Banana Cake

I am not a banana fan, but I must admit that this is pretty tasty.  It went over really big a a church social and I was asked for the recipe by several.   A great way to use up those old bananas.

BANANA CAKE
(serves 12)

Cake Ingredients:
*4 ripe bananas, mashed
*juice of 1/2 lemon
*3 cups all-purpose flour
*1 1/2 baking soda
*1/2 teaspoon salt
*1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
*3/4 cup butter, softened
*1 1/2 cups granulated sugar
*3 eggs, large
*2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
*1 1/2 cups buttermilk
*1 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Frosting Ingredients:
*1/2 cup butter, softened
*1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
*1 1/2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
*4 cups powdered sugar
*1-2 teaspoons milk, if needed
*1/2 cup pecans, chopped (optional)

Cake Directions:
~Grease & dust a 9X13 inch pan with flour.
~Preheat oven to 275 degrees.
~Mash bananas, lemon juice & vanilla in a small bowl.
~In a mixer bowl, cream butter & granulated sugar.
~Beat in eggs one at a time.
~Pour buttermilk into a measuring cup.
~In a small bowl, mix flour, baking soda & salt.
~Mix the flour mixture & buttermilk alternately into the sugar mixture.
~Pour cake batter into prepared pan.
~Bake for 1 to 1 1/2 hours, or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
~Remove from oven and immediately cover with plastic wrap until cake is completely cool.  This will keep the cake moist.

Frosting Directions:
~In a mixing bowl, cream butter, vanilla & cream cheese until very smooth.
~Add powdered sugar and mix until frosting is smooth.
~Add milk only if frosting is to thick.
~Mix in pecans.
~Spread over cake.

Variations:
`Make cupcakes.  Bake at 325 for 18-20 minutes.

Crowd Size Cheesy Potatoes

This is a quick and easy recipe for any large party.   Warning that it will go quick.  You can add other things to it like ham, bacon (cooked) or bell peppers.  This recipe will fit into a large electric roasting pan.

CROWD SIZE CHEESY POTATOES
(serves 60)

Ingredients:
*6 (2 pound) bags southern style hash browns, thawed
*3 (26 ounce) cans cream of chicken soup
*3 (16 ounce) sour cream
*1 pound butter, melted
*2 (16 ounce) bags of shredded cheddar cheese
*2 large onions, chopped (optional)
*2 teaspoons garlic powder
*2 teaspoons black pepper
*3 teaspoons salt

Directions:
~Spray roaster with a cooking spray.
~Mix soup, sour cream, butter, onion garlic powder, salt & pepper in roaster.
~Add cheese & mix well.
~Stir in hash browns until well coated.
~Turn roaster onto 275 degrees.
~Bake for 5-6 hours, stirring every so often.

**I've had a lot of people as me if they can just put this in a large roaster pan at the same temp.  You could.  You can also put the temp up to 350 and cook it for about 2 hours.  I would stir it everyone once in a while.