Red Skinned Potato Salad

I've been making this for a couple of years, but haven't typed it up for posterity. I made it this past weekend for the family reunion and got lots of compliments from non-potato salad eaters. I could just eat plates of this at a BBQ and be very happy. I doubled the recipe, but didn't measure the mayo out. I just used a regular sized jar. I also like to add a sprinkle of smoked paprika when I serve it.

2 lbs clean red potatoes
6 hardboiled eggs
1 lb bacon cooked and crispy
1 onion, finely chopped
1 stalk celery, finely chopped
2 cups mayo
salt and pepper to taste

Cube your potatoes into bite sized chunks, leaving the skin on, and boil in salted water. Cook until tender, but still firm. About five to ten minutes once your water is boiling. I just poke them with a fork and see if they're done.

Drain and put into fridge to cool.

While your taters are cooling, chop the other ingredients.

Note for hardboiling eggs, just in case: Put your eggs in a pot and just cover with water, salt the water. On high heat, bring to a rolling boil. Then turn off heat and leave on burner for 25 minutes. Then peel and you're good to go.

Put all of your chopped ingredients (eggs, bacon, onion, celery and potatoes once cooled) into a bowl. Add your mayo and salt and pepper to taste. Chill for at least an hour before serving.

Banana Quick Bread and Muffins

This is a recipe that came with Aaron. He had a cookbook that his mother gave him when he went off to do his internship in California. In it she had dates and her thoughts on a recipe. Next to this one is 7/92 and "very good!" It is one that we also think is "very good" and want to keep using! We usually double this recipe and get around 2 dozen muffins. We always leave the nuts out because our people are allergic.

1 3/4 cup all purpose flour
2/3 cup of sugar
2 teaspoons of baking powder
1//2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana( we usually use 2 bananas for each recipe)
1/3 cup butter
2 tablespoons milk
2 eggs
1/4 cup chopped nuts, optional


In a large mixer bowl combine 1 cup of the flour, the sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. Add mashed banana, butter and milk. Beat on low speed till blended. Then on high speed for two minutes. Add eggs and remaining flour; beat till blended. Stir in nuts if using.

Pour batter into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes. Or, if making muffins, pour into greased muffin pans and bake at the same temp for about 25-30 minutes, or until golden brown. Cool for ten minutes on wire rack before removing from pan. Cool thoroughly on wire rack before storing in a closed container.