Baking & Blogging....It's about damn time!!

I was inspired today. But inspiration without organization can be rather annoying. 

The other day I was perusing Pinterest (everyone's favorite time sink) and happened across this amazing decadent looking chocolate dessert (Chocolate Truffle Cake) in a board of a person I did not know. Well, anyone that knows me, knows I LOVE to bake (not cook, there is a difference) and I just HAD to find this dessert. So I lurked in her yummy food board to find it. TWO days and 1702 pins later I found it! It was at the very end of her board. Needless to say, I pinned my way through her board...and no, I didn't count how many I repinned. In any case, the myriad of fantastic desserts are just begging to be recreated. 

I'm not sure how it happened but the next thing I knew I was digging through the mess of papers in and around my cookbooks and notebook stashes, getting more and more irritated. I can't find many of my cupcake recipes! Where are my 'go-to' recipes that I always have on hand? I have so many more recipes in the files on my computer...oh my gosh! what would happen if I couldn't get to them anymore? I really need to print them off. Then what? Where do I put them? In the pile with everything else? Agghhhhh....I need to organize everything! And I will tell you something that most of my friends and family know...I am NOT the queen of organization. I am a big picture type person. I think up the ideas, everyone else should execute them. I should also have a tiara.

One of the things I love about blogging is that you cannot see the mess my dining room table, in the midst of my 'organizing'. You cannot see that I am wearing paint splattered sweatpants and a t-shirt with no makeup on and hair barely combed. You only get to see the good things that come from my day. I can pretend that me, my house and my life is in total control; clean, tidy and organized. 

Sorry, back to the baking part.....After hours of 'organizing' (aka reading all my new pins), I finally decided to try a couple different takes on one of my world famous recipes. Ok, it may not be 'world' famous, but in my circle of friends and family it is! I have this Banana Bread recipe that I got about 15 years ago from Sherrie, a gal from work. As much as I want to tell you that the recipe my grandmother gave me before she passed is better, but I cannot in all honesty say that. This recipe is by far the best I have ever come across. Many have asked for it. It's rare that I give it out. Here I will tell all....but maybe for only a brief period of time. I may delete this post at any moment! So, if you want it...you better get on it quick!  

My 'World' Famous Banana Bread

1 3/4c all purpose flour

1 1/2c sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

2 eggs

1 c mashed bananas (2-3)

1/2c vegetable oil

1/4c + 1 Tbsp buttermilk

1 tsp vanilla

1c chopped nuts (optional)

In a medium sized bowl sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt. In another bowl combine eggs, banana, oil, buttermilk and vanilla. Add the flour mixture to the egg mixture and mix til just combined. Fold in nuts. Pour into a greased 9x5x3 loaf pan and bake at 325 for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until bread is done. Cool thoroughly before removing from pan. Makes 1 loaf.

There ya have it! Pretty easy. I will share a few secrets of mine with you too. I ONLY use Organic Evaporated Cane Juice for my sugar. I also ONLY use bananas that are really, really ripe - by that I mean the skins are brown and it looks like they are about to ooze all over the counter. And I ONLY use pure vanilla. The quality of ingredients you use really does make a huge difference.

Ok, now for the inspiration part.....

Peanut Butter Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Same ingredients as above but I added a heaping 1/2 c of chunky peanut butter and 1 c chocolate chips.

And....

Chocolate Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Again, same main ingredients but I added 1/4 c dark cocoa powder and 1 c chocolate chips. (I suggest you cook these as muffins or cupcakes - oh my goodness)

I hope you have as much fun making these and eating these as my family does!!

Happy Baking!

Momma Doll