Tyler's Banana Nut Muffins

The Ultimate Banana Nut Muffin 

(Minus the Nut add the Peanut Butter)

I have been missing baking so bad since COLLEGE took over. I do not think that I will take a full load this summer. And speaking of summer I just found out that I am getting a family vacation to ( enter drum roll here please ) JAMAICA baby!

Things are happening all around me here and I sometimes feel like I am more of an observer than a participant but oddly enough I got to put on my skull apron and I felt soooo very comfortable this evening. The only thing missing was a nice glass of Champagne. I was so happy to get the escape I much needed and desired. And with that came aging bananas and a room full of 6th grade students who just finished their state mandated exam. I decided to make the cupcakes that I so rudely neglected this Easter. 

These are the best Banana Muffins EVER! Tyler knows his stuff... I change it up a tiny bit but every single time they come out amazing no matter what changes I incorporate. This time I just did plain banana because 6th graders are picky. I did however ice them with Peanut Butter Icing and topped with a Mini Hershey Bar. The triad of Banana, Peanut Butter, and Chocolate.. Hell Ya!

I got the original recipe here. Trust me on the changes, this recipe can do almost anything. And the smell... oh my gosh!

Next week I am hoping to be done with my major papers and can get a better chance to soak in springtime. My hydrangea trees are beginning to bloom and it makes my heart happy to see the rebirth. I think I have been sitting in front of the computer too long and now my thoughts are wandering. So.... Enjoy!

Banana Nut Muffins

2 cups AP Flour

1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

4 overripe bananas

1 cup packed brown sugar

1 1/2 sticks unsalted butter, melted and cooled

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chopped pecans  (this is where I like to change it up either with PB chips, chocolate chips, or even omit)

Preheat to 375. Line muffin tins.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Set Aside

Mash 2 bananas with a fork so they still have a bit of texture. With wire whisk bananas and sugar for about 3 min (Tyler says like you mean it!)  Add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla scraping the sides once or twice. Mix in the dry ingredients until just incorporated. Fold in other bananas and nuts with rubber spatula. Spoon into muffin tins about half way and tap on counter to release bubbles ( I don't do this because I typically lose my attention span about now )

Bake 18 to 20 min. Cool in tin for a few minutes and serve. These are best warm!

For mini muffins, like I did, 9 to 11 min.

BBQ Chicken.. The Ultimate Way

Another Reason to LOVE Tyler

I do hope y'all tried my #1 Cookie Recipe as I did (over and over again!)

This week I did the Ultimate BBQ Chicken and I will say this: WOW!

I have never done a brine or (you may want to sit) baked chicken on the bone. I know; How is that possible right? Well, I hate to deal with meat as a whole but meat on a bone... that's too much for me. I feel too primal and yucky doing it. Guess I am either a vegetarian inside or a princess... or perhaps both. I will say that if I do this recipe again I will do boneless chicken breasts. I think everyone in my crew would like that better. The BBQ sauce was perfect.

This recipe is the ULTIMATE. The smell is sooo amazing. A definite repeat for me. 

The entire recipe can be found here. Till Next Week Ladies!

Chips Ahoy Mattey!!!

Tyler's Big Fat ..... Chocolate Chip Cookies! 

My choice for Tyler this week was his Chocolate Chip Cookies. I know many of the girls have done this one with rave reviews. Chris had to take a class across country this past week and what better way to avoid getting tired than an old fashioned sugar high from these ginormous cookies. They were amazing... and YES I had SOME (not one, oh no.... SOME!!!) These cookies are my second favorite. I am sorry to disappoint... They are delicious. You truly should try these. I am a chewy cookie fan so I only baked them the minimum time but, if you go to the food network site they have a very good video on making these; with no other eye candy than Tyler himself. There was another person in the video but who paid attention to her! If you use a 1/4 cup to measure out the cookies you won't get many out of this recipe but they are big enough where you won't need many. Check out the thickness of the batter too; it was unbelievably thick. 

Happy Baking and don't miss out on these ones... They hit the spot. You can get the recipe here and you can watch the video here.

Chocolate Banana Bread

Tyler's Chocolate Banana Bread

I know this one has been posted several times for the Tyler's Friday Blog but who can resist Chocolate and Banana! I think next time some peanut butter mixed in would be awesome. The bread was chocolatey and moist, the bananas were not too overpowering. Although Chris described it as having too much chocolate I didn't think that those words could be used in a sentence together. Please try this one as it was great. 

Chocolate Banana Bread

2 cups All Purpose Flour

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter, softened

4 oz milk chocolate, melted

2 eggs

3 mashed bananas

1 tsp vanilla extract

Preheat to 350. Whisk flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, and salt in large bowl. 

Beat butter to creamy then beat in chocolate, eggs, bananas, and vanilla on low. Stir in flour mixture just till combined. Pour into buttered loaf pan. Bake 50 min or until done. Cool in pan 15 min and then to rack to cool completely. 

Truffle Tarts with Raspberries and Whipped Cream

Tyler Florence Friday's ! 

This is my first official week with the TFF's; I'm excited about being a part of another group. The only thing is that my classes are getting busy and Lexi's has been sick so it seems like time is running from me but I am working on it. I am hoping to keep up well with Tyler's Fridays..you can check the blogroll here and I got the recipe from foodnetwork here. 

The Truffles were delicious but I will warn you as they are very rich! If you are a chocolate lover, you will be in heaven. Enjoy!

Chocolate Truffle Tarts with Raspberries and Whipped Cream

Dark Chocolate Truffles

1/2 cup heavy cream

8 ounces bittersweet chocolate, chopped ( I think semi sweet or milk chocolate would make it better next time)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 cup cocoa powder, for dusting ( I used the whipped cream instead)

In saucepan bring cream to a simmer over low heat. Pour the cream over the chocolate in a bowl and let stand 10 min to melt the chocolate. And vanilla and stir smooth. Set aside and allow to cool about an hour. Then beat chocolate on medium speed until thick and lightly colored. Spread over the bottom of a baking dish and smooth the top. Refigerate about 2 hours or until firm. 

Truffle Crust and Assembly

1 1/2 Cups Oreo cookie crumbs

6 Tbsp melted butter

Dark Chocolate Truffles (recipe above)

Raspberries and Whipped Cream

Mix Oreos and butter, spray 6 muffin tin with Pam and then line with parchment. Press the cookie mixture in to the cups about 1 1/2 inches up the sides. Place a raspberry in the center and then fill the tarts with the truffle mixture. Smooth the tops and refrigerate until set (about 2 hours, I froze mine)