Banana Split Freeze

This is one of my husband's family recipes, they compiled recipes from his Dad's family back in the early 90s and made a spiral cookbook just for the family. I got his Grandma's copy after she passed. This was apparently his favorite dessert ever and he's been begging me to make it forever so I finally did. It's pretty good! Frozen bananas are an acquired taste but once you get over that its really good. Could see changing up the flavors of ice cream and chips and fruit and making different tasty things. I made it with reduced fat evaporated milk and reduced fat ice cream and it tasted fine.

Banana Split Freeze

1 cup crushed graham cracker crumbs
2-3 bananas sliced
1/2 gallon of ice cream, softened (I used vanilla, recipe called for marbled fudge)

13oz can evaporated milk
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter or margarine
2 cups powdered (confectioners) sugar
1 cup chocolate chips
1 tsp vanilla

whipped cream and nuts optional

Spray or butter a 9x13 pan. Spread crushed graham crackers over the bottom, line with banana slices then spread ice cream over top. Freeze. Combine the evaporated milk, butter, powdered sugar, and chocolate chips in a saucepan over medium heat until melted. Bring to a boil then remove from heat and stir in vanilla. Pour over top of the ice cream (it will all melt it and combine, I guess this is normal). (The original recipe called for covering it in whipped cream and nuts, I didn't.) Cover and stick it back in the freezer. Best made the night before so it can be totally frozen.

recent recipe experiments and an old favorite

I made this the other night, Aloha Chicken. Next time I will probably get boneless chicken as I hate dealing with bones when I eat. I also threw the whole can of pineapple in and used fresh ginger (in a jar) rather than ground. Had good flavor without being overpowering, Dad and Chris liked it too. We had it with rice, peas/carrots and an Asian dressing salad.

When Chris was working late one night and Dad was at Knights of Columbus I had this Easy Quiche. It was really good (and really easy) but just make sure you use the correct pan. I had an opportunity with a river of quiche in my kitchen because I was dumb and used a pan with a bottom that comes out. Liquid finds the path of least resistance ;) I used a mozzarella blend instead of cheddar and it was still good :)

This cheddar beer bread was disgusting, never ever make it. Way too heavy on the seasonings to make it as written, I didn't have time to read the reviews.

The old favorite is the chicken enchiladas we've made for years. I think it is originally from a cookbook called the Colorado Cache cookbook. It's what's for dinner tonight with some of the chichis corn cake stuff you add a can of corn, butter, & water to and bake :)

CHICKEN ENCHILADAS

2 large chicken breasts, poached
1 cup chopped onion
1 clove garlic, minced
2 tablespoons butter
1 – 16 oz can diced tomatoes
1 – 8 oz can tomato sauce
¼ cup chopped, mild green chilies
1 teaspoon sugar
1 teaspoon ground cumin
½ teaspoon salt
½ teaspoon oregano
½ teaspoon basil
12 corn tortillas
2 cups Monterrey jack

Cut chicken in strips and salt to taste; set aside. In a saucepan sauté onion and garlic in butter until soft. Add tomatoes, tomato sauce, chilies, sugar, cumin, oregano and basil. Bring to a boil, reduce heat and simmer, covered for approximately 20 minutes. Remove from heat; dip each tortilla in tomato mixture to soften. Place a piece of chicken and two tablespoons of cheese on each tortilla. Roll up and place seam side down in an ungreased 9x13 pan. Blend sour cream into remaining sauce mixture and pour over enchiladas. Sprinkle top with remaining cheese. Bake covered at 350 F for 40 minutes.