Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

I'm not exactly sure how we ended up with 5 nearly rotten bananas. It is one of those situations that makes me sort of  bend my head side ways a bit and say "huh"?  I have a few theories....maybe tucking away the blender for the holiday party wasn't the best strategy after all. Or could it have been buying that case of 2 gazillion Eggo waffles from Costco caused us not to eat cereal with fresh sliced bananas swimming in a bath of organic milk?

Whatever the cause of the nearly neglected bananas, I'm here to declare that "I will not let my dear bananas go bad....I can and will save you" .  Ok, does anyone else talk to their fruit....or write about their nearly rotten fruit? Nod you head up and down, please!

Thanks.

So here you go, a worthy way to honor the banana!

Chocolate Chip Banana Cake

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• 1 tablespoon cinnamon
• 5 ripe super ripe bananas
• 1/2 butter melted
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 1/2 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup milk
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3/4 cup milk chocolate chips

Mix flour, baking powder & cinnamon in a bowl.

In a second bowl, mix bananas, butter, sugar, brown sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla extract.

Next, combine dry ingredients with the wet ingredients. Don't over mix...it's kinda like your pancake batter...no need to over stir here.

Pour into an ungreased cake pan.  Sprinkle chocolate chips on top.

Bake on 350 for 30 minutes or until your toothpick comes out clean!

Serves: 12 large slices

Oreo Cake Pops

I've admired the whole cake pop phenomena from afar. Most that I have seen flying around the web look so creative and fun. I don't have any cake decorating training or experience so I've shied away from even attempting these things but my daughter asked for cake pops this week.  She had a double header (soccer matches) on her birthday & we decided to give it a "go" to share with her team mates. Although these aren't the penguins she wished for I do believe she was happy with the end result. They are cute as a button and taste pretty good too.

Here's how to make no bake Oreo cake pops:

1 package Oreo cookies

6 ounces cream cheese, at room temperature

1" cookie scoop

Food Processor

Lollipop sticks

Sprinkles

Ribbon

Truffle cups

Wax paper

12 ounces white almond bark

Serves: 30 cake pops

Blend oreos in a food processor until a fairly fine consistency is achieved (no powder but not chunks).  Place Oreo bits in a large bowl. Add cream cheese. Roll up your sleeves and hand mix. Over and over until you are able to get the cookie scoop in there. Using the cookie scoop pat in firmly until full. Then pop out and roll with both hands until a round ball is formed.  Place on a wax lined cookie sheet. Place in the fridge or freeze for a bit (30 minutes).

Melt almond bark. Insert lollipop stick 1/2" into the melted bark, remove, puncture the Oreo pop then place the pop + lollipop stick into the bark until fully coated.  Strike the stick against the side of the bowl to remove excess bark.  Place the pop on the wax lined paper & sprinkle immediately.

Once all pops are formed tie ribbons on the sticks and serve!

We aren't giving up on the penguins...just adding it to our culinary to-do list. What's on your to-do list?

Killer Key Lime Cake

I know, it's not pumpkin this or nutmeg that.  To be honest, I'm kinda burned out on the seasonally appropriate foods. I needed a little break from the sweet potatoes and butternut squash recipes that are flying around the web. How 'bout you? Are you ready for something citrus~y & fresh? This recipe reminds me of our Florida holiday in February with the sun warming our skin, the sweet smells of magnolia and cotton candy and the sounds of laughter and amusement park rides.

I wish that I could say that I developed this recipe because it's really delicious. It's everything a cake should be; moist, flavorful but not too sweet.  I found this recipe on Pinterest. According to the blogger (Heidi Bakes), this recipe is courtesy of Trisha Yearwood.  For the recipe click here:

Heidi Bakes

If you have a chance to give this one a "go", I hope that it brings back tropical memories for you too!