Join Team Ugly Angel for Baking GALS: Round 8

Round 8 is here for the Baking GALS (Give A Little Support). This round, team UGLY ANGEL will be hosting a fine Marine!Sergeant Mark Svatek is from Wharton, TX. Mark joined the Marine Corps in July of 2003 and is stationed at Marine Corps Base Hawaii. He is in Supply with 3rd Battalion/3rd Marines H&S Co. This is his second tour to Iraq. He and his wife Tina have two daughters, Chloe 3, and Emily 18 months.Any treats would be appreciated, but oatmeal is not on the "Like" list, so keep that out of the recipes!!

Here is a list of things Mark and his fellow Marines would really love to receive in addition to your home baked goodies (optional):

Beef Jerky
Hard Candy (starbursts, jolly ranchers, jelly beans, blow pops, etc)
Fruity Gum
*No Chocolate due to the extreme heat please

I will post the mailing address through the baking gals bulletin once you have joined, as well as send it out in an email once I hear from you.

Last round we had several problems with the Baking GALS site, and I feel like things didn't go too smoothly and want to make sure I get everyone's contact information this round to keep good communications.

So, if you are interested in joining, here's what you need to do:

1) Go to BakingGALS site

2) Join TEAM UGLY ANGEL from the ROUND 8 TEAMS

3) Email me at kimturner@hawaii.rr.com and let me know you have joined!

4) Shipping Dates are May 4-13

5) Email me a picture of your goodies and package contents!

I will post the Roundup on the blog once the shipping period is over and receive all the members pictures!!!

Bananas!!!

What do you do when your kids decided they don't want to eat ANY of the HUGE bundle of bananas you brought home from the store?!?!

You make lots of banana muffins and banana oatmeal cookies!

My kids usually go through a bundle of bananas in a couple days and then beg me to go get more from the commissary when we run out! Not this week....these bananas were WAY past their prime.

I searched through some cookbooks of mine and found a couple recipes. I had never made these banana oatmeal cookies before and I love how they turned out! A healthy little cookie that isn't too sweet. Enough not to make me feel guilty for eating them as a mid morning snack. (Not that I ever feel guilty eating a rich chocolaty cookie in the mornings either....tee hee)
BANANA OATMEAL COOKIES

1 1/2 CUP SIFTED FLOUR
1 CUP SUGAR
3/4 CUP SHORTENING
1 3/4 ROLLED OATS
1 CUP MASHED BANANAS (2-3)
1 EGG BEATEN
1/2 TSP. BAKING POWDER
1/4 TSP NUTMEG
3/4 TSP CINNAMON
1/2 CUP NUTS (I USED ENGLISH WALNUTS)

Sift flour, sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg and baking powder in a bowl. Cut in shortening. Add egg, bananas, rolled oats and nuts. Beat until well mixed. Drop by teaspoonful onto ungreased cookie sheet. Bake at 400 degrees for 15 minutes.

Spider Monkey Cake

Ok, so it's really just monkey bread. But my 4 year old for some reason, started calling it "spider monkey cake".... so I thought I'd use that. I have honestly never made it before but have had it many times growing up. I found a really simple and delicious recipe online (there are millions).

Hot out of the oven....

Monkey Bread

Ingredients:

4 cans refrigerated biscuits
1 cup packed brown sugar
1 1/2 sticks butter (3/4 cup)
1/2 cup white sugar
2 tablespoons cinnamon
1/2 cup raisins (these are optional, it's great with or without them)

Directions:

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and grease a 9-10 inch tube pan.

2. Mix white sugar and cinnamon in a medium sized plastic bag. Cut the biscuits into halves or quarters and place six to eight biscuit pieces in the sugar cinnamon mix. Shake well.

3. Arrange pieces in the bottom of the greased pan. Continue layering until all the biscuit pieces are coated and in the pan. If you are using raisins, place them among the biscuit pieces as you are layering.

4. In a small saucepan, melt the butter with the brown sugar over medium heat. Boil for 1 minute. Pour over the layered biscuits.

5. Bake for 35 minutes. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a plate. Pull apart and enjoy!

YUMMY!

Easter Cookies

I have seen this recipe where you go along with the Bible as you mix these cookies up. I have finally gotten around to making them with my kids this Easter. I think it was fun and the kids really get involved and get a deeper understanding of the true meaning of Easter!!!

Ingredients:
1- cup whole pecans 1-teaspoon vinegar 3 egg whites pinch of salt 1-cup sugar zipper baggie wooden spoon tape Bible

Preheat the oven to 300 (this is important-don't wait 'til you're half-done with the recipe)

1. Place the pecans in the baggie and let the kids beat them with the wooden spoon to break them into pieces. Explain that after Jesus was arrested, He was beaten by the Roman soldiers.

Read John 19:1-3

2. Put the vinegar into a mixing bowl. Let each child smell the vinegar. Explain that when Jesus was on the cross and He became thirsty, He was offered vinegar to drink.

Read John 19:28-30

3. Add the egg whites to the vinegar. The eggs represent life. Explain that Jesus gave His life so that we could have life.

Read John 10:10-11

4. Sprinkle a little salt into each child's hand and let them taste it. Put the rest into the bowl. Explain that this represents the salty tears shed by Jesus' followers, and the bitterness of our own sin.

Read Luke 23:27

5. So far the ingredients are not very appetizing. Add 1 cup of sugar. Explain that the sweetest part of the story is that Jesus died because He loves us. He wants us to know and belong to Him.

Read Psalm 34:8 and John 3:16

6. Beat the egg whites with a mixer on high speed for 12 to 15 minutes, until stiff peaks form. Explain that the color white represents the purity in God's eyes of those whose sins have been cleansed by Jesus.

Read Isa. 1:18 and John 3:1-3

7. Fold in the broken nuts. Drop by teaspoons onto a wax paper cookie sheet. Explain that each mound represents the rocky tomb where Jesus body was laid to rest.

Read Matt. 27:57-60

8. Put the cookie sheet in the oven, close the door and turn the oven off.

9. Give each child a piece of tape and seal the door. Explain that Jesus tomb was sealed.

Read Matt. 27:65-66

10. Go to bed. Explain that they may feel sad to leave the cookies in the oven overnight and that Jesus followers were in despair when the tomb was sealed.

Read John 16:20-22

11. On Easter morning, open the oven and give everyone a cookie. Notice the cracked surface and take a bite. the cookies are hollow! ON THE FIRST EASTER, Jesus' followers were amazed to find His tomb empty.

Read Matt. 28: 1-9