Banana Cake A Cure for the Boos...

The writers have another busy month in November. Which means I'll probably be required to post a few extra times. Today is Halloween. We don't get many trick or treaters anymore. All those Trunk or Treat and the malls are all the rage now. Some of those costumes are scary! Have you seen some of them? And people buy them for little kids. Sweet mercy. I can't imagine the sugar overload and the terror filled nightmares. 

I would share my famous candy bar cookies today. But that would be too predictable for Halloween. 

I will share this recipe though. 

Also a hint. Did you know that if you peel old bananas and toss them into a plastic bag in your freezer you have a much easier time of getting the banana where you want it to go rather than all over you. I'm shocked at how many home chefs just shove whole bananas in the freezer. Ugh. Then you have the slime, the black and greasy peel and the strings. Oh, that's almost enough to give me a nightmare! Trust me. Peel the banana first and toss it into a gallon sized banana bag. You'll thank me. You know you will! 

Banana Cake  (Slightly healthified by Fern but with non-hippie options still available for those of you who wouldn't know flax from a flea.)

Makes one sheet cake.  Heat your oven to 350.  Grease and flour a jelly roll pan.

Cake

¾ Cup coconut oil (You may use butter if y’all think that’s better. I will say Fern's suggestion of coconut oil did add a different and tasty spin on this cake. Trust me she tells everyone that she converted me. Yeah, whatever, Fern, whatever.)

3 Cups whole wheat pastry flour (whole wheat flour that is decimated into a much finer flour. Whole wheat traditional would give you much denser result. All purpose would work as well. Or give old fashioned oats whirled into flour a try. Fern fix. She just has to meddle in everything, I swear.)

1 Cup water

½ Cup milk (¼ cup if using eggs instead of ground flaxseed)

2 TBSP ground flax seed (or 2 eggs and decrease milk amount as noted above)

2 Cups sugar

1 teaspoon slightly mounded baking soda

1 ½ teaspoons vanilla

1 ½ Cup or 4 ripe mashed bananas

Pinch of salt

Optional but highly recommended!!!:

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1-2 Cups chopped pecans or walnuts

Place the water, coconut oil (or butter) and milk into a saucepan. Bring to boil then remove from heat.

Place every other ingredient into a large mixing bowl where you have smashed the bananas. Pour the hot liquid over the other ingredients and mix very well.

Pour and spread into the prepared pan. Test the cake at 20 minutes. A toothpick or knife should come out clean or with wet crumbs.

Frosting

½ package cream cheese (4 ounces)

4 Cups powdered sugar

dash of vanilla

1-2 TBSP milk, added 1 TBSP at a time.

Mix it to the consistency you want. I made mine pretty thick.

Spread over the cooled cake. Serves at least 20 people.

I hope you survive Halloween. Watch out for clowns. Fern and I are staying in tonight for sure. I'm still healing and just can't abide by a scare. Mabel said she she saw a clown in the wooded area by the parking lot. Sweet mercy. I'm hoping it was Ralph who actually is a clown and that he'd just come from a birthday party. Ralph is a little strange though. Oh goodness. I've gotta go, I need to lock my doors!

I Am Available if I Can Carry-On Fifi

A story reader sent one of the writers a picture of the book hovering near that one huge attraction in Rome. What is it? The one I

always think is Greek. Not the Vatican. Hmmm. Never mind what it's called. Fern will tell me while peeking over her readers and tightening her lips into a tiny, judgy rosebud.

I just want to inform any of you who might be traveling to Europe that I'd be happy to go and tell you the story myself. The only condition is that Fifi needs me and should be considered carry-on. I've already knit her a union jack jumper. (I'm working on my language skills, too! ) I think I'll sew her a smart French black shift with a simple strand of pearls. And a toga.

Another Recipe ~ Oh, You Want THIS!

The writers are quiet. One has moved off to promote another story. Her characters aren't quite up to having their own blog if that says anything. And I think it does. Granted, those characters are historical so the world webs weren't around then, but that's beside the point. 

I am quite capable of stepping outside the book covers and moving and shaking. Shake what your mama gave you, folks. That's my motto. 

While you are shaking you might as well be baking. Not baking per say, because these are no bake treats. But I think you get the drift. 

These are totally season appropriate which is why I'm going to share them now. 

Saltysweet Sensations (try singing it, very lyrical) 

3 TBSP coconut oil
3 TBSP peanut butter (creamy, crunchy, whichever you have is good)
1 package marshmallows (10 ounce) 
4 Cups krispy or flaky cereal
1 Cup dry roasted peanuts
1 Cup candy corn
*Optional - 1 Cup chocolate chips or candy coated chocolate pieces should you need a chocolate fix. Note that the color of your treat will change unless you wait until they are cooled. I left the chocolate out this time. Peanutty delicious. Also if you leave out the chocolate you can share with your four-legged bestie. Fifi danced and whirled for a morsel of these. 

Melt coconut oil and peanut butter. Add marshmallows. When melted throw everything else in and mix. Press down into a greased 9 x 13 pan. Use wet damp hands to press or a spatula if you don't want sticky fingers. And cut them with a pizza cutter when cool. These are delicious!

Update on Our Story...And A Recipe!!!!!

The writers are blah-blah-blahhing over here http://bit.ly/2dVDvuY. They talk about how they invented us and took us through danger for their enjoyment. Yeah. "Whatever" as the kids say.

Since I'm just a figment of someone's or someones' imaginations I will just go on and head to the kitchen now. 

Hmmm well, if I'm imaginary how in the world do I have recipes?  Interesting!!!!

German Chocolate Krispy Bars

3 TBSP coconut oil
3 TBSP butter (note, you can do 6 TBSP of either one, I like the mix though for additional flavor goodness)
1 10 ounce bag of marshmallows
1 teaspoon vanilla
¼ teaspoon salt (this helps cut the uber sweetness and adds dimension)
1 Cup toasted coconut *

1 Cup toasted pecans *

1 Cup chocolate chips
4 Cups (roughly) of crispy rice cereal.

Melt butter/coconut oil over flame in a large saucepan. Turn down heat, pour in marshmallows, stir until they begin to melt. Remove from heat and keep stirring until they are fully melted. Add salt if using and vanilla. Stir well. Pour in cereal and add-ins.
Press your mixture into the greased 9 x 13 (or 8 x 8) pan, wait til they cool and cut and devour.

*Toasting coconut and pecans. Cover a baking sheet with a cup of coconut and chopped pecans and toast 3-4 minutes at 350. Stir. Put back into the oven for 5 more minutes. Watch carefully the last minute so the coconut doesn't get darker than golden brown. 

Woot! Woot! Glossy Magazine Article All About ME!

Whoo-oo! Whoo-oo! Whoo-oo!

I am interviewed. You can read it and get one of my recipes. (And one of Fern's). 

You have only 4 more days though to grab it for free. My interview starts on page 8. There are multiple pages. Oooooh I'm so excited!!!! They asked me so many wonderful questions. I gave so many wonderful answers!!!!! 

They even interviewed Fern. Poor thing just isn't quite a natural like me though!!! And detective Flynn. He got a little "air"time, too. He didn't give us a shout out though. He must have been caught off-guard because he didn't mention us at all.  

I'm so excited. Grab a copy for free. You may have to join the club first. If so, here is the link to do that for free. http://www.bookfun.org. And if you don't have Kindle, you can download a free reading App from Amazon. There's a free trial one that ends up turning to a monthly fee so don't click that one by mistake. It should clearly state it's free and pop up once you click on the free magazine link. 

The Story Behind the Story Continues...

A little stop on the book tour train. https://quidproquills.com/2016/10/07/out-of-the-frying-pan-behind-the-story/

Kind of all about the writers again. You'd think they were the important ones. We solved the murder. We risked necks, shoulders, knees and toes. You can quote me on that. 

But I'm refusing to give in to my disgruntledness. Instead I will share a pic of our sweet lil pluffwuggins of cuteness. She loves it when I cook. And she's getting pretty good at catching morsels. The first few times she got smacked right in the kisser. But she's got the hang of it now, don't you, Fifs? Widdle, cutie patootie, snookie-wubba. 

I need to stop now because I'm needing some snuggle-wuggle time with this little gal.  Wait till you see the skirt I made her. Oh, MY! 

It's So Quiet, For Now....

Now that the whole murder fluff and stuff has died down, and our story is out and plugging along it feels kind of quiet around here. 

The writers still have a book giveaway going on. The linkie dowickie clicky thing for it is here.  http://ow.ly/lY2h304L7rQ

Comments are coming in. One person bought it and gave it to a friend who's husband is reading it to her while she has chemo. That feels real good to know that our story of overcoming and solving a murder might be making someone else feel a little better during a hard time. 

Did I share our giveaway baskets we put together for our big book signing event? I curated some jewelry and a scarf and shared a favorite product. Nutella. I could just eat that right out of the jar with a spoon. I'm a little jealous that someone created a recipe book, that shoulda woulda coulda been me! 

That gives me an idea....I'll be back. Hang on you little darling jar of chocolate heaven, Mama's coming! 

Winner, Winner, Chicken Dinner

No, no chicken. But it's not false advertising it's just a creative way to grab attention. And the prize was so much better than chicken. Goodness. The prize was copies of our story!!!!

But that drawing is over. New month, new pumpkin recipe ideas swirling in my mind. And apple recipes. The ciders, the spices, the holiday meals to begin preparing. Oh, I just can't wait to unleash my ideas on people! 

When my darling, may he rest in peace, husband and I lived in a little town in Illinois, before Fern became my near neighbor, so she can't weigh in with any comments. There used to be a flurry over an invitation to my house. I was whipping up French Chef delicacies almost every weekend so we started inviting people over. That French food isn't always good for a working man's lunch pail the next day so we needed help to cut down on leftovers. The first time my hubby-wubby took a beautifully packed napoleon in his pail he said the guys laughed for a month. The quit laughing when he refused to share the chocolate mousse a few weeks later. That showed them. Anyhoo, our weekend dinners got so popular people were offering to buy the ingredients if only they could have a seat at the table. I still have a bit of that, especially when I make my spice cake. Or cinnamon bun muffins, or Salmon de Zula, or my chocolate and potato chip cookies. 

Whew. I got a little bunny traily there for a bit. 

I was writing to reveal the winners for the Goodreads giveaway.  Someone named David and another one named Nancy. If you are reading this, congratulations. One of the writers will get that out to you. 

But if you aren't David or Nancy there is a new chance. And an old one that's almost over...it ends today. So go here and here and enter away.