Recipes by Annette Funicello: Peanut Banana Pudding; Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies; Steak in a Bag

Annette Funicello's Peanut Banana Pudding

1/2 cup light brown sugar, firmly packed
1/4 cup cornstarch
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 1/4 cups nonfat milk
3/4 cup creamy-style peanut butter
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 bananas, sliced
Whipped cream, sweetened

In a saucepan, stir together brown sugar, cornstarch and salt. Gradually stir in milk until smooth. Bring to a boil; stir 1 minute. Remove pan from heat. Stir in peanut butter and vanilla extract. Pour peanut butter pudding between layers of sliced bananas in individual serving dishes. Chill to serve. Top with sweetened whipped cream if desired. 6 servings.

Annette Funicello's Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Cookies

2 cups unsifted flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 eggs
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 tablespoon water
1/2 cup corn oil margarine, softened
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
6 ounces semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup creamy or chunky peanut butter

Heat oven to 375 degrees F.

In small bowl stir together flour, sugar, baking soda and salt.

In large bowl with mixer at low speed beat together margarine, peanut butter, eggs, water and vanilla extract just until blended. Add flour mixture, beat until blended. Increase speed to medium; beat 2 minutes. Stir chocolate pieces into batter. Drop by rounded tablespoonsful 3 inches apart onto ungreased cookie sheets. Flatten slightly with floured bottom of glass. Bake for 10 to 12 minutes or until lightly browned. Cool on wire rack. Store in tightly covered container. Makes about 2 to 3 dozen.

Annette Funicello's Steak in a Bag

2 pounds top sirloin steak, cut 2 1/2 inches thick
2 tablespoons garlic spread
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoons seasoned pepper
1/2 cup Cheddar cheese, shredded
1 cup bread crumbs

Trim fat from steak. Make a paste from garlic spread, vegetable oil, salt and seasoned pepper. Spread on both sides of steak.

Combine cheese and bread crumbs; pat on steak. Place steak in brown paper bag (large enough to fit steak comfortably). Seal loosely with paper clips. Bake in preheated 375 degrees F. oven for 30 minutes. Increase oven temperature to 425 degrees F. and bake steak for 15 minutes longer. Unseal bag to serve.

For easy handling, place bag on cookie sheet during baking. Annette advises, "You can bake steak early in the day, then bake at 425 degrees F. just before serving. The steak is out of this world." Yields 6 servings.