Banana Pumpkin Bread and a little update on me

Oh hey! I’ve been gone for a few. You see my office moved a hour away, it was summertime.

So much has happened since my last post. An update would take way too long so let me just say this summer was filled with fun, friends, love and happiness!!

Back to the reason we came here…..FOOD!!

The best thing about fall cooking is pumpkin. I love pumpkin anything.

I had these bananas waiting so patiently for me to eat them and I just couldn’t so I did what any responsible person would do. I found something delish to bake them in so they wouldn’t go to waste! DUH!

Being early November I have been dying to bake/make something to eat with pumpkin. So on my search for a new banana recipe I found this on one of my fav blogs! If you are watching your weight or just trying to eat right then this recipe is right up your alley. I am have made so many recipes from this site we would be here all day if I went on about how awesome and delicious everything is!

Best thing is if you are on WEIGHT WATCHERS this has the calorie break down AND she shows the points per slice. HI SHE MADE IT SO EASY!! So if you are keeping your mind right and your body tight browse this site you will love it!! Gina is a gift from the yummy food gods!!

OH OH!! So I mashed the banana then I added the pureed pumpkin, tossed in my pumpkin spice and the brown sugar. Let’s just say this mixture could be eaten by itself. Holy cow! SO GOOD!! Almost like a pumpkin butter. Ok sorry I got side tracked day dreaming about it on vanilla bean ice cream!

This is right from the site, I followed it exactly, no modifications for a change!

Enjoy and Keep on Making Stuff!!

Pumpkin Banana Bread
From Skinny Taste.com

Pumpkin Banana Nut Bread
Gina's Weight Watcher Recipes
Servings: 12 slices (1 loaf) • Serving Size: 1 slice • Old Points: 3 pts • Points+: 3 pts
Calories: 146.5 • Fat: 2.7 g • Carb: 33.3 g • Fiber: 1.6 g • Protein: 2.7 g
Ingredients: 
Pam baking spray
3/4 cup unbleached all purpose flour
1/2 cup white whole wheat flour
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp ground cloves*
1/2 tsp ground nutmeg*
3 very ripe medium bananas, mashed
1/2 cup pureed pumpkin
2 tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup light brown sugar, unpacked
1 large egg white
1 large egg
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans (optional, 5 pts+ per slice if using)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 325°. Grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan with baking spray.
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, pumpkin spice and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside.
In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar with an electric mixer. Add egg whites, egg, bananas, pumpkin and vanilla, and beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of the bowl.
Add flour mixture and nuts (if using), then blend at low speed until combined. Do not over mix.
Pour batter into loaf pan and bake on the center rack for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Let the pan cool at least 20 minutes, bread should be room temperature before slicing.
* 1 tsp of pumpkin spice can be substituted for cloves and nutmeg.

It's Bananas! Banana Cake with Chocolate Frosting

No no it really is bananas! I love to bake with certain fruits. Lemons, most berries, and bananas!

OK I have to tell you the most incredible thing happened right before I decided to make this cake! Hold onto your pants! So here in MI we have a Hallmark holiday called Sweetest Day. Since I have quite possibly the sweetest boyfriend ever he got me the best gift!! I woke up on 10/16 and walked into my kitchen to find a gigantic red box on my kitchen table! WHAT THE! Oh and it had a little cute white bow on top!

I question the big red box and how it got there and I can hear my BF giggling in the other room. I tear open a small corner of the box and I yell WHAT THE HELICOPTER!!! OH MY GOD!! IT'S A KITCHEN AID MIXER!!! I did this oh my god dance and then ran into the other room to kiss my most awesome BF!!

So needless to say that mixer was put to good use right away with this most delish cake!!

I think if you like banana bread or anything banana chocolate you will just love this cake! Its a great Birthday cake or a dinner party type cake for sure. Or heck just make it and eat large pieces with big scoops of vanilla bean ice cream!

So enjoy & Keep On Making Stuff!
xox


A Number 1 Banana Cake

Adapted from Bunny's Warm Oven & Adapted from Allrecipes.com

Ingredients
•2 1/2 cups all-purpose flour

•1 tablespoon baking soda

•1 pinch salt

•1/2 cup unsalted butter

•1 cup white sugar

•3/4 cup light brown sugar

•2 eggs

•4 ripe bananas, mashed (medium bananas)

•2/3 cup buttermilk(if you dont have buttermilk add 1 TBLSP of white vinegar to a cup of milk and let sit for about 5 mins and voila buttermilk. then just measure out as needed)

•1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Directions

1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour 2 - 8 inch round pans. In a small bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt; set aside.

2.In a large bowl, cream butter, white sugar and brown sugar until light and fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time. Mix in the bananas. Add flour mixture alternately with the buttermilk to the creamed mixture. Stir in chopped walnuts. Pour batter into the prepared pans.

3.Bake in the preheated oven for 30 minutes. Remove from oven, and place on a damp tea towel to cool.
"PERFECTLY CHOCOLATE" CHOCOLATE FROSTING
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or margarine

2/3 cup HERSHEY'S Cocoa

3 cups powdered sugar

1/3 cup milk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract
Melt butter. Stir in cocoa. Alternately add powdered sugar and milk, beating to spreading consistency. Add small amount additional milk, if needed. Stir in vanilla. About 2 cups frosting.

I love the way the chocolate frosting looks! I may or may not have done a little taste test at this point!

As I was cleaning up I looked outside and saw my handsome pup watching me so I snapped his pic! Isn't he so cute!

My happy BF eating the product of his awesome present!! Love Him!!

and for the sexy close up shot! ahaha! Yummer!! Make this cake, love this cake, share this cake, and thank me for sharing this cake recipe! ahahhaa!