Gone Banana's

    We haven't been eating our banana's as quickly as we usually do. Rather than having the over ripened banana's take up prime real estate in my freezer, I have been experimenting with a few different Banana Bread recipes. I recently came across this one, for Peanut Butter Candy Bar Banana Bread. 
   

Peanut Butter Candy Bar Banana Bread:
(From Pillsbury Hamburger: 2006 Edition)

Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
2 Tbsp. milk
2 tsp. vanilla
2 large bananas, mashed
2 cups flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
10 Reese's Peanut Butter Cups, chopped

Directions:

(1) Heat oven to 350 degrees F (325 degrees for a dark pan). With cooking spray, lightly grease the bottom of a standard size loaf pan.
(2) In a large bowl with an electric mixer, beat sugar and butter on medium speed until creamy.
(3) Add eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas. Beat on medium speed until combined.
(4) Add all remaining ingredients except the chocolate bar. With a wooden spoon gently combine the chocolate (Reserve 2 Tbsp. for topping). Pour mixture into the loaf pan.

(5) Bake 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool inside the loaf pan for about 10 minutes. Remove from the pan, and let cool on a wore rack. Add the reserved chocolate to the top of the loaf, and let it melt with the existing heat from the bread.

*Recipe yields 1 loaf or 12 muffins.

You may also like:
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Double Chocolate Banana Loaf with Toasted Walnuts
Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes

Double Chocolate Banana Loaf with Toasted Walnuts

    I had a few over ripe bananas that I didn't want to go to waste. What better way to use them them in a Double Chocolate Banana Loaf with Toasted Walnuts. I found this recipe a while back, while searching for a way to use my over ripe bananas that wasn't the traditional Banana Bread. Since I have a family of chocolate lovers, I figured this would work just fine. I'm glad I tried it out, because it was a hit.

Double Chocolate Banana Loaf with Toasted Walnuts:

Ingredients:
1/2 cup walnuts
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup white sugar
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup dark or white chocolate chips
2 Lg. eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 Lg. ripe bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)
1 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions:
(1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F, and place the oven rack to the middle position.
(2) Prepare a non-stick loaf pan by spraying with cooking spray.
(3) Place the walnuts on a baking sheet and bake for 5-7 minutes, or until lightly toasted. Let cool, and then coarsely chop.
(4) In a large mixing bowl, sift together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
(5) In a second mixing bowl, combine the bananas, eggs, melted butter and vanilla.
(6) With a rubber spatula or a wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet into the dry ingredients until just combined and the batter is thick and chunky. Fold in the nuts and the chocolate chips.

(7) Bake for 55-65 minutes (22-25 for muffins), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
(8) Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan.

*Recipe yields 1 loaf, or 12 muffins.

You may also like:
Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins
Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes
Peanut Butter Candy Bar Banana Bread

What we did on this rainy Saturday Afternoon...

    Everyone has their GO-TO Banana Muffin/Bread recipe that they use whenever they have a bunch of over ripe banana's laying around.  I received my Banana Muffin/ Bread recipe from my mother. These muffins are one of the first things I taught myself to make once I left the nest. They are nothing extravagant, just plain ole' Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins. But my family loves them, and when I make them they make me feel all warm and fuzzy inside.


Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins:

Ingredients:

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup chocolate chips

1 egg

1/2 cup butter, melted

walnuts (optional)

1/4 cup shredded coconut

1 tsp. vanilla

1 tsp. baking soda

2 Tbsp. baking powder

3 Lg. banana's, mashed

pinch of salt

1/3 cup milk

1/3 cup water

Directions:

(1) Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

(2) Spray a muffin tray with cooking spray. (Or you can use liners if you prefer)

(3) Mash banana's in a medium sized mixing bowl. Add the egg, melted butter, sugar, vanilla, and some salt. Stir to combine.

(4) In a 2nd medium sized mixing bowl, sift together the flour, baking soda and baking powder.

(5) Combine wet ingredients with the dry ingredients.

(6) Add the water and the milk. Stir to combine. This will loosen the batter.

(7) Add the chocolate chips, coconut and walnuts if desired. Stir to combine.

(8) Spoon the batter evenly into the muffin tray.

(9) Bake for 18-20 minutes. Or until a toothpick inserted into the muffin comes out clean.

* If you would prefer to make Banana Loaf instead, just pour the batter into a loaf pan and bake for 55-60 minutes.

Recipe Yields 12 Muffins or 1 Loaf.

You may also like:
Double Chocolate Banana Loaf with Toasted Walnuts
Banana Chocolate Chip Pancakes