It’s that time of year again…the end of the school year, and your little munchkin has spent 7 hours a day with a very special someone…We think Teachers are Tops, and it’s time for a little something to let them know how much you appreciate all they have done for your child. Here are a few ideas that you can surprise your child’s favorite teacher with…
1. Homebaked Goodies…Always a hit. Choose something that freezes well just in case they won’t be able to enjoy it right away. We’ve got a couple of great recipes below.
2. A fun and practical gift that can be USED… Some great inexpensive suggestions that are available at Adrians and are “Teacher Approved” include…
Shower Bursts ($3.99 each); Vera Bradley Zip Id Case ($12.00) or “Lets do Lunch” Tote ($28); Gourmet Dessert Mixes ($4.99-$5.99); Tervis Tumblers ($12.99+) and many more!
Adrians has a great selection of Tervis Tumblers!
3. Let your favorite teacher stop by and choose her own gift…They LOVE Adrians Gift Cards! Call ahead (620-543-6488) and we will have them all ready for you!
We’ve got a couple of great ideas for Homemade Teacher (or or anyone for that matter!) Gifts for you to create in your own kitchen. These both happen to come from our friend, Suz McIver from Topeka, Kansas. She blessed us with one of her “Fudgy Snack Cake in a Jar” gifts last Christmas, and we found it yesterday while cleaning out the pantry. Jenny easily put it together so we are enjoying that today. We also made Suz’s Banana Bread because we had 4 frozen bananas in the deep freeze that needed to be baked into something! Hope you enjoy some fast and easy baking and that you can “Bless someone’s Sock’s Off” Soon!
Suz’s Banana Bread
Suz McIver, Topeka, Kansas
This is called a “Quick Bread” for a reason…it is so simple to put together and scrumptious when it comes out of the oven…but the best thing about Banana Bread is that the second day, if you don’t eat the whole loaf, that is…is even better! This recipe features a 1/2 cup of hot coffee, so as an extra bonus, you get to drink the other 9 1/2 cups! (OK, so I’m a coffee addict!)
Simplicity...The start of something special!Blen
Measure out the 1 cup sugar and 1 stick of softened margarine.
Blend margarine and sugar until fluffy and smooth.
Blend the margarine and 1 cup of sugar until fluffy and smooth…I’m hoping if you own a Kitchen Aid Mixer that you have one of our awesome BEATER BLADES! If not…ride, row, skate, or fly on in and get one right away! You don’t want to go another day without one girl! It scrapes the sides and bottom of the bowl CLEAN…no more scraping down the sides! Here’s a little Beater Blade video clip that you won’t want to miss!
Lightly beat the eggs
Add beaten eggs and bananas, letting mixer beat well after each addition.
Finding these lovely nanners in the freezer is what started this today!
I think it was my sister Nila who originally taught me to put bananas that were “going south” right into the freezer in their original jackets. You can put them into a zip lock bag, but it really isn’t necessary. When ready to use, just lay them out on the counter for an hour or so so they can thaw before using.
Freezing the bananas really does preserve them well for baked goods!
You can also take opportunities when bananas go on sale and keep some in the freezer just for baking!
Flour, soda, salt and baking powder
Next add the dry ingredients and blend well.
Hot coffee...Yum!
Next add 1/2 cup of hot coffee and sip the other 9 1/2 cups while you finish and bake the banana bread. My favorite part!
We're only HALF NUTS here in our house!
Only HALF of us like nuts in this family, so I reluctantly sprinkled nuts on only half of the loaf. They just don’t know what they’re missing!
Bake at 350° for 45-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted into the middle comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for about 10 minutes before removing pan. Let cool a little longer before slicing. Serve warm, or double the recipe like we did and have one warm from the oven and save the other one for another day. This recipe freezes very well. Here is the recipe…Enjoy!
Suz’s Banana Bread
1/2 c. margarine
1 c. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 to 4 bananas, mashed
1/2 c. hot coffee
2 c. flour
1 tsp. soda
pinch of salt
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/4 c. nuts
Blend margarine and sugar. Add beaten eggs, bananas and dry ingredients. Add coffee and nuts. Bake in a greased loaf pan at 350° for 45-55 minutes. Recipe can easily be doubled.
We have several other delicious Banana Bread recipes for you to browse through:
Lori’s Banana Bread, Banana Pineapple Bread (Bundt Pan), Banana Sour Cream Bread, & Best Banana Bread. Let us know what you think…We think they are all winners!
We always LOVE to hear from you! Pop us an email, leave a comment in the box below, or of course, STOP by to see us at Adrians! (We wouldn’t mind if you brought a sample! 
)
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Our second idea for a great Thank You to teachers is this Snack Cake in a Jar recipe. It is easy for you (and your little helpers) to put together and it is easy for the recipient to prepare; plus it is super tasty!
Suz's Fudgy Snack Cake Gift in a Jar
Suz’s Fudgy Snack Cake Gift in a Jar
So easy to prepare…Just layer the dry ingredients into a quart jar, mix up the topping ingredients and place in a plastic bag. Print off the simple instructions and decorate the top of the jar with a colorful piece of cloth. Give to your favorite teacher!
Here’s how to easily prepare the snack cake:
Lightly beat the egg
Add milk
Add milk
Pour in the milk, then add the melted butter or margarine.
Next add the vanilla
Pour contents of the jar into the wet ingredients an mix well.
Almost to pretty to open!
Mix well with a spoon until lumps are just about gone. Pour into a prepared 8×8 or 9×9 inch greased baking dish.
Next sprinkle on the topping mix from the small packet.
It is sure starting to look good!
Bake for 30-40 minutes depending on the size of baking dish that you have used. This came out nice and moist and yummy! It would be great served with a scoop or two of vanilla ice cream! Make some for gifts, or just make up the recipe for a fast and easy Snack Cake! Enjoy!
Suz’s Gift in a Jar…Fudgy Snack Cake
Suz McIver
Topeka, Kansas
Looking for a great idea for last minute Teacher’s Gift, Christmas Idea or something for a bake sale? Suz is a friend of ours from Topeka, and she gave us this tasty Fudgey Snack Cake for Christmas…while cleaning out cupboards this morning, we ran across it and thought it would be a great fast dessert. Very easy to prepare, and a really nice gift. You can easily create multiples of this recipe.
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/3 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1/3 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
1/3 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
1/3 cup peanut butter-flavored, butterscotch-flavored or white baking pieces
1/3 cup bittersweet or semisweet chocolate pieces
1. Layer in a wide-mouth 1-quart glass jar or a 32-ounce canister or container with a tight-fitting lid the following ingredients, adding each ingredient at a time in this order: flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cocoa powder, granulated sugar, brown sugar, and the 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate pieces. Tap jar gently on the counter to settle each layer before adding the next.
2. For topping: Tear off one 12-inch square of plastic wrap. Place walnuts, peanut butter pieces and the 1/3 cup bittersweet chocolate pieces in center of plastic wrap; twist plastic wrap to seal. (Or use a small plastic bag.) Place topping mixture in jar. Cover the jar.
3. Give as a gift (or store the layered jar of cake ingredients at room temperature up to 1 month) and attach a recipe card with the following instructions:
4.
1. Before using, remove topping mixture; set aside. Shake remaining ingredients in jar to mix.
2. Lightly grease an 8x8x2-inch or 9x9x2-inch baking pan.
3. In a large bowl, combine 1 egg, lightly beaten; 3/4 cup milk; 1/3 cup butter, melted and cooled, or 1/3 cup vegetable oil; and 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla. Using a wooden spoon, stir in jar contents until combined. Spread batter into prepared pan. Sprinkle with topping mixture.
4. Bake, uncovered, in a 350 degree F oven about 35 minutes for the 8x8x2-inch baking pan or 25 to 30 minutes for the 9x9x2-inch baking pan or until a wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack. Serve slightly warm or at room temperature. Makes 9 servings.
We always LOVE to hear from you! Pop us an email, leave a comment in the box below, or of course, STOP by to see us at Adrians! (We wouldn’t mind if you brought a sample! 
)
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, and used the thick, peppery kind!)
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