As if Cooper wasn't spoiled enough.

Cookies for Canines. [The Kitchn]


This is actually much better than actually cooking for myself.. guilt free baking, say whattt.  

Banana + Chocolate Bread

This was so easy, that I think I may start buying a few more bananas each time I go to the grocery store just so I can keep making these!

Materials:

1 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter
3 TBSP milk
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup chocolate chips
1 egg

2-3 mashed ripe bananas
2 cup sifted flour -- all purpose
1/2 tsp baking soda




Method:

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. 

-Mix sugar, egg and butter together in a large mixer bowl. Beat until fluffy; set aside.

-Combine bananas and milk in a small bowl; set aside.

-Sift flour, baking powder and baking soda together in a small bowl. Stir into sugar/egg/butter mixture, and then add the bananas/milk to the flour.  Mix until it is well moistened.

-Stir in chocolate chips.

-Grease one loaf pan and pour batter into pan. 

-Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean. 

-Enjoy!

I baked these in mini-loaf pans -- they were the perfect size to take to work to eat for breakfast.  And the little bit of chocolate chips was just amazing!  If you've got a few ripe bananas that you want to use, instead of composting them.. this is a super easy way to use them!

Next Up to Bat..

[NY Times]

I think I may be in a breakfast rut.  Cereal. Every. Morning.  (and sometimes dinner.. errr.)  Now, it is quick and easy, however, it's time for a change.  

I found this recipe from Mark Bittman, and think this would be a good way to mix it up.  Make them the night before, say?  And I do need to use my frozen blueberries from last season.. hmm.

Whole Wheat Muffins, 2.0.

Experiment: Beer Bread with Wheat Flour

From the CSA (community shared agriculture) I was in last fall, I received some fresh wheat flour from the farm. It looked great.. and I got 2 pounds. Pretty stoked. I haven't gotten to use it much since wheat flour is said to have much more gluten in it (higher protein = more gluten output), which results in a denser baked good. I decided to test it out with a little beer bread -- the easiest of the breads as far as I'm concerned.

The recipe came from here, and is as simple as can be:
3 cups flour (I used wheat, but they suggest all-purpose)
1TBSP of sugar
1 tsp of salt
1TBSP baking powder
12oz of beer --> 1 reg can.. but if you buy a tall boy, you'll have some left to drink ;)

Mix the dry ingredients together -- then add the beer. Mix until smooth(ish), then pour in and bake at 350 for about 35-45 min (My oven runs hot, so I tend to cook for a shorter time).

The wheat bread made a delicious, yet flat (as you can see) bread. It was a tad crumbly, but add butter on top, and it's great. Def dense, but b/c it was so easy, what do I care?

Next time, I'll prob use all-purpose.. and add some mix-ins. Choc chips? Herbs? I'll go wild.