A Cooks Best Friend

Here’s a recipe for delicious homemade apple pie.  In addition to the ingredients, you’ll need a pie pan and a saucepan. Ingredients:

1 9 inch double pie crust (yes we could make our own, but this is so much easier!)
½ cup unsalted butter
3 tbsp. flour
½ cup sugar
½ cup brown sugar (packed)
¼ cup water
8 apples (peeled, cored, and sliced)

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 425 F.  Melt the butter in a saucepan, and then add the flour, stirring until it is thick.  Add water, sugars, and bring to a boil.  Once boiling, reduce the heat and let simmer.  Place the bottom crust in your pie pan, and put in the apples.  Cover with the second latticed crust, and then pour the sugar and butter liquid over the crust, ensuring you pour slow to prevent spills.  Bake the pie for 15 minutes, then reduce the temperature to 350 F until the apples are softened.  Let cool, serve, and enjoy!

Here’s a recipe for delicious peanut butter-chocolate cookies.  In addition to the ingredients, you will need a mixer, a couple mixing bowls, and a cookie sheet or two. Ingredients:

2 ¼ cups of flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
¾ cup softened butter
¼ cup peanut butter
¾ cup sugar
¾ cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup chocolate chips

Directions:

Preheat the oven to 350.  Combine the flour, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl and set it aside.  Beat the butter, sugars, and vanilla in a mixing bowl until smooth.  Add the eggs and beat well.  Stir in the flour mixture and chocolate chips.  Drop rounded spoonfuls on an ungreased cookie sheet, then cook for 11-13 minutes.  Let cool, and enjoy!

Here is a recipe for excellent banana nut muffins—enjoy!

• 2 eggs
• 2 ripe bananas (mashed)
• 1 cup of buttermilk
• 1 stick of butter (softened)
• 2 cups of flour
• ½ cup of chopped pecans
• 1 cup of granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon of vanilla
• 1 teaspoon of salt
• 1 teaspoon of baking powder
• ½ teaspoon of baking soda
  

1. Preheat the oven to 400 F, and grease your standard 12 muffin pan.
2. Beat together butter and sugar, then add eggs and beat thoroughly, then beat in bananas until the mixture is smooth.
3. Mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda, and then stir the flour mixture and buttermilk into the egg mixture.
4. Stir in the chopped pecans and vanilla.
5. Spoon batter into the muffin pan, filling each tin about 2/3 full.
6. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden brown.