Favorite Banana Bread

I love getting new recipes from other people. This one is from my future MIL and I've made it twice -- It is so good! Ethan and I love bananas and so we have them around a lot. We'll buy a ton, indulge on them for a couple of days and be so sick of them afterward. What to do with rotting bananas? Banana bread of course! I wasn't able to get a photo of the full loaf because we cut into it so fast. Yum!


Favorite Banana Bread

1 8 oz. cream cheese

1 c. sugar

¼ c. margarine

1 c. mashed banana

2 eggs

2 ¼ c. flour

1 ½ tsp baking power

½ tsp baking soda

1 tsp cinnamon

¼ tsp cloves

Mix first 3 ingredients. Blend in next 2. Add remaining ingredients. Pour into loaf pan, greased and floured. Bake at 350 for 1 hr 10 min. 

Taco Soup!

I love this recipe. I found it online in my search for easy peasy dinner recipes. I made a couple variations to make it easier and Ethan loves it. It's so quick and simple. Sounds like a thumbs up to me! I like to pair it with some Jiffy corn bread or saltine crackers. It's pretty much the best rainy day, souper filling meal out there. (Souper.. ahaha... I crack myself up.) On to the recipe!

Donnaven's Easy Peasy Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef (we use venison -- your preference)

1/4 diced onion

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can mild rotel

1 can chili beans

1 can black beans

1 can whole kernel corn

2 cups water

Approx. 1 1/2 tbs taco seasoning (We make our own -- view the recipe here!)

Put ground meat and a little bit of water in a relatively large pot -- big enough for a batch of soup. Turn on the heat and brown that sucker.

Once the meat is browned, add diced onion. Saute the onion until it's nice and cooked. Add the can of tomatoes. Don't drain them!

By now it should look something like this.

I usually add rotel at this point, but we didn't have any in stock. No worries, it'll still be tasty.

Sooo.. moving on to the next step!

Now you're going to add the undrained beans and corn. I love beans.

Stir it up really good! 

Now add the water and taco seasoning and turn your heat to medium low. It should simmer for about 15 minutes. Be patient.

Tada!! 

We put ours over brown rice and top it with cheese and it is DELICIOUS! Enjoy!

Here's the c&p version for your convenience. :)

Donnaven's Easy Peasy Taco Soup

1 lb ground beef (we use venison -- your preference)

1/4 diced onion

1 can diced tomatoes

1 can mild rotel

1 can chili beans

1 can black beans

1 can whole kernel corn

2 cups water

Approx. 1 1/2 tbs taco seasoning (We make our own -- view the recipe here!)

Brown meat in a large pot. Add onions and saute. Next, add tomatoes and rotel. Add undrained black beans, chili beans, and corn. Stir. Add taco seasoning and water. Let simmer for 15 minutes and serve warm with corn bread.

Homemade Taco Seasoning

Out of taco seasoning? No worries. Homemade taco seasoning is super easy to make and stores really well. Here's the recipe we use!

Homemade Taco Seasoning

2 T chili powder
4 t garlic powder
4 t onion powder
1/2 t pepper flakes
2 t oregano
4 t paprika
6 t cumin (I love cumin...)
1 t cornstarch

Put it all together in a glass jar with a lid (we use mason jars) and set it aside for later use. 1 tbsp is good per 1 lb of ground meat, but I like to use more. You can also adjust the spiciness of this seasoning by adding more chili powder. This starter is not spicy at all, in my opinion. You can also make bulk taco seasoning by just double or tripling the recipe. Like I said, no worries!

What's in a Name?

All of my life I have been named Donnaven. There is no nickname to shorten it to, no way to make it more feminine, and I sure as heck would get a lot of grief if I tried to change it. (And yes, I refuse to change it to Donna. I know a few of those.) So, I'm stuck. Embrace it -- that's what I'm told. Have you ever met a woman named Donnaven? Spelled exactly the same way? Doubt it.
Curious about the origins of my name, I went on a quest. I will never find the name Donnaven spelled exactly the same way as mine, so I settled on the closest spelling. What did I find? Donnaven means dark haired chieftain or warrior. A boys name. Gaelic or Irish origin. But behind the name, there is so much more. That's why I'm here. My quest of "defining Donnaven" continues.
Here we go.
Hello! My name's Donnaven, pleasure to meet you. I'm a full-time student, part-time waitress, "eccentric," hardworking, stubborn and all around an unique individual (excuse the double standard) who loves to create, try new things, and cook. I'm due to be married December 15th of this year and I plan to overwhelm you with DIY wedding ideas, new recipes, my very recent sewing excursions, and my love of photography. Glad to have you!