Recently my stepdaughter was honored at a Special Olympics Hall of Fame Induction Banquet for being involved with the Iowa Special Olympics for 40 years, taking part in events such as the 50-meter dash, softball throw, ice skating, bowling and, most recently, basketball. A former middle school principal nominated her.

As a result, she now has her name on the Hall of Fame plaque in the Special Olympics Iowa State office in Grimes. She was smiling the whole evening and as proud as anyone could be. We are very proud of her.

A few days after the event, we hosted the after-church coffee with treats, along with her large assortment of ribbons and photos on display. This banana bar recipe was one of the treats served. Many commented on how moist and good they were.

Banana Bars

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup butter

2 eggs

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup sour cream

3 ripe bananas, mashed

2 cups sifted flour

2 teaspoons vanilla

Frosting Ingredients

6 ounces cream cheese

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 cups powdered sugar

3/4 cup butter

1 tablespoon milk

Instructions

Grease and flour a 10-by-15-inch pan. Cream sugar and butter together. Beat in eggs and sour cream. Add bananas and vanilla. In another bowl, sift baking soda, salt and flour together. Add to the banana mixture. Blend well. Bake for 25 minutes at 375 degrees.

Frosting Instructions

Mix ingredients until smooth. Spread over cooled bars.

Hamburger Soup

This time of year is a great time for soup. Many hearty soups are satisfying and healthy when the ingredients include vegetables and are tomato based. If you’re looking for a healthier version of this soup, you can switch the beef to turkey and add whatever vegetables you like. It is also a great way to use any of the veggies that you may have in your refrigerator. This recipe uses potatoes, but they can be substituted with pasta.

Ingredients

1 pound lean ground beef

1 onion diced

2 medium potatoes, peeled and diced

3 1/2 cups beef broth

28 ounces canned diced tomatoes with juices

10.75 ounces condensed tomato soup

2 teaspoons Worcestershire sauce

1 teaspoon Italian seasoning

1 bay leaf

Salt and pepper to taste

3 cups frozen mixed vegetables or fresh chopped vegetables

Instructions

Brown onion, ground beef and garlic until no pink remains. Drain off any fat.

Add potatoes, tomato soup, Worcestershire sauce, seasoning and bay leaves. Simmer covered 10 minutes. Stir in vegetables. Simmer for 15 to 20 minutes or until potatoes are tender.

Easy Lasagna

When we have company, I will occasionally make lasagna. We get hungry for it, but it is too much for my husband and myself to eat unless we freeze a portion of it. Many times I have made lasagna using a recipe which required cooking the noodles. This Easy Lasagna recipe eliminates that step. Also, the recipe can be frozen ahead of time or refrigerated the night before baking. Do not precook noodles.

Ingredients

2 pounds hamburger

1 (28-32 ounce) jar spaghetti sauce

1 egg

1 large carton cottage cheese

1 large package mozzarella cheese

Uncooked lasagna noodles

Instructions

Brown hamburger and drain off the fat. Add spaghetti sauce. *Beat egg well, then add cottage cheese and mozzarella cheese to egg mixture. Lightly cover the bottom of a 9-by-13-inch baking dish with meat mixture, then a layer of cheese mixture and layer of noodles. Repeat twice, ending with cheese mixture on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 1/2 hours. Let stand for 15 minutes before serving.

*Some people like to add spinach to the recipe. If you would like to include it, simply thaw a 10-ounce bag of frozen spinach, squeeze out the moisture and add it along with the cheese layer.

Crock Pot Candy

Ingredients

1 jar dry roasted salted peanuts

1 jar dry roasted unsalted peanuts

1 package semi-sweet chocolate chips

4 ounces sweetened German chocolate

2 packages white almond bark, broken into pieces

Instructions

Put ingredients into a 4- to 5-quart crock pot in the exact order listed. Cover and cook on lowest setting for 20 to 30 minutes. Stir ingredients as it starts to melt. After the mixture is completely melted, drop by teaspoonful onto wax paper. Let cool thoroughly. Makes approximately 150 to 170 pieces depending on candy dropped on the pan.

Loretta’s Tips:

• To avoid tears when peeling onions, peel them under cold water or refrigerate before chopping.

• Keep tomatoes in storage with stems pointed downward and they will retain their freshness longer.

• To make scrambled eggs light and fluffy, add a little water while beating the eggs.

Loretta Krahling is a columnist with over 37 years of newspaper experience. Have any favorite recipes you would like to share? Email them to krahling93@gmail.com