Bella Dia

Sweet Bran Muffins

My favorite homemade made-from-scratch muffin - and it's good for you too!

Sweet Bran Muffins

This recipe makes a lot of muffins but you can keep the batter in the fridge to make fresh muffins or you can make them all up and freeze them. I add raisins to my version - at least 2 cups.

Mix 2 cups of boiling water and 2 cups All Bran cereal. Let cool.

3 cups sugar
1 cup oil
5 tsp. soda
1 tsp. salt
4 eggs
1 qt. of buttermilk
5 cups flour
4 cups All Bran cereal

Mix sugar, oil, soda, and salt with bran mixture. Add eggs one at a time mixing after each. Add buttermilk, then flour. Beat well then fold in last 4 cups of All Bran. Grease muffin tin and fill 3/4 full - the muffins don't rise very much - and bake in 350 degree oven for 25 to 30 minutes. Makes 4 dozen muffins. Batter may be kept in refrigerator for several weeks. Do not restir.

Happy Fourth of July & My Best Mojito Recipe

I started making this drink last year and everyone who has had one said it's the best ever. Two things make the difference here: key limes - you can use regular limes but get key limes if you can, and lots of mint leaves. I get ours from my mother's garden but to get that refreshing minty taste don't hold back on this key ingredient.

Here's what you need for one serving (about 12 oz):

1/8 to 1/4 cup Bacardi rum (1/8 cup for my sister and I, 1/4 cup for everyone else)
2 - 4 splashes of bitters (you can buy this at the grocery store)
juice from 1 key lime, maybe a little more
1/3 cup fresh mint leaves washed and dried
2 - 3 tsp sugar (it's a bit to taste)
10 oz bottle of tonic water already cold
crushed ice

In a smallish round bottom bowl combine the mint leaves, the sugar, and the lime juice. You need to mash the mint leaves really well so use the back of a spoon or something comparable to get the job done. (I use a wooden Mexican hot chocolate mixer - I know, odd, but it's what I had that worked.) Spend a little time mashing the mint, ultimately you want it to look like cooked spinach, then set it aside. Fill your glass/cup about 1/2 way with crushed ice then fill about 2/3's of the way with tonic water. Add the rum and a few splashes of bitters. Now pour your mint mash in and fill the rest of the way with tonic. Stir or shake really well. Top with a fresh sprig of mint and give it to someone you love!

Have a Happy Fourth of July everyone!

Banana Bread

I'm not big on cooking and it can be very trying when you have three kids asking you, "what's for breakfast? what's for lunch? what's for dinner?" over and over and over again. I'm just telling you this so you'll know that if I post a recipe it has got to be easy and very good! That's exactly what this recipe for banana bread is. Be sure to use very ripe bananas and the flavor will be even more spectacular. It makes 3 loaves and freezes very well too.

Banana Cream Bread

Makes 3 loaves.
Preheat oven to 325.
Grease and flour 3 loaf pans.

1 1/3 cup oil
3 cups sugar
4 eggs
6 ripe mashed bananas
1 cup sour cream (I've used fat free and haven't found that it makes any difference)
1 Tbsp vanilla
1 1/2 tsp salt

Mix until smooth, then add:

4 cups unbleached flour
1 1/2 tsp baking soda

Mix just until blended - do not over mix.

Divide into loaf pans, filling 2/3rds full. Bake for 40 - 60 minutes until top is lightly brown and a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Let cool for about 5 minutes before turning out onto cooling racks. Enjoy!

Holiday Cheer

Caramel Apple Cider

This is so easy and delicious,
you're going to love it!

What you need:
caramel sundae syrup (I use Smucker's but any brand you would put on ice cream)
apple cider
whip cream (I use Redi-Whip, extra creamy)

What you do:
Squeeze a little caramel syrup in the bottom of a coffee mug, about a teaspoon.
Fill with apple cider and heat in the microwave until hot, then stir.
Top off with whip cream and a drizzle of more caramel syrup.

This is my own version of Starbucks'
Caramel Apple Cider. They use cinnamon
syrup in the bottom instead of caramel topping. It's obviously very easy but it
looks so special and would be great for
a holiday party or someone just stopping by.