Monkey cupcakes

Banana Cupcakes
Recipe from my dear friend Kari
1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
1 cup mashed bananas (about 2 nanners)
1 cup milk
1 egg
1 1/2 cup flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt
1 tsp vanilla

* Mix liquid ingredients first. Then add dry ingredients. Bake at 350 degrees for 15-20 minutes

After they are cool, I add this to the top of them. You can add nuts if you want. I have added chocolate chips to them and they were delish!

Chocolate Glaze
1/2 c heavy cream
2 Tbs light corn syrup
1 1/2 c chocolate chips

Heat cream and corn syrup in a saucepan until mixture begins to boil. Remove from heat; add chocolate chips. Cover and let stand 5 minutes. Stir until smooth. Glaze cupcakes with chocolate.

Mini vanilla wafers (halved)
Vanilla wafers (3/4ths)
Black and red decorating gel

Brussel Sprouts with bacon and walnuts

I made these for cooking club and they were very tasty! I will be making these again for sure .

Ingredients:
2 tablespoons cider vinegar
1 tablespoon brown sugar
1 tablespoon walnut oil (or oil of your choice, or apple cider)
4 slices thick cut bacon
1 pound brussels sprouts, trimmed and shredded (you can use the shredding blade on a food processor)
1/2 cup toasted chopped walnuts
kosher salt, to taste
fresh ground black pepper, to taste

Directions:
In a small bowl, whisk together vinegar, sugar, and oil; set aside.

In a large skillet, cook bacon until crisp. Remove bacon, cut or crumble into pieces, and set aside. Pour off all but 2 tablespoons of drippings in pan (if there aren’t enough drippings to equal 2 tbsp, add a little butter or oil).

Heat drippings over medium-high then add shredded brussels sprouts. Cook, stirring constantly, for 3 to 5 minutes, or until just tender. Remove from heat and stir in bacon, walnuts, and dressing. Season with salt and pepper to taste. Serve warm.

Servings: 4