Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins

Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins

 :: Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins ::

Oh, how a long school day can take the fun out of things! Okay I am only kidding, but it does take up the majority of our day, so why not make it a little fun with some Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins as a mid-day snack.  Yes, I know… muffins are just as wonderful paired with a cup of Joe, but these little mid-day treats make the day much more enjoyable!

Strawberry Banana Chip Muffins

Let me count the reasons why I love these muffins:

  1. They are made with ruby red strawberries.  Don’t they remind you of spring?
  2. This is actually a light recipe, so yes Mommy can have one…or two?
  3. Two {hidden} ripe bananas.
  4. Of course the piece of resistance….chocolate chips, yum!

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Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread

Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread

:: Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread ::

 

Bananas are a simple staple in our home.  They are used to create smoothies, toppings for cereal, and stand alone snacks.  I am a bit weird when it comes to this fruit, I only will eat a whole banana if it is a tad green {I am sure there are some of you that agree to this}.  That being the case, I always have enough ripe bananas to create a bread, dessert, or breakfast drink with. 

With a slight drop in the temperature and the start of autumn, I decided to turn these little gems into a breakfast dessert paired with a frosting infused with the caramel sauce that I used to create the Salted Caramel Ice Cream Recipe that we posted last week.  This Banana Caramel Breakfast Bread is a basic banana bread but kicked up a notch with the added creaminess of Greek yogurt and caramel.  I promise this will be become a favorite of yours. 

 

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Avocado and Mango Smoothie

:: Avocado and Mango Smoothie ::

Oh my I don’t know about you, but I have been in a total downward spiral with food this summer.  This Avocado and Mango Smoothie is the perfect way to help you to get back on track.  These past couple months have been filled with cotton candy, s’mores by the fire, cheese paired nicely with a glass of wine, and a few other summer time sweets…not to mention a whole lot of ice cream.  Wonderful food and memories make summer time a blast, but now it’s time to look ahead to a successful upcoming school year with a little menu planning and a few quick and easy breakfasts that can get the kids out the door and Mama off to a great and energetic start to her day.  This Avocado & Mango Smoothie is creamy, filling, and healthy. It is a cinch to make and with the abundance of local {California} avocados in season and a mixture of bananas, Greek yogurt, orange juice, and a staple of frozen mangoes, packs this meal with protein. All of which I think we lack a little at breakfast time.  I am a firm believer that breakfast makes or breaks your day.  When we are running behind and I don’t plan ahead, I often find myself hungry throughout the day.  This smoothie helped me feel satisfied until lunchtime.  Sara and I have been looking forward to planning a little ahead with some of our favorite easy weeknight meals, a few healthy choices, and of course some sweet fall dessert favorites.  Stay tuned to our upcoming “back to school” recipes.  Enjoy! [Read more…]

Decadent Frozen Banana Bites

 

  

:: Decadent {frozen} Banana Bites ::

Naming this post was a bit of an issue for me! You see… these aren’t your average frozen banana bites dipped in rich, creamy chocolate! Oh no! These are WAY more decadent! These little frozen banana bites are wrapped in chocolate chip cookie dough, and dunked in a thick layer of chocolate!

Clearly, I had a moment of weakness in making these! It was a week prior to our big family move and I needed the stress relief of whipping up something tasty! For me, the process of baking has always been a coping mechanism when I need to unwind or take a breather from life. These banana bites were successful in getting my mind off the never ending to-do list that comes with moving a family of six. They also provided the kids and I with a delicious frozen summer treat that brought back some of my favorite childhood memories of going to Balboa Island in Newport Beach and indulging in the famous Frozen Bananas & Balboa Bars!

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread,

sounds very tempting right?

Well it can be part of a healthy resolution with

this recipe adapted by Skinny Taste.

I love coming across recipes that taste

as good as their original.

This recipe is fairly simple and

the best part of it is that the list of ingredients

are items often in my

fridge or panty.

The perfect chance to use up

those ripe bananas that are past

 cereal prime.

Ingredients:

* 3 medium ripe bananas

*1/3 cup chunky apple sauce

* 1 1/4 cup white whole wheat flour

* 3/4 teaspoon baking soda

* 1/4 teaspoon salt

* 2 tablespoons unsalted butter softened

* 1/3 cup brown sugar

* 2 large egg whites

* 1/ 2 teaspoon vanilla

* 1 1/2 ounces of mini chocolate chips

* cooking spray for the loaf pan

directions

{spray a loaf, muffin, or mini loaf pan}

* I decided to try out my mini loaf pan*

In a small bowl mix together the flour, baking soda, and salt.

Set aside.

Place the brown sugar and melted butter into a mixer fitted with a paddle.

Mix until the sugar and butter are incorporated,

then add the egg whites and combine.

Then add the applesauce, bananas and the vanilla.

* I prefer chunky sauce and I break up the bananas instead

of mashing them as the mixer does the job and makes the bread

richer in taste.

Mix well then add the dry ingredients slowly a 1/2 cup at a time

and then add in the mini chips on low speed,

for a couple seconds so that you don’t create a dense bread.

Pour the mixture into the baking pan of your choice.

Pop this into the oven at 325 degrees for 40 minutes.

If you are doing muffins I find they cook in half the time so check on these.

Test the middle of the bread with a toothpick to make sure

the middle is baked all the way,

take out of the oven and let it rest until it’s cooled.

Your house will smell delightful

and your tummy will enjoy this wonderful

treat all while being low in fat and high in taste!

Enjoy and save me a slice!