Tag

This Simple Banana Pudding Cake bakes in about 45 minutes, with just a few easy steps to prep it before baking. Don’t let the simplicity of this cake or its two-ingredient icing fool you, however. This cake is loaded with rich, sweet flavor, and it’s incredibly moist!  It’s a dessert that’s easy enough to make whenever you feel like a little treat for yourself or your family, and yet it will be a big hit at most any gathering.

This recipe makes good, creative use of a few basic ingredients!  The use of olive oil instead of the usual vegetable or canola oil adds a bit of extra depth to the flavor without weighing the cake down too much. You can actually eat this cake even without the simple icing and have a very nice dessert, but it really is about the perfect topping for it. Enjoy!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Tip Hero

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: Wrap the cake in aluminum foil and freeze for a quick treat later.

Make a Tasty Side For Any Gathering Without Straining Yourself Too Much Doing It

Give that favorite mac salad recipe of yours a new rival with this Hawaiian Macaroni Salad recipe!  It’s incredibly simple to put together and makes for a great side for most any large gathering. To be honest with you, sometimes I have this for lunch on its own, instead of serving it as a side dish! Though perhaps not QUITE as ubiquitous as cole slaw or potato salad, you will see macaroni salad, or “mac salad” as it is often called, at many a tailgate, barbecue, potluck, and picnic across America, particularly in the South.

This Hawaiian mac salad, though very similar to the Southern version of which I am the most familiar, does something a little different with the dressing and makes use of a somewhat different vegetable mixture, so I thought I would give this variation a try.

My husband really enjoyed this version of mac salad and I was super surprised. You see, my hubby is quite particular about his mac salad and he doesn’t like the recipe to be changed up in the least. Welp, he enjoyed this version. Winning!

Recipe and photo courtesy of I Believe I Can Fry

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick Tip: For a heartier salad, add in a few peeled and sliced hard-boiled eggs.

These Oven-Toasted Cheesesteak Sandwiches are so filling and savory, and they only take about half an hour to put together (maybe just a little longer if you have to slice the meat yourself).  This really is a fantastic, low-hassle subway sandwich, great for an easy meal at home. If you like the traditional Philly cheesesteak, you’ll love this sandwich, and it’s really surprisingly quick and easy to put together.  Gotta love that meat & cheese combo!

As you can probably tell, this recipe is designed for two people, though you can expand it rather easily to accommodate dinner for a full family without adding to your cooking time.  I have read that some Asian supermarkets have steak already thinly sliced for you; if that’s not an option, though, just allow yourself a bit of extra time to slice up the meat.  These make for a great lunch item, as well.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Table For Two

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: Homemade rolls would make this even more delicious!

As the name suggests, this John Wayne Casserole delivers the classic flavor of the American West with little hassle or beating around the bush.  After 20 minutes of basic prep, just put everything in your slow cooker and leave it alone until it’s ready. I bet John Wayne himself could have handled it!

It really is hard to beat a Crock-Pot for convenience… just toss everything in, go about your day, and then you have a nice meal waiting for you when you get back home.  It’s perfect for making nice, filling casseroles.  And I have always been drawn to Western and Tex-Mex cuisine by its generous use of cheese and herbs to make savory and filling meat dishes without too much hassle. This one is a keeper for sure!

Recipe and photo courtesy of The Magical Slow Cooker

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: Leftovers reheat beautifully, so if you have a large slow cooker, double the batch!

This Pumpkin Coffee Cake has a creative and yummy topping and makes for a great and easy cake for fall.  Have it ready in about an hour. As the name suggests, coffee cakes are relatively simple creations, designed to be eaten at home with your family or a small group with a good cup of coffee on the side.  Throwing pumpkin into the mix makes for a nice way to welcome the onset of autumn.

Since the core of this recipe is a simple cake mix, there is rather little hassle involved here.  Many coffee cakes are made with little or no topping; I thought that the graham cracker and pecan mixture was a nice touch, especially with a simple cream cheese glaze. Of course, I do recommend having some nice, hot coffee with this.  Depending on your preferred coffee blend, you may consider mixing a touch of cinnamon into it to complement the flavor of the cake in a festive, seasonal fashion.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Three Kids and a Fish

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: Serve with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream!

If you are in a bit of a food rut over good sides, consider this Bacon Balsamic Brussels Sprouts recipe.  Though you can make them any time of year, these Brussels sprouts are particularly good for winter or fall, and even many people who profess a dislike of Brussels sprouts will find a way to like this recipe.

I actually like Brussels sprouts even relatively plain (you could say that I have found to appreciate a wide variety of different flavors in my time), but even I get a bit bored with having them the same-old, same-old way.  This recipe gives that green vegetable a refreshing new spin, using two of my favorite flavors: the sweetly acidic taste of good balsamic vinegar and the savory taste of bacon.

Recipe and photo courtesy of Goodie Godmother

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: Stalk is not necessary for this dish, so you can use whatever Brussel sprouts you can find.

This simple apple cinnamon cake is anything but that! With a moist inside that is gluten free, and a crispy crust that makes you go for “one more bite”, this hassle-free cake is simply delicious. It is the perfect pair for your coffee or tea. It’s also not only great at breakfast time, but as an after dinner treat too!

The surprising thing about this beautiful apple cake is that there is no sugar in the recipe! You heard me – none! The sweetness comes from pure maple syrup, but if you can’t find that, you could use honey instead. This is such a great, not overly sweet dessert – but if you want more sweetness you could simply serve this with a scoop of vanilla ice-cream, or some white sugar frosting drizzled on top!

Recipe and photo courtesy of Amy’s Healthy Baking

USE THE RED NEXT PAGE LINK BELOW FOR THE RECIPE AND INGREDIENTS

Quick tip: For best results, slice the cake with a sharp serrated knife.