Honey Banana Muffins

I love our CSA food box but I always forget what I ordered and when it's delivered I end up in surplus. This week is was bananas. We had two bunches of bananas mocking me from our fruit bowl and I decided it was finally cool enough outside to do some baking. I found this recipe for Honey Banana Muffins and wanted to try it since it was a little different than a traditional banana bread. The honey makes these muffins seem almost creamy and even more delicious.  Plus it uses three bananas so that's a plus for me! I think I will play around with the ingredients to reduce the oil and make them a bit healthier. The kids approved!

Prep time: 10 mins
Cook time: 20 mins
Makes: 10-12 muffins

INGREDIENTS:
3 very ripe bananas
1/3 cup honey
1/4 cup canola oil
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

DIRECTIONS:
Preheat the oven to 375 degrees. In a large bowl, mash the bananas with the honey, oil, egg and vanilla. Add the flour, soda and salt.

Divide the batter among 10-12 paper-lined muffin cups, filling them almost full. Bake for 20 minutes or until golden and springy to the tough.

Banana Walnut Bread

This is a Starbucks recipe that I snagged on one of my rare and desperate visits in need of coffee (you know it's bad when I settle for Starbucks).  I made this yesterday for the first time for an early morning meeting at work and my co-workers raved about it.  And since Starbucks was kind enough to share it with me, I will gladly share it with all of you!

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45-60 mins

Makes: 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 1/8 cups sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tbsp buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 large ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup chopped walnuts for topping

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 325F.  Grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan and dust with flour.

Blend together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.  Mix together the egg, sugar and vegetable oil until combined.  Add the flour mixture and when blended add the buttermilk, vanilla and mashed bananas and mix until combined.  Fold in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and pour batter into prepared loaf pan.  Top batter with remaining 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.  

Bake for 45-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from the pan.  Cool for another 30 minutes before slicing the bread.

Banana Galettes

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 18 mins

Serves: 4

INGREDIENTS:

2 (8-inch) tortillas
4 tablespoons butter plus melted butter for brushing on tortillas
1/4 cup packed dark-brown sugar
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
4 bananas
Ice cream (optional)

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat oven to 450 degrees. Place tortillas on a baking sheet; brush both sides of tortilla with melted butter. Bake until golden, 7 to 8 minutes (if they puff up, press down with a spatula).

In a small saucepan, stir brown sugar, cinnamon, and 1 tablespoon water over medium heat. Stir in 4 tablespoons butter until melted.

Slice bananas diagonally 1/4 inch thick; arrange in overlapping circles on tortillas. Brush brown-sugar mixture evenly over galettes. Bake until shiny, about 10 minutes. Cut into wedges; serve warm, with ice cream, if desired.