Mom's Irish Soda Bread

2 C. flour
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 C. shortening
2 tsp. caraway seeds
1/2 C. raisins
3/4 C. buttermilk
1 Tbsp. sugar

-In medium mixing bowl combine flour, salt and baking soda. Cut in shortening.
-Add remaining ingredients and mix well.
-Place dough onto greased cookie sheet and bake at 375 for 20-30 minutes until loaf is lightly browned. Let sit on wire rack 5-10 minutes before serving.

Easy At-Home Tin-Foil Dinners

1 lb. ground beef
3-4 med. potatoes, thinly sliced
3 large carrots, peeled and thinly sliced
2 green onions, chopped
2 cans Cream of Mushroom
Salt & Pepper
Chili powder
Oneira seasoning
Tin foil-tear into 3 large squares

-In small bowl season beef with chili powder and Oneira (to taste), mix well. Shape meat into 3 patties and place on foil.
-Top meat with potatoes, carrots and green onions. Sprinkle with salt & pepper and Cream of Mushroom.
-Wrap up foil tightly, place dinners on large baking sheet and bake at 350 for about 1 hour, or until meat is cooked through and veggies are soft.

Bananas Foster

2 Tbsp. butter
1/2 C. brown sugar
1/4 tsp. cinnamon
2 bananas, cut in half lengthwise and halved
1/4 C. dark rum
Ice cream in 2 bowls

-Melt butter in small saucepan, add sugar and cinnamon and cook on low heat until sugar is dissolved stirring constantly
-Add bananas carefully and cook until they soften and begin to brown, turning occassionally
-Slowly add rum and cook until hot
-Remove pan from heat and tip pan to side and ignite (the flames will rise well above pan so be careful)
-When flames subside lift bananas onto ice cream and top with sauce, serve immediately

Easy Sloppy Joes

Sauce:
1 Tbsp. white vinegar
1 Tbsp. brown sugar
2 tsp. Worcestershire
1 C. ketchup
1 tsp. mustard

-Combine all ingredients in small bowl and mix well

Meat & Spices:
1 lb. ground beef
1-2 cloves garlic, finely chopped
Onion powder (about 1 tsp)
Chili powder (at least 1 tsp)
Paprika (about 1/2 tsp)
Olive oil
Hamburger buns
(I don't usually measure my spices, just add to taste)

-Heat oil in med. pan, add garlic, meat and spices, cook until done, drain
-Add sauce and cook another 5 minutes or so until sauce is cooked in, add more spices if you'd like
-Serve
(This is also yummy when topped with cheese)

Banana Bread

Banana Bread:
1/2C. butter, softened
1 C. sugar
3 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 tsp. vanilla
2 eggs, slightly beaten
1 1/2C. flour
Pinch of salt
1 tsp. baking soda

-In med. mixing bowl cream together butter and sugar with hand mixer, blend in bananas, then vanilla and eggs
-Whisk in dry ingredients until just blended
-Pour into greased 9x5" bread pan
-Bake at 350 for about *60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean
-Let sit for about 5 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool

*Check bread at 35 minutes, if it appears to be very brown or is beginning to burn on top then cover with a foil tent