Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

 

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

These are the most delicious light and airy banana muffins.  Don't skip out on the mini chips or the sour cream.  Both of these totally make the muffin.  You can easily swap out the olive oil for another light oil as well as the sour cream for greek yogurt or a non dairy option if necessary.

Ingredients:

1 3/4 cup flour

2/3 cup brown sugar

1/3 cup granulated sugar

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 1/4 cup mini chocolate chips plus extra for topping

4 very ripe bananas, mashed 

1/4 cup olive oil (you can also use avocado or vegetable oil)

2 large eggs

2 teaspoons vanilla

1/4 cup sour cream

Preparation:

Prepare 18 muffin cups with parchment baking cups.  Preheat the oven to 425 degrees F.

In a large bowl mash the bananas,  Next add in olive oil, eggs, vanilla and sour cream to the mashed bananas and mix until combined.  In the same bowl add the flour (I like to sift mine), sugars, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Mix all the dry ingredients into the wet until just combined.  Now add your chocolate chips and stir again to incorporate the chocolate throughout the batter.

Fill muffin liners all the way to the top with your batter and sprinkle on extra mini chocolate chips on the top of each filled cup.  Bake at 425 degrees for 7-8 minutes and then lower the oven to 350 degrees F and bake for another 7-8 minutes.  The tops of the muffins should be light golden brown and domed on top.

Spring Time Rainbow Cookies

Rainbow Cookies have always been a favorite of my family.  I wanted to make them with a Spring Twist so here are my version of Rainbow Cookies in pretty Spring colors!  Really anything goes!  For Valentine's Day it would look so pretty in shades of Pink and Red, 4th of July - Red, White and Blue!  Here for Springtime I choose, Pink, Teal and Lime Green.  This recipe is a little labor intensive but I promise you, it's worth it!  It' a crowd pleaser!

Ingredients:

8 ounces almond paste
1 cup (2 sticks) butter, softened
1 cup sugar
4 large eggs, separated
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup seedless raspberry jam
1/4 cup apricot preserves
3/4 Cup chocolate chips

1 teaspoon coconut oil

Preparation:

Preheat the over to 350 degrees F.   Spray three 13" x 9" x 2"  pans with cooking spray. Line each pan with parchment paper and coat the paper with cooking spray.

In a large bowl add almond paste. Use a fork to break it up into small crumbs.  Using a hand mixer  combine almond paste, butter and sugar and mix until fluffy.  Next, add the egg yokes and beat until incorporated.  Now add the flour and use a wooden spoon to stir until well combined. 

In separate bowl beat the egg whites on high speed until stiff peaks form. Fold the egg whites into the almond batter until thoroughly blended.

Separate the cookie batter into 3 small bowls and a different food color to each bowl and mix until desired color is achieved. 

Add each of the three colored batters into one of the prepared pans, using the spatula to spread the batter to the edges. Bake at 350 degree F and rotate pans halfway through the bake time so that they bake evenly. until the edges are golden, about 12 to 14 minutes. Let cool in the pans for about 5 minutes, then invert onto cooling racks and allow to cool completely.

To Assemble:

Place one layer on a large cutting board or a large inverted baking sheet lined with parchment or wax paper. Spread the raspberry jam evenly over the top. Place the 2nd layer on top and spread with the apricot preserves. . Top with the last cake layer. Cover with plastic wrap and place a heavy cutting board on top to weight it down. If you don't have a large heavy cutting board you can put another sheet pan on top an weight down with cans. Refrigerate overnight.

The next day, melt the chocolate chips and coconut oil together in a microwaveable bowl. Spread the chocolate on top of the cooled cake and let it dry slightly. Trim the rim of the cake with a serrated knife to make clean edges. Cut the cake into strips and then cut each strip into squares. 

Passover Granola

Happy Passover!

This recipe is nothing short of delicious.  I was given this recipe from a new friend that I met recently playing Mah Jongg.   It's made with Matzoh Farfel and lots of yummy dried fruit and nuts.  My friend Caryn, who already made some for her family was so sweet to drop off a whole bag of mixed dried fruit so I can test this recipe.  Thank you Caryn!  I hope you try it too because it really is amazing.  If you don't have Matzoh Farfel, you can just take sheets of Matzah and place in a large Ziplock bag and crush the using a rolling pin.

Ingredients:

1 1/2 Cups Matzoh Farfel
1 Cup Almonds, Coarsely chopped
1/4 Cup (1/2 stick) Butter
2 Tablespoons Honey
1/3 Cup Brown Sugar
1/2 Teaspoon Salt
1 Cup Mixed Dried Fruit ( I used Apricots, Prunes, Figs and Apples)

Preparation:

Preheat Oven to 325 F.  Spread Farfel on a lightly greased cookie sheet.  Bake for 10-20 minutes, tossing several times until it's very lightly toasted (watch carefully)

Meanwhile in a 2-quart saucepan, combine butter, brown sugar, honey and salt.  Bring to a simmer for a few minutes, stirring constantly.  Remove from heat.  Place the Farfel, Nuts and Dried Fruit in a large bowl and drizzle the Brown Sugar/Honey mixture over  top.  Toss until Farfel, Nuts and Dried fruit is coasted well.

Spread mixture back on to cookie sheet and bake in a 350 F oven for another 10-20 minutes stirring frequently to prevent burning, until Granola is golden brown.

Remove from oven and let cool.  Once Granola is cool you can store in an air tight container to store or just take a handful and Enjoy!

Cake Batter Popcorn

My oldest daughter made this as a treat one afternoon for her and her sister and brother.  It was  a quick and easy treat to make and they all loved it!

Ingredients:

1 bag microwave popcorn, popped
3 cups mini marshmallows
3 tablespoons butter
1/2 cup confetti cake mix, dry
pinch of salt

Preparation:

 In a large saucepan melt butter.  Once melted add mini marshmallows and stir until completely melted and smooth.  Remove from heat and stir in dry cake mix and salt.  Pour in popped popcorn and quickly mix until popcorn is coated with the marshmallow mixture.  Add additional sprinkles if desired.  Pour into a bowl, let cool and enjoy!  You can also spray hands with non-stick cooking spray and roll into popcorn balls.