Welcome to Happylifeblogspot! A food blog with drool worthy recipes
I was one of those kids that never liked Brussels Sprouts. Heck I don’t even think I tasted one til I was well into adulthood. Then along came Maple Bacon Brussels Sprouts to change my mind. The combination of sweet maple syrup, smokey bacon and […]
Looking to shake things up a bit? Peach Mango Caprese Salad offers a lovely twist on the classic tomato and mozzarella dish. Caprese Salad fans will absolutely adore this lil bowl full of summer. The perfect bite holds wonderfully ripe peaches, juicy mango, tangy tomatoes, […]
Bananas Foster French Toast Bake combines three of my favorite things from New Orleans, brunch, booze and dessert! Mardi Gras season is here and it’s leaving me with some major NOLA daydreams. We spent 5 days in the Big Easy last Spring and like any first time visitor I quickly fell in love with the city, it’s culture, and of course the cuisine. This mouth watering creation transforms the iconic, NOLA born dessert, Bananas Foster, into an indulgent, sticky sweet breakfast bake. You can find similar versions on the brunch menu at Stanley or Surrey’s and now in your own kitchen. The flavors will exceed all of your expectations. But what I love most about this recipe is that it’s make ahead and insanely easy. Serve it up on Fat Tuesday or a Mardi Gras inspired brunch…and don’t forget the beads!
Here’s all you’ll need: butter, brown sugar, heavy whipping cream, cinnamon, allspice, pecans, bananas, challah bread, milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla extract, and rum extract.
Place the butter in a microwave safe dish. Heat in the microwave in 30 second intervals until the butter is melted. Add the brown sugar, cream, cinnamon, allspice and pecans. Stir to combine. If you’re looking to lighten up this dish, you can most definitely substitute half and half for the heavy cream. The recipe as it’s written is a totally splurge-worthy but absolutely worth it!
Next cut the bananas into 1/4-inch slices. Fresh bananas work best in this recipe since it sits overnight in the refrigerator. The fresher the better. Save those overripe nanners for our Best Ever Frosted Banana Bars!
Add the banana slices to the brown sugar mixture and gently toss to coat.
This casserole is fun to make because it’s assembled upside down style. Spray a 13X9-inch baking dish with cooking spray. Pour the banana mixture into the casserole dish. Top with bread slices. You can cut the bread to fit if necessary. Challah bread is ideal for Bananas Foster French Toast Bake because it’s a little spongy, a bit crusty, and infused with a slight sweetness. It comes in a braided loaf which makes it feel a little bit fancy and special too. If you can’t get your hands on a good challah, a great substitute is Texas Toast or French bread.
Place the milk, eggs, sugar, vanilla and rum extracts in a blender and process until blended. Of course if you want to get physical you can whisk this up by hand as well. Pour the egg mixture over the bread slices. Cover the casserole with plastic wrap and refrigerate for 8 hours or overnight.
When you’re ready to bake pre heat the oven to 375 degrees. Remove the casserole dish from the fridge while the oven heats. Bake, uncovered, for 40 minutes or until a knife inserted into the center comes out clean.
Cool in the pan for 5-10 minutes. When ready to serve, run a knife around the edges of the casserole and invert the dish on a cutting board or serving platter. Slice into six pieces and enjoy! Bananas Foster French Toast Bake is perfect for me as is but if you need a little something for dipping try a caramel syrup or rum sauce.
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Broccoli Cheese Spread is such a simple recipe but it’s so amazingly good. You absolutely need this quick and easy appetizer recipe in your arsenal. I mean could there be a more classic combination than broccoli and cheese? I don’t think so! Just try it […]
Pizza Pasta Salad is the summer side dish your whole family will agree on! Loaded up with all of your favorite pizza toppings, this hearty salad tastes just like your favorite pizza. We’re always in need of new summer side dishes that pair well with […]
I’ve never met a cookie that I didn’t like and these Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are no different. I’ve gotta warn you though…they pack a wallop of flavor and are highly addictive. Just like the ones Grandma used to make, this delicious cookie is crispy on the outside, soft on the inside and oh so satisfying. Jam packed with sweet brown sugar, spicy cinnamon, hearty oats, chewy raisins, and crunchy pecans, this trusty standby is something that everyone can agree on. Fill up the cookie jar and watch them disappear!
Here’s all you’ll need: shortening, white sugar, brown sugar, eggs, vanilla extract, flour, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, old-fashioned oats, raisins, and pecans. 
And I haven’t even told you the best part yet. Oatmeal Raisin Cookies are easy peasy to make! Let’s get started…so we can get snacking. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugars. Yep, both of them. I start with a hand mixer set to a low speed and then gradually increase to medium until the mixture is soft and fluffy.
Next beat in the eggs one at a time, mixing well between each addition. Then blend in the vanilla extract as well. I told you this was simple!
Mix in the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon and blend until well combined. Then add in the flour, half a cup at a time until just combined. I like to add my ingredients this way instead of mixing the dry ingredients together in a separate bowl and adding them all at once. Anything to save a dish or two and it always works out just fine for me. Our cookie dough base is looking pretty delish already!!
You’re going to need a little muscle for this next part! Ditch the hand mixture and stir in the oatmeal, raisins and pecans by hand. A wooden spoon works best because the Oatmeal Raisin Cookie dough will be thick and sticky. And doesn’t it feel more nostalgic too?!? Make sure to mix it up really, really good. We’re shooting for a little bit of oats, raisins and pecans in every bite! Feeling nutty enough? Of course you can skip the pecans if you’re not into that sort of thing.
Roll the dough into 1 inch balls and place them at least 2 inches apart on a parchment lined baking sheet. Just a heads up…these babies spread…..A LOT!!!! I find that I get my best baking results with parchment paper as opposed to cooking spray. If you want to elevate your cookie game, I highly recommend trying it!
A cookie scoop is another great tool to have handy. I typically use the 1 or 1.5″ size for cookie baking (unless I’m making some giant, monster sized cookies). This one simple tool will keep your cookies uniform in size, which means they’ll all bake at the same rate.
And one more super simple tip for perfect cookies every time is to rotate the baking sheets halfway through baking. I always use the top and middle racks in my oven, never the bottom. And then halfway through baking time, I swap positions. So the cookies that were baking on the top rack get bumped down to the middle rack and the cookies that were baking on the middle rack get moved up to the top. I also rotate the baking sheets so that the cookies that were in the front of the oven are now in the back and vice versa. This helps all the cookies to bake evenly.
So anyways, now that you’ve got my best tricks up your sleeve, back to these Oatmeal Raisins! Flatten the balls slightly with the back of your hand, the back of the wooden spoon, or the back of a baking cup. Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 10-11 minutes. The cookies will be just beginning to brown. If the middles still look a little soft, that’s ok. They’ll be fine. Just trust me on this. It’s better to under bake this recipe than to over bake it.
You can let them sit on the baking sheet for one minute (at the very most) or remove immediately and cool on wire baking racks (the countertop will work too). The cookies will be very soft so be sure to use a spatula. OMG, don’t they look delightful?!? Full disclosure, I’ve already made Oatmeal Raisin Cookies twice this week!! Are you a classic cookie addict like us? Don’t forget to try our Best Ever Chocolate Chip Cookies or Perfect Peanut Butter Cookies!!!
We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments and love down below!
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If you’ve never made Pizza Pinwheels then you’re truly missing out! This bitesize, crowd pleasing appetizer is totally irresistible, super easy to make and tastes just like pizza. Loads of pepperoni and mozzarella are wrapped up inside a tender, flaky crescent dough crust. These mini […]
Are you ready for a macaroni salad with a twist? Tired of bringing the same old boring salads to parties and potlucks? Prepare to be amazed by our Sweet and Tangy Macaroni Salad! This super creamy salad is like nothing you’ve ever tasted. It’s one […]
What happens when you combine tater tots and nachos??? You get Totchos!!! Our all new Quick and Easy Loaded Totchos recipe are the perfect way to celebrate Cinco de Mayo. This delicious spinoff recipe swaps tater tots for tortilla chips and then smothers them with all your favorite nacho toppings. Loaded Totchos will be the life of your next party! They’re perfect for snacking or to serve as an appetizer but also filling enough to be the whole meal. Everyone will love this hearty quick fix!
Here’s all you’ll need: tater tots, ground beef, taco seasoning, water, cheddar cheese, shredded lettuce, taco sauce, and sour cream.
First cook the tater tots according to package directions or until golden brown. I like mine nice and crispy crunchy so I cook them a few minutes longer than the package directions! Who’s with me on that crunch?
Meanwhile in a large skillet brown the ground beef over medium heat until no longer pink. Crumble the meat as it browns. Then drain any excess grease from the pan. I like to use 90% lean beef or higher because the meat doesn’t shrink down as much during cooking. You could also substitute ground turkey or chicken.
Add in the taco seasoning and water. If you buy your taco seasoning by the packet you can toss in the whole thing. Or if you love Taco Tuesdays as much as we do and buy your seasoning in bulk, then you’ll need about 3 tablespoons. Bring to a boil and cook for about two minutes or until the mixture has thickened.
Now here’s the wild and crazy fun part! Cover your tots!! Load those babies up!! Layer on the ground beef! The cheddar cheese (or taco or Mexican blend)! Throw on some of that shredded lettuce!! Drizzle with taco sauce and then add a big ole dollop of sour cream!! Go nuts!! This recipe is so easy and I love that it can be modified to suit everyone’s tastes. Skip the lettuce and add beans. Plop on some guacamole! I’m giving you permission to play with your food!
And there you have it…Quick and Easy Loaded Totchos!!! Don’t they look delicious??? Your Cinco de Mayo party just got a whole lot better!!! De Nada! Don’t miss our Beer Margaritas coming later this week!!
We’d love to hear from you! Leave us your comments and love down below!
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Typically March Madness means I’m outraged because I’m SO. Over. This. Snow!!! But this year’s a little different. We’re all about basketball right now here in Buffalo. Our hometown team, the University at Buffalo, pulled off a huge upset! If you know Buffalo sports, you know that […]
Hi There! I’m Lisa. I’m a lover of all things crafty, creative, DIY, and delicious!!! Oh yeah and puppies too! I love cooking and baking for my friends and family but especially WITH my friends and family. I show my greatest affection through food. If I cook or bake for you, it means I really like you!
