Strawberry Banana Bread

Breads and Muffins

In the baking mode again! I had a few strawberries and bananas that were looking rough, so I made this yummy recipe! The girls and I LOVE it! Planning on taking some to school next week. Made a great baked meatball pasta that I will share later. Have a great rest of the weekend!

Ingredients- Makes 3 loafs (I made 2 regular loafs and 2 mini-loafs)

2 sticks of butter, softened
2 cup sugar
4 beaten eggs
5 mashed bananas
4 cups flour
2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt
1 container fresh strawberries chopped

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray your loaf pans (or even muffin tins). Set aside.

Using a stand mixer with paddle attachment, cream butter and sugar together until light and fluffy.

In a small bowl, beat eggs using a fork. Add eggs to sugar mixture and beat until combined. Add mashed bananas and combine.

Sift or whisk to combine dry ingredients: flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt. Slowly add sifted dry ingredients to banana mixture and mix until flour is just combined. DO NOT OVERMIX! Fold in strawberries.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pans and bake at 350 for about 40 minutes. The edges will be slightly brown and a toothpick or knife should come out clean. Cool completely before removing from loaf pans.

2 mini loafs and 2 regular loafs…

The girls love the middle of bread, so I cut 2 pieces for them. Perfectly baked! Katie even had 2 pieces. 

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Breads and Muffins, Breakfast and Brunch
YUM! I am on a baking kick lately. I am loving the baking process. Going to try to do one baking project a week (at least).

 

Chocolate Chip Muffins

Ingredients

  • 2 ½ cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 tbsp baking powder
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • ½ tsp salt
  • ½ cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 large eggs
  • 1 cup milk
  • 1 tbsp vanilla extract
  • 1 package of chocolate chips

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 425°F. Spray a 12 cup muffin tray with non-stick cooking spray or line with paper liners.

In a large bowl, toss together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and chocolate chips.

In a medium bowl, whisk together the melted butter, sugar, eggs, milk and vanilla. Slowly add to the dry ingredients. Gently fold together. Do not overwork.

Divide the batter into the 12 muffin cups and bake at 425°F for 5 minutes, then turn the oven heat down to 375°F and bake for another 13-15 minutes. Let cool for about 5-10 minutes and enjoy warm.

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Blueberry Muffin Hack

Breads and Muffins, Breakfast and Brunch, Dips, Dressings, and Spreads, Recipe Review

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I had a container of blueberries that needed some loving, so I tried this blueberry hack for copycat Otis Spunckmier muffins. SO AMAZING!!!!!!

Ingredients

1 package whole blueberries
1 Package White Cake Mix
1 Package of Instant Vanilla Pudding 4 serving size
4 Eggs (beaten)
1/2 C. Vegetable Oil
3/4 C. Milk
1 tsp. Vanilla

Directions

Rinse blueberries lightly and drain well. In mixing bowl beat eggs until light. To the eggs add cake mix, pudding, vegetable oil, vanilla, and milk. Beat until smooth but do not over beat. About two to two and half minutes. Batter will be thick.

Carefully fold blueberries in batter with a spoon or spatula. try not to break the berries, they can be very tender.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full and place in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 20 – 30 minutes depending on the size of you muffin cups. Test with a tooth pick and taking care not to over bake. Will make about 9 large muffins or 12 – 15 small muffins.

Overnight Oats

Breakfast and Brunch

This is one of my favorite healthy breakfasts! There are so many different combinations that you can make! Here, I used rolled oats, Sigg’s Strawberry Icelandic yogurt, strawberries and blueberries, low-fat milk, and honey. Have you made this before? If so, what combinations have you made?

Ingredients

1/2 cup rolled oats or quick oats
1/2 cup yogurt, my new favorite is an Icelandic yogurt called Sigg’s
1/2 cup fruit of choice, plus more for the top if desired
1/2 cup milk of choice
sweetener of choice (honey, agave, brown sugar), as desired
1 pinch of salt

Directions

Add your oats on the bottom of a mason jar. Add the yogurt over top, then add the fruit. Finally, add the milk and salt. Stir everything together, put the lid on and shake the jar, then refrigerate overnight. Depending on your yogurt and milk of choice, you may wish to add sugar or your favorite sweetener, and you can add this at any time. In the morning, stir and enjoy!

Chicken Thighs with Thyme, Mushrooms, and Bacon

Chicken

Evening friends! I hope you all have had a nice relaxing weekend. The weather has been BEAUTIFUL here the last few days, so we have really been enjoying playing outside and seeing the sun.  Tonight I made this scrumptious chicken dinner for my family. img_6383

Chicken Thighs with Thyme, Mushrooms, and Bacon

Ingredients

4 Bone-In, Skin-on Chicken Thighs
1 large package of mushrooms, sliced
5 pieces of cooked bacon, chopped
Four Springs of Thyme
Salt, Pepper, and Poultry Seasoning, about a tablespoon each

Directions

Preheat your oven to 375.

Marinate your chicken thighs in a few tablespoons of olive oil with about 2 springs of thyme that have been taken off the sprig. Season your marinate and massage your chicken. You can do this all in a plastic Zip top bag if you don’t want to touch the chicken. Marinate anywhere from 15 minutes to an hour, depending on how much time you have.

Add your chicken to a hot pan, skin side down first. The first side will take about 10 minutes and the second side for about 5 minutes.

Take out your chicken and lower the temp. to medium. Add in all your mushrooms. Cook them in the olive oil and chicken fat that have rendered out while cooking. This will take about 6 minutes. Stir to coat all mushrooms.

Add in your cooked bacon. Add your chicken thighs back in,along with the rest of the thyme right on top.

Finish cooking in the oven for about 40 minutes.

I served with some steamed broccoli, Parmesan noodles, and crusty bread.