Mmmmm....pb, chocolate and banana....it's one of our favourite taste combinations here at the House of Bad. I've been making the Princess a smoothie with that combo for years, whenever she couldn't face a full breakfast, or I just thought she needed an extra burst of food energy.
On Saturday, the combo achieved new heights of yumminess. We were standing in line at the grocery store when I noticed a display of very ripe bananas on special. Hmm...haven't made banana muffins in ages. Actually, we haven't had a banana go overripe since Bad started eating them. Sometimes I have to go back to the store mid-week to buy him more. I grabbed a bunch, and after lunch the Princess and I set to work making muffins.
I pulled out all my cookbooks to look for a suitable recipe. I wanted something healthy, but with a bit of moist and treaty to it too. I found a low-fat recipe I hadn't tried before, but the other baked goods in the book were good. I scanned the list of ingredients...2 egg whites....I could just substitute 1 whole egg, I'm not bothered about a bit of fat and cholesterol....1/4 cup reduced-fat margarine....eww....what's in that stuff anyway? I could just use butter or oil....but what if I used peanut butter? And what if I used chocolate chips instead of blueberries? OMG delicious-ness, that's what. So, my pretties, I have 2 recipes for you today.
The Princess's Peanut butter, Chocolate and Banana Smoothie
1 banana, (preferably frozen) cut into chunks
1 1/2 c. milk or soy milk
2 tbsps creamy peanut butter
2 tbsps chocolate milk powder
Put it all in a blender and whizz until smooth. Serves 2 (What? You thought I could make it for her and not have some myself? Not so much)
OMG So YUMMY! (but still marginally good for you)
On Saturday, the combo achieved new heights of yumminess. We were standing in line at the grocery store when I noticed a display of very ripe bananas on special. Hmm...haven't made banana muffins in ages. Actually, we haven't had a banana go overripe since Bad started eating them. Sometimes I have to go back to the store mid-week to buy him more. I grabbed a bunch, and after lunch the Princess and I set to work making muffins.
I pulled out all my cookbooks to look for a suitable recipe. I wanted something healthy, but with a bit of moist and treaty to it too. I found a low-fat recipe I hadn't tried before, but the other baked goods in the book were good. I scanned the list of ingredients...2 egg whites....I could just substitute 1 whole egg, I'm not bothered about a bit of fat and cholesterol....1/4 cup reduced-fat margarine....eww....what's in that stuff anyway? I could just use butter or oil....but what if I used peanut butter? And what if I used chocolate chips instead of blueberries? OMG delicious-ness, that's what. So, my pretties, I have 2 recipes for you today.
The Princess's Peanut butter, Chocolate and Banana Smoothie
1 banana, (preferably frozen) cut into chunks
1 1/2 c. milk or soy milk
2 tbsps creamy peanut butter
2 tbsps chocolate milk powder
Put it all in a blender and whizz until smooth. Serves 2 (What? You thought I could make it for her and not have some myself? Not so much)
OMG So YUMMY! (but still marginally good for you)
PB, Chocolate and Banana Muffins
1 c. quick-cooking oats (NOT INSTANT)
1/2 c. each all-purpose and whole wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 fairly large, very ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter, melted (I just put the filled measuring cup in the microwave for a minute)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 - 1 c. chocolate chips (I used 1/2 c. , because that's all I had in the house, and they were fabulous, but you could make them more chocolatey if you wanted)
Preheat oven to 375F
Combine oats, flours, wheat germ, sugar, baking powder and soda, and the salt in a large bowl. Stir and set aside
In another bowl whisk together bananas, egg, vanilla and melted pb until smooth. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until combined (don't overmix, a few lumps are fine) Gently fold in chocolate chips.
Line or spray your muffin tins, and divide batter evenly between them. (Again, the original recipe was for 12 large muffins, I made 20 medium ones with this) Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
The smell of these as we mixed up the batter was incredible. It was even better when they were baking. Hubs and the kids were hopping around me in the kitchen waiting for them to cool down enough to try one.
"MMMMM...." said the Princess, "these muffins are SUCH good! Can I have another one?"
Hubs: "Not right now, it's not that long until dinner. I want another one too, but let's not be piggy"
Me: "You can have another one after dinner if you want"
10 minutes later I found Hubs back in the kitchen, with a guilty look on his face.
Me: (with suspicion) Did you just have another muffin? After telling the Princess that she couldn't?
Me: (after suspiciously counting the muffins left) Did you just have TWO more muffins? After telling the Princess that would be piggy? Do you think that's fair?"
Hubs: But it's too late for me, I'm already fat.
Me: *snort*
Hubs: This is a 'do as I say, not as I do' kind of a house.
Well, I'm always glad when my cooking gets a good reception, and it's less for me to eat, but if I may make a suggestion? If you'd like to enjoy some of them yourself? Bag a few up as soon as they're cool and hide them at the back of the freezer.
1 c. quick-cooking oats (NOT INSTANT)
1/2 c. each all-purpose and whole wheat flour
1/4 c. wheat germ
1/2 c. granulated sugar
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
3 fairly large, very ripe bananas, mashed
1 egg
1/2 c. creamy peanut butter, melted (I just put the filled measuring cup in the microwave for a minute)
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 - 1 c. chocolate chips (I used 1/2 c. , because that's all I had in the house, and they were fabulous, but you could make them more chocolatey if you wanted)
Preheat oven to 375F
Combine oats, flours, wheat germ, sugar, baking powder and soda, and the salt in a large bowl. Stir and set aside
In another bowl whisk together bananas, egg, vanilla and melted pb until smooth. Add to dry ingredients and stir just until combined (don't overmix, a few lumps are fine) Gently fold in chocolate chips.
Line or spray your muffin tins, and divide batter evenly between them. (Again, the original recipe was for 12 large muffins, I made 20 medium ones with this) Bake for 18-20 minutes, or until cake tester inserted in center comes out clean.
The smell of these as we mixed up the batter was incredible. It was even better when they were baking. Hubs and the kids were hopping around me in the kitchen waiting for them to cool down enough to try one.
"MMMMM...." said the Princess, "these muffins are SUCH good! Can I have another one?"
Hubs: "Not right now, it's not that long until dinner. I want another one too, but let's not be piggy"
Me: "You can have another one after dinner if you want"
10 minutes later I found Hubs back in the kitchen, with a guilty look on his face.
Me: (with suspicion) Did you just have another muffin? After telling the Princess that she couldn't?
Me: (after suspiciously counting the muffins left) Did you just have TWO more muffins? After telling the Princess that would be piggy? Do you think that's fair?"
Hubs: But it's too late for me, I'm already fat.
Me: *snort*
Hubs: This is a 'do as I say, not as I do' kind of a house.
Well, I'm always glad when my cooking gets a good reception, and it's less for me to eat, but if I may make a suggestion? If you'd like to enjoy some of them yourself? Bag a few up as soon as they're cool and hide them at the back of the freezer.
12 comments:
Oh goodie. I was just thinking I should bake something today. We always have over-ripe bananas around. It seems like the ones I buy around here turn brown in a day or so. I usually have to go back every other day to buy new fruit.
Those recipes sound SO GOOD!
oh, you are speaking my language. must make those muffins....
Uh, Yummy, Yumminess! I may have to start scoping the stores for overripe bananas! we never have any.
My dh would have done the same thing:)
Oh yum!!
you're killing me here! Those are all my favs. Chocolate. Banana. AND Peanut Butter. Why? Oh why?
I'm going to have to try this one tomorrow dam you!
lol. I guess it's too late for me too:(
Definite keeper post. Am bookmarking it now. Thank you. I still remember the chocolate chip banana bread we were given as a welcome to the neighborhood gift - three neighborhoods ago...
Those recipes sound soooo yummy, and even remotely good for you is good enough for me.
Your husband cracks me right up!!!
Oooo those sound yummy! You are totally the queen of baking!
and your hubby sounds like mine!
I have never tried a PB smoothie, but you make it sound soooo gooooood!
And your husband - hilarious!! :)
Heidi
Sounds so good! I will make these the next time I see some ripe bananas at the grocery store b/c they don't go bad at our home either with my 2 monkeys :)
Good call on the PB substitution. Will have to try these.
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