Blueberry Lemon Loaf

I found this recipe through "pinterest" and I have made it so many times.  

It's one of our favorites!  The recipe makes one loaf, so we usually triple it and give some away for others to enjoy as well.

INGREDIENTS:

1 1/2 c flour, plus 1 teaspoon for blueberries
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp kosher salt (or slightly less table salt)
1/2 c butter, room temperature
3/4 c sugar
1 tbsp finely grated lemon zest
3 large eggs
1/2 c milk
1 tsp vanilla

1 c fresh or frozen blueberries

For the Syrup:
4 tbsp fresh lemon juice
4 tbsp sugar

For the Glaze:
1/2 c confectioners sugar
1 tbsp fresh lemon juice

In a bowl, mix your dry ingredients (flour, baking powder, and salt), set aside.  In a separate bowl, using a mixer, beat the butter, sugar, and lemon zest until light and fluffy.  Add eggs and mix until they are incorporated.  Continue with the milk and vanilla.  Once all the wet ingredients are well mixed, add your dry ingredients and mix just until everything is well incorporated and you have a cake batter.  Add the 1 teaspoon of flour to the cup of blueberries and fold into your batter.  Pour batter on a buttered and floured loaf pan and bake in the oven at 350 degrees F., for about 50-55 minutes (bread will be light brown on top, and if you insert a toothpick in the middle, it should come out clean).

While bread is baking, make syrup by boiling the two ingredients (lemon juice and sugar) in a small pot.  Your syrup will be ready when sugar has dissolved and syrup thickens a bit (just a couple of minutes).  Set aside.

When bread is done, poke holes on the top using a skewer, and pour the syrup on top to make it moist.  Remember to pour the syrup slowly, so that the bread absorbs it well.  Let bread cool completely.

Mix ingredients for the glaze and drizzle over your loaf.  Enjoy!

Steak Marinade

This is the marinade I use whenever we are grilling thick steaks.  It's pretty yummy.  

INGREDIENTS:

1/4 c Soy sauce

1/4 c Balsamic vinegar

1/4 c Olive oil

1/4 c Worcestershire sauce

2 tsp Dijon mustard

2-3 tsp Minced garlic

Salt and pepper

Combine all ingredients and pour over steaks.  Cover with plastic wrap and marinate steaks for at least one hour.

Note:  I like to add "Spicy Montreal Steak Seasoning" in place of the salt and pepper.  Both ways taste great, but I just like to use that seasoning if I have some on hand.

Creamy Orange/Coconut Ice Cream

This ice cream is so easy to make and has mostly healthy ingredients.  

My family loved it!

INGREDIENTS:

1 3/4 cup coconut milk
2-3 oranges
4 tbsp sweetened condensed milk (or sugar)
1 tsp vanilla

Peel and section the oranges and place on a cookie sheet.  Place cookie sheet in the freezer for a few hours.  Throw the somewhat frozen orange wedges and coconut milk in the blender along with the vanilla and sweetened condensed milk.  Blend until creamy and then pour your mix into your ice cream maker.  Follow directions on your ice cream maker.  Mine took about 20 minutes to be ready.  Enjoy!