What a difference a month makes. What a different world we live in now thanks to this awful pandemic that has impacted so many countries. Depending on where you live, you’ve probably been in “lockdown” mode for several weeks. Where I live in Miami it’s been over 3 weeks. Only going out for the store or for walks to get some air. I’ve been freelancing for the past several years so staying home for “work” isn’t new, but now there is so much uncertainty and fear.
In times of stress - and now in times when we can't go anywhere - many are cooking and baking as a release. I pulled out an old chocolate chip cookie recipe. I’m also trying new things. We had some old bananas that were turning brown so I decided to try and make banana bread. Never made it before so I asked around. Then finally went with a classic Betty Crocker recipe, but with a couple of added ingredients from another recipe.
My Banana Bread + Recipe
Ingredients:
1 ¼ cup of sugar
½ cup softened butter
2 eggs
1 ½ cup mashed ripe bananas (3-4)
½ cup of buttermilk
2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon ground cinnamon (added from another recipe)
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg (added from another recipe)
Chopped pecans (if you want)
Chocolate chips (if you want)
Directions:
Pre-heat oven to 350
Mash bananas in a separate bowl
Mix flour, baking soda & salt in a bowl
Mix butter and sugar in another bowl
Mix in eggs and blend well
Add in mashed bananas, buttermilk, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Slowly add flour mixture a little at a time.
Pour into pans
Pre-heat oven to 350
Mash bananas in a separate bowl
Mix flour, baking soda & salt in a bowl
Mix butter and sugar in another bowl
Mix in eggs and blend well
Add in mashed bananas, buttermilk, vanilla, cinnamon & nutmeg. Blend until smooth and creamy.
Slowly add flour mixture a little at a time.
Pour into pans
You can pour the batter into bread pans, but I decided to make muffins. I still had enough batter left over to make a small loaf of bread. I set the timer for 30 minutes, but the muffins baked fast. Took them out around 18-20 minutes. The bread took the full 30 minutes.
Are you resorting to cooking and baking to cope? What have you tried? Please share!
I hope that you are staying inside and that you are healthy. Please stay safe!
6 comments:
Hi , Kristen,
We don't even go to the grocery. I use Instacart and they shop my list and deliver to front porch. Hubby has compromised lungs so we don't go any where except for a walk at 6:30 am when maybe only one or two other people; are out. I have bent the pharmacy twice but wear a mask and rubber gloves.
Baking! Yes, I've baked more this past month than all year long! Let's see, I've made the following: Peach Cobbler, Lemon bars, banana bread, ginger bread , chocolate cake, and brownies.
I figure I've gained a couple pounds, but once my gym opens back up I'll burn it off.
Stay Sane and Safe!!!
No baking but I do read and take a walk everyday wearing a mask. Because no one comes and cleans for me right now, I'm tasked with that also...and I have to be mindful or I end up in pain which is not where I want to be. I have two friends with dementia and I write them notes every week...picking out the card and figuring out what to say to be upbeat and cheery isn't always easy for me. And, I'm zooming, texting and talking with friends more than usual.I am going to the bank tomorrow - first time driving my car in 30 days.
I loved making banana bread. Can't imagine putting chocolate chips in it but I think my recipe had a dash of cinnamon and nutmeg - or maybe it was allspice. Since I live alone, if I made the muffins and small loaf of bread, I'd be the only one to eat it...which isn't a bad thing until you are on a flour free eating plan.
I'm doing a lot of baking too! I've been doing some old favorites, like cocoa pecan cookies, and also trying new things. My pie crust is getting better, and I'm going to experiment with rhubarb muffins today.
Your recipe looks delish. I've never thought of banana bread and chocolate chips. Double sweetness.
I gave up baking years ago. My husband does make homemade bread though and we are the beneficiary of never having to buy bread at the store. However, since this stay-at-home order six weeks ago, I've returned to my tried and true fudge brownie recipe. I make one batch per week. As soon as it's cooled, I cut it into 14 squares. We each get one square in the evening after dinner.
Over the past six weeks we've been pretty good about sticking to the one square thing. One afternoon a couple weeks back my husband snuck one in after his lunch. And I did the same thing one late night two days ago when I couldn't sleep. 2 am fudge brownie sounds perfect, right?
We level no blame for cheats. Instead we congratulate ourselves each day that we only do one.
Looks like a great recipe, Kristin. I am enjoying cooking and baking more than usual now. hhink I'll try your recipe!
I ALWAYS add chocolate chips to banana bread, hehe. Our kids love it, and you can't go wrong with added chocolate, in my opinion. The mini-chip size are best for even distribution and ease of cutting. I use one cup for the average size loaf.
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