Recipe - Old Fashioned Fruit Scones

Recipes that can occupy more than one space are great. A sauce that doubles as a dip, a mix that can be turned into two quick dishes...or a breakfast treat that can easily take place of an afternoon snack or dessert. This scone recipe is easy and versatile. Change the raisins out for almost any dried fruit for a great change in taste.

Start your morning with this Old Fashioned Fruit Scone.

Ingredients

3 cups All-purpose flour
5 tsp Baking powder
1 cup Granulated sugar
1 Egg
1 cup Butter, shortening or margarine
1 cup Milk
1/2 cup Raisins, currants or mixed dried fruit


Directions

Preheat oven to 375. Measure flour, baking powder and sugar into a mixing bowl. Cut the butter in with a pastry blender (I don't have one, so I use knives or forks) until the size of peas.

Beat in milk, egg and fruit until well incorporated.

Turn out onto a lightly floured board and pat to 1/2-inch thickness.

Cut out with a floured cutter into 2-inch rounds (or, using a sharp knife, cut into triangles, which is the traditional Scottish method) and bake for 12 to 15 minutes.


***TIPS***
Change the dried fruit for a easy recipe update. It's great served with jam and freezes well. I like to make a batch, freeze them and set a couple out at night. They're nice and thawed by morning, and ready to be eaten.

To make it healthier, substitute half of the AP flour for wheat flour. While I wouldn't suggest substituting all of it, if necessary, use 7/8 C whole wheat flour instead of 1 C AP flour.

Recipe - Cheddar Stuffed Celery

This is a variation from the regular can-cheese filled celery that graces our house almost daily. For some reason (note: I'm not complaining), my son would rather eat celery than fries any day. He despises peanut butter, so I thought that squeeze cheese was our only option. WRONG. This recipe has saved my sanity from the grips of processed, can-cheese.

Toss the can with this tasty recipe for Cheddar Stuffed Celery.

Ingredients

1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, grated
2 stalks celery, cleaned
1 1/2 tablespoons mayonnaise
1 teaspoon paprika (optional)


Directions

Mix the cheddar and mayo together into paste. Spread into celery and cut into serving sized pieces. Top with paprika, if desired.

Recipe - Healthy Banana Bread

This recipe is VERY figure friendly. It uses wheat flour and bananas and very little sugar, so it's also a great snack for kids. My son loves to eat it with Cool Whip. I use Homemade Gourmet Spice Dip Mix with my Cool Whip and spread it over a slice of this bread. But if you can't get the HOGO stuff from a dealer near you, a little cinnamon and allspice mixed into your Cool Whip makes a great dip or spread.

Spend the day baking some bread with this recipe for Healthy Banana Bread.

Ingredients

4-5 very ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup sugar free spiced unsweetened applesauce
2 eggs
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose white flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon allspice
1 teaspoon cinnamon
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
1/3 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (optional)


Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Spray a bundt pan with cooking spray, set aside.


In a medium bowl, mix the dry ingredients, whisking to combine. Add the chocolate chips and nuts if using.

Beat the eggs with the sugar together at medium-high speed until creamy. Beat in the applesauce and bananas.

Fold in the dry ingredients.

Pour into the prepared pan and place it in the oven. Once the oven door is closed, reduce the heat so it’s between 325-350 degrees. Bake for about 35-40 minutes (the cake is done as soon as a tester comes out clean). Cool on a wire rack for about 5 minutes. Invert on the rack, remove the pan, cool and store in an airtight container.


***LEFTOVER ALERT***
I like to take slices of this and use it to make french toast. It gives it a lovely flavor from regular french toast, and is sweet enough that I don't have to use much syrup (or can top with with Cool Whip instead). Can you tell I like Cool Whip? haha