Bananas

     When life gives you lemons, make lemon-aide. 

     When life hands you scraps, make a quilt. 

     When life gives you brown bananas, make banana bread.

     There are any number of ways 'out there' on the net for keeping bananas from turning brown. But let's face it, regardless of all your efforts, bananas will turn brown.

     

     We've been told for years to throw those brown bananas in the freezer, then when there are enough collected, thaw them and make banana bread. Saving instead of tossing IS good. But . . .

     Have you ever tried to handle frozen bananas as they thaw? They remind me of okra. Or snails. Or slugs.

   

     My youngest daughter offered a simple, yet brilliant idea. Peel the bananas BEFORE freezing. Stick them in a plastic-for-freezer bag. Then, when you have enough, thaw and make banana bread. You can even mash them IN the bag!

     Share your great ideas with me and I'll share them with the world.

     Here's my email address . . Just click on that link and you can email me. I will never sell or spam your email.

© 2016 Cat Brennan

Tropical Country

     Maybe you would like to fly off to Bermuda, sail the Caribbean or just hop down to Florida!  If that's not an option, bring the tropics home from your favorite fruit stand or grocery store.  I've just added a new recipe on the page above CAT FOOD - Let me know how you like Tropical Fruit Ice Freezey©.  It's a new recipe I've just put together using currently available fruit. 

     Peaches and mangoes just naturally go together, so try your hand at this easy-peasey fruity dish; it's not overwhelmingly sweet, and Goldilocks would say, "It's just right"!

A Fiesta in the Country!

¡Viva, La Fiesta!

I had a Fiesta for my April Birthday Celebration. My family is scattered all over the country; about half of us live on the east coast and most of the rest in the great Southwest with a few sprinkled in the mid-west. As a result, birthday gifts will often arrive over a period of several days - NOT a problem! and therefore, our birthdays are Fiestas.  ¡Arriba!

This was my Fiesta Menu:

   Tamale Pie (My own recipe)

   Authentic Guacamole (My mom's recipe)
   Chile con Queso (my recipe) a wee bit spicy!
   Salsa with Chips (Thank you Señor Pace)
   Biscochitos (Cookies traditionally made at Christmas time in Mexican homes. The     Biscochito is the OFFICIAL COOKIE OF THE STATE OF NEW MEXICO  per LEGISLATION).

   We used napkins that I made from a 'hot' chili pepper cotton print.  My birthday cake was not of "fiesta" origin; rather my mom's 'famous' Christmas Cake with the most delicious Cooked Brown Sugar Icing you've ever had (Brown Sugar ANYTHING is to ME what Chocolate is to Choco-holics). 

   Of course, we had  beverages: Ginger Ale or Peach Margaritas (Instead of the traditional salt on regular margarita glasses, we rimmed them with  lime and dipped in red sugar).  We used wine glass charms with little Red Chili Peppers that I fashioned from Fimo™ Clay then I added a small wooden heart with each guest's name printed on it; both attached to a hooked wire loop and around the glass stem .. no mixing up who's margarita glass was who's. 

   Those were fun to make and practical.  I have a can of Black Blackboard Paint (thank you Free Cycle), so I painted the simple little wooden hearts with that. Then, I penned each guest's name on them with Chalk Ink™. This medium will wipe off with a damp cloth, so the charms can be reused.

   We talked. laughed, and ate; and yes, I received a lot of wonderful gifts.

   If you need help with your Fiesta, I'll be glad to share recipes with you;

 just send me a message or an email.

  Have a great weekend whether you live in the country, or just wish you did!

© 2012 Cat Brennan

Country Easy

Does this look delicious, or what?!?  I got this recipe from my sister, June, who writes, "Cat, I got this recipe from my friend and quilt buddy, Beth Sprayberry." . It's called 3-2-1 Cake. 
I have not  yet tried this recipe, but only because I don't have an angel food cake mix in the house.  Go to the CAT FOOD page above for the complete recipe.  Proper credit is with the recipe, and it sounds, not only easy, but fun, and delicious too. 

I titled this blog Country Easy because this recipe just sounds so easy.  Let me know what you think of the recipe and please, do try it. This seems like one of those ideas that was long in coming and short on work. I'm going to make this and it will be so handy when someone drops in unannounced.

Click on the CAT FOOD page right now to see this easy dessert.

© 2012 Cat Brennan

Country Jars Part IV

Repurposing ideas for jars are still trickling in; this latest from sister, June, who lives in NM. 


This is one cool idea, and I hope I can relate the story as June told it to me.  Recently, a visitor brought Banana Pudding to a function at June's; not just ANY Banana Pudding ... individual servings of Banana Pudding in small jars with lids and rings!
The pudding was put into little half-pint canning jars; a perfect serving size (8 oz), these little jars have a wide mouth, making them easy to access the food with a spoon.  These jars are normally used for jellies and jams, but what a wonderful country idea.  She brought them in a basket and June refrigerated the lot until time to serve dessert. 


To dress up the jars, the friend added pretty paper on top of each lid and THEN added the ring.  You have probably fitted pieces of fabric onto jar tops to gain a real country-hand-made look, but the paper is a clever twist: pick your season, theme, color .. endless ideas.


Don't forget to send your Christmas Ideas to me soon! 

Be sure to check out  Cat's CHRISTMAS, Country Style page for a new idea that you may want to "borrow".  That's where your ideas will be posted as they come in - pictures from you would be nice, too!! Be sure to check back often!!!
Happy Country Times to you.
© 2011 Cat Brennan © 2011 Aunt Cat's Place