The Country Cook Stops by with Coconut Cream Pie Bars

Pin It

.

I have a special treat for y'all today! One of my dear friends, Brandie from The Country Cook stopped by my kitchen to share a recipe. I'm sure you know her, and if you don't what rock have you been hiding under? Brandie truly is the girl next door, and my only wish is that she lived right next door to me.  

It's been so long that I can't even tell you when or how Brandie and I met. I do know thing, we hit it off right from the start. Our blogs are very similar with quick, easy comforting recipes. I've made some of Brandie's recipes and she's made some of mine. I guess you could say we go together just like peas and carrots.

Anytime I have a silly blog question or just need someone to talk to Brandie's definitely my girl!!! I have to say folks Brandie is as sweet as sweet tea and I'm so happy to be her friend! 

I just want to give a special thanks to Tina for having me over today! I have such a special place in my heart for her. And I am so fortunate to have her as a friend. Y'all, she really is as sweet as she seems. Genuine and kind and always so helpful! So when Tina said she would let me come have a little fun in her kitchen today, I thought I would share something I knew she would love - coconut.

These coconut cream pie bars taste just like Coconut Cream Pie, just put into a rectangle dish to make more for a crowd and for slightly easier serving. I love coconut too so this just seemed like a perfect friendship dessert to share. I hope y'all love it too and I hope you'll come over and visit me sometime at The Country Cook!

 

Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

Pin It

Bananas and peanut butter go perfectly together, well at least in my book they do. Today I want to share a recipe for some Healthy Peanut Butter Banana Muffins sweetened with Truvia Baking Blend. These muffins are delicious as a snack or make a great breakfast paired with fruit and yogurt.  

These muffins are made with ripe bananas, peanut butter, honey, yogurt, and the combination of whole wheat and all purpose flour. In a nutshell they're terrific. Each muffin has the perfect amount of sweetness from the bananas and honey combined with Truvia's Baking Blend. 

I've been using Truvia's Baking Blend for about 8 months now, and I'm loving the switch.  Each time I bake something I automatically reach for my pouch of baking blend. It's so nice to still be able to enjoy my favorite sweet treats with 75% fewer calories.

The best part is that no one in my family really even knows I've changed anything. I love that! If you want to give Truvia's Baking Blend a try, just use half the amount of baking blend in place of regular sugar. That's it no complicated measuring to remember.  

Easy Homemade Pizza Sauce

Pin It

People say the secret to perfect pizza is having a great crust. Besides a great crust having a good pizza sauce is just as important. The combination of a fantastic crust and tasty sauce can turn a good homemade pizza into a great homemade pizza.

I have been guilty of using store bought pizza sauce for a while now. I just assumed all pizza sauce was pretty much the same. Well a couple weeks ago I found out that just isn't the case. 

I've never made homemade pizza sauce, but ended up making it for the first time out of desperation. It was pizza night at our house and I thought we had pizza sauce in the pantry, but found myself without any on hand. 

I had two choice either order take out or try my hand at a homemade pizza sauce. I found a
recipe online and I had everything on hand. I realized that making homemade pizza sauce couldn't be easier. I don't know why I didn't make it sooner. 

I did slightly adapt the recipe just a bit. I added fresh onions and sauted them together with the garlic in a bit of olive oil before adding everything to the sauce. The sauteed onions and garlic added such a bold flavor. I prepared and canned two batches, so no more store bought pizza sauce for me.

 
Homemade Pizza Sauce

1 - 15 oz can tomato sauce
1 - 6 oz can tomato paste
1 - tablespoon olive oil
2 - cloves garlic, minced
1/4 - cup onion, minced
1 - tablespoon dried oregano
1 - teaspoon sugar
salt to taste

In a 10 - 12 inch skillet heat one tablespoon olive oil over medium heat. Add minced onion and garlic and saute until the onion is translucent and tender. Remove from heat and set aside. 

In a blender or food processor combine all the ingredients including the onion and garlic and pulse until the sauce is smooth. Pour in to a jar to cool and store in the fridge for a week, or use right away! 

Pizza sauce can also be frozen, spoon sauce into ice cube trays and freeze. When frozen just remove and place in zip small lock bags. Approximately five cubes can be used for one large pizza.

Defrost and thaw before using.