Yield: 12 muffins

Ingredients
- 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/2 teaspoon salt
- 3 bananas, mashed
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1 egg, lightly beaten
- 1/3 cup oil
- 1/3 cup packed brown sugar
- 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour
- 1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon
- 1 tablespoon butter

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 375 degrees F (190 degrees C). Lightly grease 12 muffin cups, or line with muffin papers.

2. In a large bowl, mix together 1 1/2 cups flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. In another bowl, beat together bananas, sugar, egg and oil. Stir the banana mixture into the flour mixture just until moistened. Spoon batter into prepared muffin cups.

3. In a small bowl, mix together brown sugar, 2 tablespoons flour and cinnamon. Cut in 1 tablespoon butter until mixture resembles coarse cornmeal. Sprinkle topping over muffins.

4. Bake in preheated oven for 18 to 20 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of a muffin comes out clean.

Notes: I made these with Val and Ren at val's house after a sleepover.

Adapted from: All Recipes Banana Crumb Muffins
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Yield: 4 dozen

Ingredients
- 1 cup butter, softened
- 1 (3 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
- 1 cup white sugar
- 1 egg yolk
- 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F (165 degrees C). Lightly grease cookie sheets.

2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, cream cheese, and sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in egg yolk and vanilla. Stir in flour until well blended. Drop dough into mini muffin pan. Make an indentation in the center with a thimble, fill with preserves, or press candy into center.

3. Bake for 15 minutes in preheated oven. Cookies should be pale.

Notes: I made these with Katie for Christmas family gathering. We used strawberry jam and green sprinkles.

Adapted from: All Recipes Cream Cheese Cookies I
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Yield: 3 dozen mini cupcakes

Cupcakes
- marble cake mix

Notes: Josh and I made these for the Northen Karate Potluck. We used a toothpick to swirl a marble design.
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Yield: 15 Snowmen

Rice Krispie Balls
- 1/2 tsp. vanilla
- 1/4 cup butter
- 32 large marshmallows (1/2 bag)
- 4 cups Rice Krispies

Decorations
- chocolate chip for buttons
- baking confetti for eyes

Directions:

1. Melt butter, vanilla and marshmallows over low heat, stirring constantly, until marshmallows are melted. Add Rice Krispies and stir until cooled.

2. Roll mixture into balls for snowman body. Use melted marshmallows to assemble snowmen.

3. Decorate as you wish.



















Notes: I babysat Samuel when stayed home sick from school. We made these while we waited for Joseph to come home. Read more...

Yield: 24 - 3 inch round cookies

Ingredients
- 1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
- 1/2 cup light brown sugar
- 1/4 cup white granulated sugar
- 1 large egg
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup all purpose flour
- 1/4 cup Dutch-processed cocoa powder
- 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
- 1/8 teaspoon salt
- 1 1/2 cups raspberry chocolate chunks

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and place rack in center of oven. Line two baking sheets with parchment paper.

2. With a hand mixer, cream the butter and sugars until light and fluffy (2-3 minutes). Add the egg and vanilla extract and beat until incorporated. First sift together the cocoa powder, flour, baking powder, and salt and then add to the butter and egg mixture. Mix just until incorporated. Fold in the the chocolate chips.

3. Using a small ice cream scoop or two spoons, place about 1 1/2 tablespoons of batter on the prepared baking sheet, spacing about 2 inches apart.

4. Bake for approximately 8 minutes or until the the cookies are still soft in the center but are firm around the edges. Remove from oven and let cookies cool on baking sheet for about 5 minutes before removing the cookies to a wire rack to cool completely.

Notes: I made these cookies with Josephine when she was over for hotpot. The cookies were too sweet with raspberry chocolate chunks. Next time I either need to use semi sweet chocolate or decrease the amount of sugar.

Adapted from: Joy of Baking Chocolate Cookies
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