a baby shower brunch

On Saturday a few girls from my church, my sister, and mother got together and threw me and Miss Evaleigh a baby shower.  It was so much fun and it meant so much to me to be supported by all of these special ladies in my life, many of which have known me and my sister since we were pre-teens.  I am in awe of their generosity and creativity!

It was a lovely brunch filled with REAL life baby advice, birthing stories, and lots of laughter.

(i love that this glass jar says "Prego".  quite fitting for a baby shower don't cha think?)

The menu included:

Creamy Dreamy Grits Flying Biscuit Style

Breakfast Casserole

Susan Biscuits

Fresh Fruit

and

Waffle Skewers

She sure is!  

And we are more ready than ever...bring on that little girl so we can change her outfits 30 times a day.  Goodness knows we now have enough clothes to swing something like that!

Thank you so much to everyone who made it a perfect day.

Bananas Two-ways

We are going to start a series of posts called "Two-ways".

We are going to be making two completely different dishes out of one common ingredient.

Bananas

Today we are

doing:

Banana Cupcakes with Cream Cheese Frosting

AND

Sour Cream Banana Pancakes

(compliments of the Flying Biscuit Cookbook)

Cupcakes:

1/2 cup shortening

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup mashed ripe bananas

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 cups all purpose flour

1 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1. In a large mixing bowl, cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, vanilla, bananas, and buttermilk. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in separate bowl; add to banana mixture.

2. Bake at 350 for 15 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.

3. Cool completely.

Cream Cheese Frosting:

2 cups powdered sugar

1/2 cup butter (1 stick)

3 tbsp milk

2 tsp vanilla extract

(for the butter I do a half and half mixture of cream cheese and butter, it really makes the difference, and thats what makes it cream cheese frosting!)

Add all ingredients and mix well together. (make sure you taste some for yourself before it goes on the cupcakes, I always like to eat as I bake!)

We had the cupcakes for a dessert for a jam sesh night.

I have made these cupcakes for John to take to work for his coworkers and it was a big hit. He said there was a discussion as to the true nature of the cupcake. The men said it is the perfect cross between a cupcake, banana bread, and a muffin. You decide!

NEXT UP....

Sour Cream Banana Pancakes

Yes, please! I got this cookbook from a family who I babysit for. She said she hadn't used it in over two years! So, she let me "borrow" it, but I'm going to see what I can do about making this a permanent arrangement.

(If you can't see this recipe very well and you want the specifics, please message me!)

The batter is tres tres tres thick! Beware.

John made some fried bananas to go on top and then garnished with a sprinkle of powdered sugar! The recipe didn't call for that but he is a genius.

We think Jack Johnson had it right...

And these definitely don't have to wait until the weekend.