2 1/2 Cups Bran Cereal*

1 1/2 Cups Buttermilk

1 3/4 Cups Flour (sifted)

1 egg

1/3 cup Oil

1 Cup Raisins*

1/2 Cup Sugar

1/2 Cup Brown Sugar (packed)

1 TB Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Soda

1/8 tsp Salt

1 Cup chopped Pecans (optional)
Mix together Bran Cereal and Buttermilk and set aside (Bran will soften).  Meanwhile combine flour, baking powder, soda, salt, raisins and nuts in a separate bowl and set aside.  When bran has softened add egg, oil and sugars and mix well.  Gradually add dry ingredients to the wet ingredients in three stages.  Mix until combined.  Do Not Over mix.  Fill muffin Tins about 2/3’s full.  Bake at 400 degrees for 15-20 minutes.

Note: These can be made with Bran Cereal that already has raisins in it.  When using this option increase cereal to 3 Cups and leave out extra cup of Raisins.

Enjoy!

Bread Pudding has been such a popular dessert in my family for many years probably because it was not expensive to make.  My grandparents were Sharecroppers so milk, eggs and butter were always available.   This is such an easy recipe just mix everything up and bake.  It is a great way to use up day-old bread too!

6 - 8 Cups Any Style Bread
4 Cups Milk
2 Cups Sugar
4 Tbs Butter (melted and cooled)
3 eggs
2 Tbs Vanilla
1 Cup Raisins
1 Cup Coconut
2 Cups Chopped Pecans

Combine all ingredients and mix just until moistened.  Poor into a buttered Casserole dish or 9×9 inch Pan and bake at 375 degrees for 1 hour 15 minutes.  Do not Pre-heat Oven.

If you are one of the thousands who follow a diet then you will love this alternative to real Pizza. It is a much healthier way of getting your Pizza Fix. First I took a Whole Wheat, Whole Grain Bun and lightly buttered it. Then I toasted in under the broiler in my oven but just until it was slightly golden brown. Next I sprinkled it with some shredded Parmesan cheese then placed a layer of pepperoni* on top of the cheese. I then spooned about a tablespoon or two of Suger-Free tomato sauce on top of the pepperoni. Next I layered some cut up chicken and shredded pizza cheeses on top to finish it off. Place it back in the oven on 400 degrees until cheese is nice and bubbly. It was delicious. You can layer it with any of your favorite toppings including lean bacon or ham. Make a few at a time and bring one to Work for a great lunch!

Alternatives:
Use Low Fat cheeses and lean meats.
Use BBQ Sauce instead of Tomato or Pizza sauce for a different flavor.
Cut them up in to four for mini appetizers.

*I microwaved the pepperoni for about 20 to 30 seconds to get the oil of it before I put it on my pizza.

Banana Bread is a great snack for anytime of day. You can eat it for Breakfast, Brunch or with afternoon Tea or Coffee. This Bread is so easy to make too. You don’t even need a mixer or bread maker. Just follow the recipe below. It makes one loaf.

1 1/2 Cups Sugar
1 Stick Butter (softened)
1 3/4 Cups Flour
1 Cup Ripe Bananas, mashed (2-3 bananas)
2 Eggs
1/2 Cup Buttermilk*
1 tsp Soda
1 tsp Vanilla
1 cup Chopped Pecans or Walnuts

Cream sugar and butter. Add eggs, vanilla and buttermilk and mix. Sift together flour and soda and add to wet mixture in 3 parts stirring just until mixed. Add bananas and nuts then mix until incorporated. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for approximately 1 1/2 hours.

* - You can substitute 2 teaspoons of Vinegar in 1/2 cup of Milk for Buttermilk.

My Mother was a great cook and she taught me everything she knew. She would always tell me a story about my grandparents and Aunts and Uncles when they were young and the foods that they enjoyed. I loved hearing the stories. It made learning about the recipes that much more fun.

One of our families’ favorite recipes was Mom’s Cornbread. She and my Dad both grew up eating it. It’s great as a side dish to any meal especially Red Beans and Rice or Chilli but my parents would eat it with just milk in a bowl like you would eat cereal. They told me that growing up it was sometimes eaten as a main meal.

However you choose to eat this cornbread, I hope that you enjoy it as much as my family has.

2 1/4 cups Corn Meal
1 1/2 cups Flour
3 teaspoons Baking Powder
1 1/2 teaspoons Baking Soda
1 teaspoon Salt
2-4 tablespoons Sugar (as desired)
1/3 cup Cooking Oil
1 1/2 cups Milk or Buttermilk
3 Eggs

Mix all ingredients well and pour into a well greased Black Iron Skillet. Bake at 450 Degrees for about 25 minutes.