May 21, 2011: Banana Split Muffin Recipe

Sometimes the best recipes I come up with are ones that are forced on me – I look around at the fresh ingredients I need to use up and come up with something. That’s the way it happened with this recipe; I had one really ripe banana, a few Ghirardelli chocolates left over from Valentine’s Day, and a handful of craisins. The result is this muffin recipe, which my women’s group sisters just loved! See what you think.

Banana Split Muffins

2 T. butter, melted
¼ cup sugar
¼ cup milk
1 cup flour
1 t. baking powder
1 medium-sized ripe banana, mashed
4 squares chocolate candy, broken into small pieces (1/3 cup)
1/3 cup cherry flavored craisins

Preheat oven to 400 degrees. Spray a 6-cup muffin pan with nonstick cooking spray.

In a medium sized mixing bowl, combine butter and sugar. Add milk and stir just until combined. Stir together flour and baking powder; mix into butter mixture. Add remaining ingredients, stirring just until combined. Divide the mixture evenly amongst the six muffin cups. Bake in preheated oven for 20 minutes.

February 14, 2011: Last Minute Valentine’s Day Breakfast Recipe

So it’s Valentine’s Day and you haven’t gotten anything special for your sweetie? How about treating him/her to breakfast in bed?

Here’s a menu for a special breakfast to make your special someone (yes, it's a work day but if you get up early enough you can still make this breakfast and have enough time to get to work):

Fresh fruit compote
Heart-shaped pancakes
Warm, real maple syrup with toasted pecans
Sausage links or bacon
Fresh-squeezed orange juice
Garnish the breakfast tray with a small vase of fresh (or artificial) flowers, the morning newspaper, and a cloth napkin tied with a red or pink satin bow

Pancakes From Scratch

2 cups flour
3 t. baking powder
1 t. salt
1 T. sugar
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/3 cup milk
2 T. melted butter
1 cup fruit (optional) such as blueberries, finely chopped apples, strawberries, etc.

Mix together dry ingredients. Combine eggs and milk and add to flour mixture gradually, beating just until smooth (do not over-beat). Stir in butter and fruit, if using.

Heat a griddle and brush with oil. For extra special Valentine’s pancakes, use a metal cookie cooker in a heart or similar shape (or simply pour three round blobs in the approximate shape of a heart on the griddle). Place the cookie cutter on the griddle and spoon pancake batter into the shape. When the batter is bubbling (you see a lot of air holes that gradually decrease in volume), remove the cookie cutter and flip.

Makes 2 dozen small pancakes.

Serve with warmed maple syrup (the real stuff is best, although it’s expensive) and butter. You can also top with sifted powdered sugar (use a paper doily to make a pretty pattern) for a fancy touch.

Happy Valentine's Day! Enjoy the love!