ice cubes, and a few tablespoons of sweetened condensed milk. YUM

Rating: 5 out of 5. Perfectly tasty.

Banana Bread French Toast Souffle

In an effort to eat some meatless meals and reduce our grocery bill, eggs and bread were on the menu. There were no complaints in my house about this one!

Banana Bread French Toast Souffle

10 cups cubed bread - I used 1/2 of a loaf of banana bread I made earlier this week and standard cheapy white sandwich bread
8 oz softened cream cheese
1/2 stick butter
1/2 cup real maple syrup
6 eggs
1.5 cups milk (or cream or half-n-half - I just happened to have milk in the house)
1 t. vanilla
4 T. brown sugar, optional

Preheat the oven to 375. Butter a 9x13 pan. Do not use spray; butter makes the casserole fluff up like a souffle. Dump in bread cubes.

In a medium bowl, combine cream cheese, butter, and syrup. Microwave for 1 min and mix together. Pour over bread cubes.

In same bowl, mix together eggs, milk, and vanilla. Pour over cream cheese mixture on bread crumbs.

Let stand for 15 min. Or refrigerate as long as overnight. (If you refrigerate, be sure to let it sit out at room temp for a while before baking.)

Sprinkle brown sugar over top. This is definitely not necesary but certainly very yummy as it kind of caramelizes on top.
Bake for 30 min covered. Remove foil and bake for additional 15 min.

Serve with fresh fruit, bacon or sausage (which I realize makes it not a meatless meal, but that's ok), and enjoy!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins - Yummy & Easy!

This is an old stand-by that I jazzed up with the addition of sweetened cream cheese. Try any flavors of cake mix that sound good - chocolate is one of my favorites.

These aren't soft, fluffy muffins -they're quite moist and dense, but they sure are g.o.o.d!

Pumpkin Cream Cheese Muffins

1 box yellow cake mix

1 box spice cake mix

1 29 oz. can pumpkin (not pumpkin pie filling)

8 oz. cream cheese, softened

4 T. powdered sugar

2 T. sugar

1 T. cinnamon

2 T. chopped nuts, optional

Mix together cake mixes and pumpkin. Do not add anything the boxes call for - just add the pumpkin. The mixture will be thick and sticky, perfect for a mess-making two-year old.

Mix the cream cheese with the powdered sugar, and set aside. Mix the sugar, cinnamon, and nuts, and set aside.

Spray two muffin pans with non-stick spray, or use cupcake liners. Add to each muffin tin: 2 T. of cake mixture followed by 1 T. of cream cheese mixture and then 2 T. of cake mixture. Sprinkle the top with cinnamon-sugar mixture.

Bake at 350 for 25-30 min. Cool before removing from muffin tins. Store in an airtight container in the fridge.

Snicker Salad-Oh Yum!

Trick or Treat! This sure is a delicious treat! This is an old fall party favorite!

Amy, this is for you! I bet this will make you come and visit!

Snicker Salad
(or Apple Salad if you are going to Weight Watchers!)

6-8 Granny Smith Apples-cut into bite size pieces
6-8 Snickers Bars-cut into bite size pieces
1 can of salted Planters Peanuts
1 lg. tub of Cool Whip

In a large bowl, combine Snickers, peanuts, apples (cut the apples last to prevent browning) and Cool Whip. Mix thoroughly and chill for 2 hours before serving.

Meal Rating: 10 out of 5 stars! Yummy deliciousness!

Yummy Banana Bread

Brown bananas equal only one thing - Banana Bread! Guess what I'll be having for breakfast tomorrow?

Banana Bread

(adapted from Betty Crocker)

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
3 very ripe bananas

1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt

Heat oven to 350°F. Grease bottoms only 1 large loaf pan, 9x5x3 inches.

Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, milk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt just until moistened. Pour into pan.

Bake 75 min. YUMMY!
Rating: 5 out of 5. I love banana bread!

Post Edit by Kim: I just made this yummy banana bread and added 3/4 c. of chocolate chips (per request from Kevin). It was awesome and yummy!!!!