Eagle Home Inspections Blog

When the tomatoes are plentiful, try making this simple and delicious appetizer!

Click the photo for the recipe!

Treat yourself to a walk down memory lane! Just click the photo for a really “cool” New England success story AND learn how you can whip up a Fribble-like drink a la Mary Ellen!!

 

Mary Ellen’s Chocolate Banana Smoothie

One medium to large banana – not over ripe, but just ripe. Peeled.

1/3 cup cold 2% milk (I use organic)

2 -3 standard size ice cubes. Note: in a standard ice cube tray, each cube equals 2 T or one ounce of liquid. Adjust accordingly if you use smaller cubes.

2 scant Tablespoons Chocolate Malt Ovaltine. If you like a milder chocolate flavor, use a little less.

Few shakes of Cinnamon

Put all ingredients in blender that is strong enough to crush ice. This is important! (I use a Cuisinart Smart Power 7 speed blender that has an Ice Crush button on it.) Blend at the ice crush speed until you can hear that there aren’t any ice chunks left, about 30 seconds. I blend a little longer to make it extra frothy. Pour and enjoy!! Note: straw and crazy dancing are optional.

 

Mary Ellen’s Kick Butt Baby Back Ribs

This recipe is for two different flavors ribs – one with a traditional BBQ and one with a fruit-style glaze. As they say, variety is the spice of life, so we like to make both and serve our guests a little of each!

You’ll need baby back ribs, gallon Ziploc bags, Original Kraft BBQ sauce and The Original Saucy Susan.

Cut ribs into sections of about 6 ribs each.

Place two rib sections in each Gallon Ziploc bag with one bottle 18 oz Kraft Original BBQ sauce. I’ve tried many brands over the years, but I keep coming back to good old Kraft Original. It’s simply the best!!

Place two more rib sections in another Gallon Ziploc bag with one 19 oz jar of Saucy Susan.

Let marinate in sauces for a few hours. You can even marinate them overnight.

Wrap each section of ribs completely in heavy duty aluminum foil with some of the extra sauce (either BBQ or Saucy Susan) from the bag, sealing edges into a package.

Grill wrapped ribs on LOW heat (250 degrees) with grill lid closed for about 2 hrs.

Cut into individual rib pieces and serve.

BTW: These ribs are even more amazing when paired with our Tiffany Cole Slaw and Lemon Herb Potato Salad. Enjoy!!!!

Summertime is Poison Ivy time. Do you know which ivies are rash-producing and which aren’t? Don’t get rubbed the wrong way by these dangerous vines. Click the photo to learn what you can do to help keep your family itch-free!

Shoreline homes require special attention and care. Click the photo and find out how to keep your waterfront home shipshape!

Mary Ellen’s Creamy Dreamy Banana Cream Pie

Ingredients:

1 Keebler Ready Crust Shortbread Pie Crust

½ cup sugar

1/3 cup all-purpose flour

¼ tsp salt

2 ¼ cups whole or 2% milk (cold)

4 egg yolks (I use extra large)

1 T butter

2 tsp vanilla extract (real, not imitation!)

3 medium bananas and 1 large banana

1 lemon

1 cup heavy cream

1/3 cup apple jelly

1. In 2 quart saucepan, mix sugar, flour and salt. Stir in milk until smooth. Over medium heat, cook mixture, stirring constantly, until mixture is thickened and begins to boil (about 10 minutes). Boil 1 minute. Remove immediately from heat and set aside.
2. In cup with wire whisk, beat egg yolks with small amount of hot milk mixture. Slowly pour egg mixture into saucepan, stirring rapidly to prevent lumping. Over low heat, cook, stirring constantly, until VERY thick (do not boil) and mixture mounds when dropped from spoon.
3. Remove from heat; stir in butter and vanilla.
4. Put filling in bowl and cover with plastic wrap. Chill in fridge until cool, about 2 hours.
5. Peel and slice 3 medium bananas over bottom of piecrust; top with filling; chill until set, about 2 hours.
6. Grate peel of lemon and save. Squeeze juice of lemon into separate bowl.
7. Peel large banana and slice. Put slices into lemon juice and toss to coat. Drain banana slices on paper towel.
8. Whip cream with a little sugar and vanilla extract for flavor. Spread whipped cream on pie.
9. Over low heat, heat apple jelly until just melted.
10. Arrange banana slices on top of whipped cream.
11. Brush melted apple jelly over banana slices.
12. Sprinkle grated lemon peel over pie.
13. Chill and serve.