When life hands you ripe bananas...

That's right, make chocolate chip banana bread. Now, this is not banana nut bread. Actually, I think of it more as a sheet cake, since I baked mine in a 9x13 inch pan. However, you could certainly bake this recipe in a loaf pan. Anyway, I used some rolled oats and flax in this recipe, which are two things I just love, love, love using. This recipe was a big hit at home, so I hope you enjoy it!

PS
If you guessed that was Nutella that I added as a little garnish in the picture, you guessed right. And, obviously, the green stuff is mint.

Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) softened butter
3/4 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 cup all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/3 cup milled flax
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp baking powder
3 crushed, ripe bananas
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease 9x13 inch baking dish.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugars; add eggs; beat well. Add flour, rolled oats, flax, soda, powder, cinnamon; beat well. Beat in ripe bananas; stir in chocolate chips. Transfer to prepared baking dish and bake about 30 minutes.

Oh, Blondie!

Wow! I have been neglecting this blog for a really, really long time. So, I think I'll get back into the swing of things by posting this new blondie recipe that I recently concocted.

For a while now, the blondies I had been making (and had posted about previously) were my husband's favorite, but this new and improved recipe now reigns supreme. What makes them superior? For starters, they're bigger, so you have more to sink your teeth into. They're still just as moist and chewy as ever, but having more blondie per bite is just heavenly. Also, more brown sugar versus granulated sugar has resulted in an even more fabulous flavor. Enjoy!

Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter (softened)
1/2 cup shortening (room temp)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 1/2 cups chocolate chips

Icing Ingredients:
2 tablespoons butter (softened)
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla
2 to 4 tablespoons milk

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease 13x9 inch baking pan.
Cream butter and shortening; beat in sugars until fluffy; add egg; beat well.
Combine flour, soda, powder, and salt; add to creamed mixture, mixing well. Stir in vanilla; stir in chocolate chips. Spread in baking pan and bake 30 to 35 minutes.
Meanwhile, make icing. Beat butter and gradually add powdered sugar and milk, alternating the two as you go. Beat in vanilla. Spread over cooled, baked blondies. Or... if you're like me, spread the icing over the blondies while they're still warm and dig right in.