By Melissa Mc

1. I made this eggless banana bread yesterday (for the sole reason that we were out of eggs but had bananas), and it turned out quite tasty. I always enjoyed banana bread as an after-school snack growing up. The recipe I usually use has insanely large amounts of sugar in it, which may be why I like it so much. But I don’t have that one handy.

   http://www.recipezaar.com/Eggless-Banana-Bread-177031

   Comment #1 by kaduseyAugust 17th, 2009 at 5:38 pm

2. The BEST BROWNIES EVER.

   1 stick butter
   1 cup white sugar
   1/2 cup brown sugar
   2 eggs
   3/4 cup flour
   1/2 cup cocoa
   pinch of salt
   1 TBSP vanilla

   Melt the butter in a pan. Dump all the rest of the ingredients in the butter pan with the melted butter. Stir till combined. Pour into lined 8×8 baking dish. Bake at 400 degrees for about 20 minutes.

   Let cool 1 hour.
   The cooling is the hardest part. But let them cool. They are the perfect mix of fudgy insides, chewy crust with just that little bit of crunch on top that makes them DIVINE. (it’s from the high sugar/flour ratio, for any Foodies reading)

   I got this recipe from Black Apple, and have made them three times this last week. Really. BEST brownie EVER. And only one pot to wash. Really, could they be any easier?

   Comment #2 by Tracy MAugust 17th, 2009 at 6:46 pm

3. Campfire stew:

   – brown 1 lb ground beef; pour off grease.
   – stir in two cans of Campbell’s Vegetable Soup, plus one can of water. Bring to a boil.

   Serve. For a special dinner, bake up some refrigerated rolls (e.g., Pillsbury Grands).

   Comment #3 by bfwebsterAugust 17th, 2009 at 6:58 pm

4. From my bachelor kitchen:

   For a one-pan dinner, ready in under 15 minutes:

   This makes a full meal for me.

   I put about 1-1/4 to 1-1/2 cup of Kroger frozen mixed vegetables (from a bag, $1/pound when on sale) in a glass drinking glass, enough to fill the glass. Then fill with water. Microwave it 3 minutes on high, then 3 minutes on defrost/warm. (Learn the right time so it doesn’t boil over. I used a glass instead of a bowl because I can fit more of them in the dish-washer.)

   I plan ahead and defrost the frozen meat in the fridge for 24 hours.

   While the veggies are microwaving, I brown 6 to 7 ounces of ground round, or ground chicken breast in a fry pan. I use round-steak ($2.20/pound on sale, or chicken breast at $1.97/pound) that I’ve ground and frozen in individual servings, so it’s like 95% lean (98% for chicken breast), therefore I add something like corn oil or grape-seed oil to fry it. Ground chicken breast will definitely need added oil, but if you use ground chuck, or regular ground chicken, don’t add oil, and you may need to drain the fat before adding the rest of the ingredients.

   When the veggies are done in the micro, the meat is cooked. I pour the veggies along with the hot water in the fry pan. I also add about 1 cup of cheap salsa ($1.00 per pound, or $1.50/24-oz, from Big Lots or Aldi).

   Then I add a small amount of quick-cooking pasta in the form of thin “somen” noodles, or 1/4 cup of cous-cous. (Lots healthier than fried ramen.) Either one will cook in about 3 minutes.

   The water that was added to fill the glass of veggies and the salsa usually is enough, but if not, add some water that the somen or cous-cous can absorb.

   I like it when it ends up a thick casserole like. You can add a table-spoon of corn starch for more thickness.

   Salsa usually has enough salt that you don’t need to add salt.

   As a change up, use barbecue sauce instead of salsa. BBQ sauce also has enough salt, and some has a lot of sugars.

   Omit the veggies or the pasta/cous-cous as another change-up. Other variations include using different varities of frozen veg, such as Stir Fry, California Mix, etc.

   Comment #4 by BookslingerAugust 17th, 2009 at 7:08 pm

5. So, this is a favorite around here. It is mac & cheese but so yummy kids don’t even notice all the vegetables in it. At least my kids haven’t yet…..

   http://ladyofperpetualchaos.blogspot.com/2009/07/recipe-swap-wednesday-homemade-mac.html

   Comment #5 by Lady of Perpetual ChaosAugust 17th, 2009 at 7:55 pm

6. Important note: With kids, Never ask. Just serve.
   These are kids, howdy, and anything with sugar will thrill their little hearts. Special=no fuss, no mess and a happy child. If they want mac and cheese, just open the box of happy orange cheese powder, and then create a delicious treat [preferably chocolate, of course] like brownies a la mode or ice cream sandwiches using homemade chocolate chip cookies as the sandwich part. Keep it simple, baby!

   Comment #6 by JennyAugust 17th, 2009 at 8:03 pm

7. check out this great website I’ve been using lately mykitchencafe.blogspot.com.

   The recipes rock.

   Comment #7 by lizAugust 17th, 2009 at 8:50 pm

8. No! You guys are misunderstanding me! IT’s the BEST brownie recipe EVER! EV-AR! I SAY!!!!

   Comment #8 by Tracy MAugust 17th, 2009 at 9:38 pm

9. one of our favorite treats is microwave s’mores.

   Stick a marshmallow (or a few mini mallows) and a few choco chips on a graham square and microwave for about 6 seconds…just until they start to puff. Then pull it out and top with another square. My kids loooove these.

   Comment #9 by AubreyAugust 17th, 2009 at 9:40 pm

10. My kids love peaches and cream. When the peaches are in season and cheap, we wash, peel and slice them up, add some half and half, some milk and a little bit of sugar. Mix it up and put in fridge for a couple of hours. Good stuff.

    Comment #10 by mormonhermitmomAugust 17th, 2009 at 9:45 pm

11. Tracy, I believe you. And if my eyes weren’t drooping already, I’d be making them right now. But I’m afraid I’d fall asleep once they’re in the oven and burn them to a crisp. Must. Wait. ‘Til. Morning.

    If you say they’re the Best EV-AR! in caps, no less, it’s like you’re reaching through my monitor, shaking my shoulders with vigor and vim.

    Two points to the person who can identify that primary song.

    Comment #11 by AhnaAugust 17th, 2009 at 10:20 pm

12. Oh, and the best kid-pleasing meal I know is Frito Pie. Heat up some chili or baked beans. Have each child use scissors to cut open the long side of their very own small bag of Fritos. Right in the bag, plop in a scoop of chili or beans. Sprinkle on some cheese. And if you want to be healthy, add in green onions, peppers, other veggie type stuff. Ooh..and I like sour cream too.

    Then here’s the best part: eat it directly out of the bag. It’s a one fork meal. And only the pot of beans to clean up. Unless you go up the canyon and heat up the can over the fire. Then there’s nothing to clean up.

    And the villagers rejoice.

    Comment #12 by AhnaAugust 17th, 2009 at 10:26 pm

13. Thank you Ahna. I needed validation. I’m feeling particularly needy.

    Comment #13 by Tracy MAugust 18th, 2009 at 12:40 am

14. vigor and vim!
    Hum Your Favorite Hymn!!
    Love that song.

    Comment #14 by JennyAugust 18th, 2009 at 4:43 am

15. All the spoils go to Jenny! Well played. Now I’m off to go make the Best Brownies EV-AR!

    Comment #15 by AhnaAugust 18th, 2009 at 6:03 am

16. Well, for in school meals, a boy in my class takes the cake! Hi mom puts raw Mr. Noodle/Ramen Noodle in a thermos with boiling water and they are cooked by lunch time. yum!

    After school cookies are always my favourite. Grab a few oatmeal raisin cookies with some milk and it is practically like health food.

    Comment #16 by LisaCAugust 18th, 2009 at 6:23 am

17. I’m with Jenny. Go with the orange powder of doom and make something yummy for dessert. Kids want/need/love simple.

    Comment #17 by AshleyAugust 18th, 2009 at 8:38 am

18. Orange powder of doom!!! That cracked me up!!! Thanks for letting me know I’m not the only mom fixing blue boxed dinners.
    Who ever is the first one to fix Tracy’s BEST EVER BROWNIES, better report back! I just got home from vacation, and my cupboards are bare. The grocery store and your suggestions await my excursion tomorrow.

    Comment #18 by Melissa McAugust 18th, 2009 at 11:07 am

19. Just put Tracy’s brownie’s in the oven to bake. The batter was delicious. Have to wait and see how they taste once they are cooked and cooled.

    Comment #19 by KristenAugust 18th, 2009 at 5:02 pm

20. Tracy, I am totally making your brownies. I like the fact they will make my kids AND me happy. But mostly me.

    Comment #20 by AmyAugust 18th, 2009 at 10:00 pm

21. *crickets*

    …well?

    Comment #21 by Tracy MAugust 18th, 2009 at 11:19 pm

22. Made Tracy’s brownies…loved, loved, loved them. So easy and they had the best flavor to them. Chewy in the middle, crispy top. Just as she described and tempted…

    Comment #22 by KellieAugust 19th, 2009 at 7:58 am

23. Your kids are back at school? Happy day. My kids would eat pizza five days a week if I could stand to make it that much.

    The best after-school snack as far as my kids are concerned is brownies, sliced apples, and a glass of milk. That’s straight out of one of the Mrs. Piggle-Wiggle books. I’ll have to try Tracy’s recipe.

    Not a snack/dinner, but a back to school recipe that I use extensively:

    Breakfast Burritos

    I usually make two or three dozen at a time and then the kids can pull them out of the freezer and microwave them and don’t have to eat cold cereal every day. (It’s a violation of the terms of my contract as their mother to cook breakfast before seven o’clock in the morning.)

    Comment #23 by ResearcherAugust 19th, 2009 at 8:22 am

24. So, the kids decided on “Taco Bar” for dinner — and granola bars for after school. So much for me trying to do something special!! I am making Nutter Butter Banana Pudding Trifle for dessert — I’ll let you know how they like it!

    Comment #24 by Melissa McAugust 19th, 2009 at 11:14 am

25. I, too, tried the brownies. First off, they are the best tasting brownie I’ve had. They were just as yummy as described, however, I think that next time I will cook them for 23 minutes, as they were still just a hair too gooey in the middle, even by this morning when they had fully cooled. Two thumbs up! And very easy.

    Comment #25 by StrollerbladerAugust 19th, 2009 at 11:34 am

26. A taco bar for dinner sounds delicious to me.

    Comment #26 by kaduseyAugust 19th, 2009 at 11:50 am

27. Yummmmmmmmmm. The Best Brownies EV-AR.

    That’s all I have to say. Because I have to go eat some more.

    Except…has anyone tried doubling in a 9×13 pan? My husband will never get any unless this is possible.

    Comment #27 by AhnaAugust 19th, 2009 at 2:04 pm

28. ALL HAIL TRACY — QUEEN OF BROWNIES!!

    Comment #28 by Melissa McAugust 19th, 2009 at 2:11 pm

29. Tracy when you say “lined” do you mean greased or parchment paper?

    Comment #29 by ModdyAugust 19th, 2009 at 3:02 pm

30. I use a parchment or tinfoil “sling”- so I can just lift the whole kit and caboodle from the pan. I should have said “cook 20-25 minutes” and it would have been more accurate.

    I’m so happy you all have the secret to THE BEST BROWNIES EV-AR!

    Ahna, I haven’t tried to double, but I cannot see why it wouldn’t work… Maybe a few more minutes in the oven…

    Comment #30 by Tracy MAugust 19th, 2009 at 4:00 pm

31. These brownies are the best!! Thanks for a new recipe that will totally derail my plan to watch what I eat. Now I will watch half the pan go down the hatch!

    Comment #31 by AngieAugust 19th, 2009 at 9:24 pm

32. My way around “blue box guilt” is to stir in chopped up steamed broccoli and diced ham. My kids gobble it up; something about the ham/broccoli/cheese flavor that everyone seems to enjoy.

    Comment #32 by SnowWhiteAugust 21st, 2009 at 4:59 am

33. […] The Wiz called, or, rather, I think I called her. I was bored, trying to figure out what to make for dessert tonight. She suggested Tracy’s BEST BROWNIES EVER. J was plunking out songs from “The Sound of Music” on the piano, and since he was trying to play the songs by ear, there was a lot of repetition, which means The Wiz got an earful of “Do Re Mi” played at doublespeed, over and over. […]

    Pingback #33 by Mormon Mommy Wars » That which makes them strongerAugust 21st, 2009 at 2:49 pm

34. for us non-Americans, how much is “1 stick of butter” in weight please?

    Comment #34 by namakemonoAugust 21st, 2009 at 4:21 pm

35. 1 stick is a 1/4 lb. — or 8 tbsps. If you need it in metric, I can’t help!!

    Comment #35 by Melissa McAugust 21st, 2009 at 4:24 pm

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