A New Type of Banana Bread?

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While surfing some of my favorite blogs a few weeks ago, I came across a post which was a new way to bake banana bread.  Now I am very picky about my banana bread.  It is one of my favorites and it has to be dark with lots of flecks.  Some times I make it with nuts and other times I don't.  On occasion I will add chocolate chips when I am feeling like I need something sweet so when I saw this recipe that involved a pre-bought cake mix?!  Well I just had to give it a try and see what all the fuss was about.

Now Lindsey has great recipes on her blog so I was fairly confident that this one would be good as well.

This recipe involved four ingredients .....

-  a pre-bought cake mix - I chose a lemon one as I did not have a yellow one on hand as Lindsey used

-  2 eggs

-  3 to 4 bananas

-  1 cup of chocolate chips

That's it.  You don't add the ingredients that are on the back of the cake mix box or anything else.  

Mixing all ingredients well with my Ninga, 

I added the batter to two smaller loaf pans which had been previously sprayed with nonstick cooking spray. 

I popped them in the oven for approximately 35 minutes at 350 degrees.  You could also use one larger loaf pan and bake a little longer.

The consistency was like a cake more than a bread.  I also found the chocolate chips seemed to settle at the bottom of the pan, most likely due to the cake batter being thinner than a bread batter.  

All in all it was delicious served with a cup of tea or coffee but I will add it to my 'cake' dessert list rather than my 'bread' dessert list.  I tell ya, I am finicky about my banana bread!!!

Have a wonderful Wednesday and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Being Organized

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I try, I really try to be as organized as I can but I am far from where I want to be.  I do have a regular routine that I follow with day to day chores but it is all the little extras....the household manual I want to create, crafts I want to try and the 'extra' cleaning that I always want to do but never seems to get done.

                                  

One chore that I have mastered for the warmer months is baking.  Although the days are beginning to cool down, some of them are still too warm to have the oven on for any length of time.  The muffins, cookies, pies and squares are largely put to the wayside and instead we enjoy blueberries, raspberries, strawberries, melons and all the other fresh fruit that are in abundance at the market during the summer.  

                                              

Occasionally however, I love those treats that fill the cookie jar in the winter and last night was one of those moments......so this is what I do.

                                           

I find the recipe I want to make and get all the ingredients ready in the evening.  All dry ingredients are added to the bowl and the wet are measured out and stored in the refrigerator.  I have my mixer, my muffin tin (in this instance), and utensils ready on my kitchen counter.  If the recipe calls for shortening at room temperature..I place in a bowl and store in the microwave overnight.  Now some of you might think that doesn't sound like a good idea but I keep my shortening in the freezer....by morning my shortening is thawed and still cool....so no worries.

                                           

Last night I had some bananas that were past their prime and banana muffins were calling my name so I 'set up' my baking station and early this morning when I rose for my morning hike, I quickly whipped the ingredients, spooned them into the muffin tin and popped them in the oven before I headed out the door.  By the time I returned, the muffins were baked, the house smelled divine (and was not overheated since I had all windows opened with the cool morning breezes blowing in), I pulled them out, spread some butter on one and enjoyed it for breakfast with my morning coffee.

This 'being organized' skill is one I wish would spread to the rest of my chores, but for now, I will enjoy my morning muffin while catching up with my favorite blogs.

Have a great day and remember to give your loved ones a hug!

Bananas, Bananas

Pin It My weekly grocery shopping day is Monday.  I like to hit the supermarkets when the weekly flyers first come out so I can grab the deals and coupon items before they are all gone!

While shopping on Monday, one of our supermarkets had organic bananas wrapped in cellophane at a greatly reduced price since they were past their prime.  Great price....a little over 3 pounds for $1.34.  I grabbed some, thinking of fresh, hot, homemade banana bread.  Yummy!

Wanting to use them all up at once, I had enough bananas for four loaves.  I didn't have a bowl big enough so I had to use my stock pot to mix all the batter!

I have a standard banana bread recipe that I have used for the last 20 years and love it.  It produces a rich, dark banana bread with lots of flecks that I can switch up a bit if I so desire.

Banana Bread



Butter or margarine                                  1/2 cup
Granulated sugar                                      1 cup
Eggs                                                          2
Mashed very ripe bananas (3 medium)    1 cup

All purpose flour                                        1 3/4 cups
Baking soda                                              1 tsp
Baking powder                                          1/2 tsp
Salt                                                            1/2 tsp
Chopped walnuts (optional)
or Mini chocolate chips                             1 cup

Cream butter and sugar together.  Beat in eggs one at a time, beating until smooth.  Add mashed bananas and blend in.

In second bowl, stir flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt and nuts/chocolate chips.  Add to banana mixture stirring only to moisten.  Transfer to greased 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.  Bake in 350F oven for about 1 hour until inserted toothpick comes out clean.  Let stand 10 minutes.  Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool.  Wrap to store. 

Yield: 1 loaf

I have also added pecans sprinkled on top or 3/4 cup of raisins to the recipe.  Almost anything! 

To mix these up a bit, two had chocolate chips added and two had almonds sprinkled on top....yummy!  Once baked, I threw one of each into the freezer and will take them to my son Lucas when I visit him at the end of the month.  He will love that.  It will be great for our picnic in his first apartment, right Mom?!

Remember to give your loved ones a hug!