Lemon Poppy Seed Muffins

Modified from Emeril's recipe

1.5 cups flour
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 tablespoons poppy seeds
1 lemon (2 tsp lemon zest and 1/4 cup lemon juice)
1 egg
1/2 cup granulated sugar
3/4 cup buttermilk
1 tsp vanilla
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Whisk together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and poppy seeds and set aside. Zest lemon, then juice lemon. Add bottled lemon juice if necessary to make 1/4 cup. Set both aside.

In a large bowl, mix together egg and sugar until light and fluffy. Mix in buttermilk, vanilla,  lemon juice, and lemon zest until well combined. Add butter and mix until combined, but don't overmix. Fold in dry ingredients until just moistened.

Divide batter into a 12-muffin tin lined with baking cups. Bake at 400°F for 16-18 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Tops will look set but not browned. Cool for 10  minutes in tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.

Banana Bread

Loertscher family

2 c sugar
1/2 c butter or margarine
4 beaten eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 c flour
1 tsp baking soda
3-4 ripe bananas, pureed
1 c nuts (if desired)

Cream butter and sugar and stir in eggs and vanilla. Add baking soda, flour, and banana puree. Mix well. Fold in nuts and pour into loaf pans. Bake at 350 °F for 50-60 minutes.

Makes 4 small loaves.

English Muffin Bread

Try this recipe here. So good!
And it's a no-knead bread so it's easy too.

Sausage Fondue

This is a traditional Christmas day brunch dish for the Loertscher family.

8 Slices of bread (or 8 hot dog buns)
2 3/4 cups milk
2 cups grated cheese
1/4 tsp dry mustard
4 eggs
1 1/2 lbs link sausage
1 can cream of mushroom soup

Cube bread. Cut links into thirds, brown, and drain. Place bread in greased baking pan. Top with cheese and sausage. Beat eggs with 2 1/4 cups milk and mustard. Pour over bread and sausage (can be refrigerated overnight at this step). Dilute soup with 1/2 cup of milk and pour into pan. Bake at 300 °F for 1 1/2 hours or until set.

Cornbread

This recipe comes straight from the package of Kroger yellow cornmeal. I like it so much I haven't changed it at all.

3/4 c cornmeal
1 1/4 c flour
1/4 c sugar
2 tsp baking powder
1 c milk
1 beaten egg
1/4 c vegetable oil

Mix dry ingredients together. Add milk, egg, and oil and mix until just combined. Pour into a well-greased 8x8 or 9" round pan and bake at 400°F for 20 minutes (or until toothpick comes out clean). Let cool 5-10 minutes in pan before slicing and serving.