Banana Nut Smoothies

We like smoothies.
Here's a recipe I featured on our regular blog earlier in 2009.

1 banana, frozen
1 cup vanilla yogurt
1/4 c. chopped walnuts
1/2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. honey (optional)
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg

Cut the frozen banana in 3 or 4 chunks and peel. (Personally, I peel the whole banana and then wrap in wax paper and put in the freezer. I just break it apart when ready to use.) Place in blender with all other ingredients. Blend on high for 2 minutes or until smooth.

I made the first batch with the walnuts and honey. I made the second batch without the walnuts. I didn't notice a big difference, so to save calories, I wouldn't put nuts in again.

Strawberry Pretzel Dessert

Our Christmas dinner this year included a turkey, stuffing, sweet potatoes, green bean casserole, cranberry sauce, giblet gravy, corn, homemade bread, and this yummy dessert!The recipe I used was written in my husband's handwriting from when he was a teenager! Our friend Paul also made this dessert several years back when we had Thanksgiving together (oh, how I miss those times!).

Ingredients & Directions

2 c. crushed pretzels (not too fine; 9 oz of thin pretzel sticks works)
3 T. sugar
3/4 c. butter, melted (I used about 2/3 c this time)

Mix pretzels, sugar and butter. Press into a 9 x 13 pan and bake at 375 degrees for 6-8 minutes. Let cool.

8 oz. cream cheese
1 c. sugar
8 oz container Cool Whip, thawed

Mix cream cheese and sugar well. Fold in Cool Whip. Mix well. Pour over cooled pretzel crust.

1 lg (6 oz) box strawberry jello
2 c. boiling water
2 10 oz pkgs frozen strawberries

Mix jello and water until jello dissolved. Add frozen strawberries until thawed. Let the mixture thicken. Pour over cream cheese mixture and chill in refrigerator until firm.

Apple Betty

I love fall! My friend Kristin said she's come to realize she loves the first part of every new season. I'd have to completely agree! I do love every season and the fresh start it brings. (Although, I love all of summer!) I love the cooler, crisp air of fall. I love the smells associated with fall -- cinnamon and apples in particular.
I stumbled upon this recipe last week and decided I just had to make it. The twins and I went to a local store that was having apples on sale for 77 cents/lb and I loaded up.
Apple Betty
4 cups thinly sliced apples (peeled if you want, I didn't bother)
1/4 cup orange juice
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
Dash each cloves and allspice
1 pinch salt
1/2 cup butter

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly grease a 9 inch pie plate.

Mound sliced apples in the pie plate. Sprinkle with orange juice.

In a medium bowl, mix the flour, sugars, spices, and salt. Cut in butter until the mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Scatter over the apples.

Bake in preheated oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm.Rylee was so cute because we have an "Auntie Betty" at GFA. She kept talking about Auntie Betty as we were getting the dessert ready and then enjoying it's sweet goodness. My kids love Auntie Betty and they loved thinking about her as we were enjoying the ooey-gooey apples and topping with ice cream.