Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Gingerbread Chocolate Chip Pancakes

3 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 Tablespoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground dried ginger
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup molasses
3 cups water
1/2 bag mini chocolate chips.

Whisk the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, ginger, and cinnamon in a bowl; set aside. Beat the eggs in a separate mixing bowl with the vanilla and molasses until smooth. Whisk in the water until completely incorporated. Stir the flour mixture into the molasses mixture until just combined -- a few lumps are okay. fold in the chocolate chips.
 Heat a lightly oiled griddle over medium-high heat. Drop batter by large spoonfuls onto the griddle, and cook like regular pancakes..

Sweet Golden Cornbread

Sweet Golden Cornbread

preheat oven to 400

2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 cups yellow cornmeal
1 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons salt
2 tablespoons and 1 teaspoon baking powder
2 eggs
2 cups milk
2/3 cup vegetable oil

Oil a large cast iron skillet.
In a large bowl, combine flour, cornmeal, sugar, salt and baking powder.

Stir in eggs, milk and vegetable oil until well combined. 

Pour batter into prepared pan.
 Bake in preheated oven for 35-40 minutes, or until

 a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.

Peppermint Sugar Cookies

Peppermint Sugar cookies

2/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup butter
1 1/2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon peppermint extract
3 3/8 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
colored granulated sugar for decoration
Peppermint kisses

unwrap kisses and place in freezer.
 Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
   In a medium bowl, cream together the butter, shortening and sugar until fluffy. Stir in the eggs and peppermint . Combine the flour, baking powder and salt, stir into the creamed mixture until dough comes together. Roll dough into walnut sized balls and roll the balls in sugar. Place them on an unprepared cookie sheet about 2 inches apart. flatten slightly.
    Bake cookies 10 to 12 minutes in the preheated oven, until bottom is light brown. place a kiss on top of cookie when still on cookie sheet.  Remove from baking sheets to cool on wire racks.

Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

  Chocolate Peanut Butter Cake

7 Tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
1 1/2 cups packed brown sugar
3 eggs
6 (1 ounce) squares unsweetened chocolate, melted and cooled
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
2 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup yogurt
1 cup strong coffee

 FROSTING:
 1 cup butter or margarine
1 cup peanut butter
4 cups confectioners' sugar
1/4 cup milk
2 teaspoons vanilla extract

optional: grated unsweetened or semi-sweet chocolate, oreo crumbs, Reeses Pieces, etc to decorate...

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
melt chocolate in coffee, let cool while making the rest.
    In a large mixing bowl, combine butter and brown sugar; beat in eggs, and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with the yogurt, and the chocolate coffee mix.

Pour into three greased and floured 8-in. round baking pans. Bake at 350 degrees F for 35-40 minutes (cupcakes 20-25 minutes) or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
    For frosting, cream the butter, peanut butter, confectioners' sugar, milk and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth; set aside.
 spread with about 1/2 cup frosting.
    Repeat layers Frost. top and sides of cake. decorate as desired.

Press any optional decorations into sides and/or top.

Jumbo Banana Butterscotch Muffins

Jumbo Banana Butterscotch Muffins

3-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup honey
1 Tablespoon cinnamon
3/4 cup sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
2 egg
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 applesauce
1 cup vanilla yogurt
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
6 mashed ripe bananas (2 1/2 cups.. give or take) :D
1 bag of butterscotch chips
1 cup slivered almonds

preheat oven to 350 -
mix honey and cinnamon together, set aside.
In a large bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In another bowl, combine the eggs, oil, applesauce, yogurt, vanilla, and honey mixture. Stir into dry ingredients just until moistened. Fold in bananas and butterscotch chips. Fill greased or paper-lined jumbo muffin cups two-thirds full. sprinkle almonds on top of batter. Bake at 350 degrees F for 28-32 minutes (23-25 for regular sized muffins) or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 5 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.  makes 18 jumbo muffins.

Oatmeal Banana Chip Pancakes

Oatmeal Banana Chip Pancakes

2 cups uncooked rolled oats

1 cup whole wheat flour

1/2 cup wheat germ

2-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon plus 1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

2 eggs
4 cups milk

1/4 cup vinegar or lemon juice

1/4 cup vegetable oil

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

2 cups mashed bananas

1 bag (2 cups) mini chocolate chips

1 cup chopped walnuts. (Optional) -  I put the walnuts in food processor and pulse until small)

Add the vinegar (or lemon juice) to the milk and let sit, while doing the dry ingredients.

Put oats in food processor and run until it looks like coarse flour. Add the wheat germ and wheat flour, pulse for a few seconds. Add baking powder, soda, salt, brown sugar, and white flour. Pulse until mixed together, pour into a bowl.
In the bowl with milk, mix in bananas, vanilla, oil, eggs. Blend well. Pour banana mix into the dry ingredients, and mix until blended...
gentle stir in the chocolate chips and walnuts.  Let batter rest for 5 minutes.

pour about 1/2 cup per pancake on a lightly sprayed griddle (or skillet)
cook as any other pancake.

Dear MS

Dear MS,

As this flare approaches, I would like a few minutes to have a few words with you. I know you love me, and always leave me a lingering gift to stay with me, to help me remember each individual flare... So, before we begin this little dance of ours, I would like to make a couple of requests.I can accept a twitch, I can accept a limp... hell I can even accept a finger or toe going numb forever.... but would you please steer clear of any more nerve pain? and please... please, do not make me any more clumsy....
Thank You,
Sincerely,

One of Your Favorite Obsessions,

Me.... :D