Banana Recipe Round up

Did you get any pregnancy cravings while you were pregnant?    I don't remember too many with my first.   I did enjoy a few more things that I would have normally ate, like a few more poutines and nachos but otherwise I still ate quite healthy.

For baby #2 it is pretty much the same, I am having a few indulgences but still aiming to stay on track.    My craving this time around though is banana baked goods.  I could literally eat banana bread every day.  Oddly,  I am not actually craving real bananas, just banana baked goods.  I have never been a pure banana lover.  Even now I really only eat the excess of what my little one doesn't it to give baby #2 some potassium.
There is a cafeteria in a building across the street from my work and I swear they make the best banana bread I have EVER had!  I can guarantee it is not healthy and potentially soaked in melted butter after it is baked but honestly BEST EVER! It is dangerous really.   I tend to treat myself maybe once a week with it and for the rest of my cravings I go to recipes that are a bit more figure friendly like my Gluten Free Almond Banana Bread.

Since I need to mix up my banana baking and try some new recipes I have asked some blogging friends and scoured the web for some delicious banana baked goods and created this round up for you.  Some healthy, some not, but all 30 Banana recipes will satisfy any banana craving.

Enjoy!

Banana Nut Cake with Maple Cream Cheese Frosting	Chocolate Malt Banana Cakes	Brown Sugar Banana Bread
Banana Fluffernutter Muffins	Banana Cupcakes with Chocolate Ganache	kinny Nutella Cinnamon Swirl Bread
Banana Spice Oatmeal-Walnut Streusel Muffins	Gluten Free Almond Banana Bread	Brown Butter Banana Peanut Butter Cookies
Honey Banana Poppy Seed Bread	Banana Bread Waffles	Super Soft Banana Bread
Peanut Butter Banana Brownies	Banana Lentil Muffins	Banana Pancakes
Brownie Crumble Banana Bread	Chocolate Banana Cake Bars (Vegan + Gluten-free)	Blueberry Banana Almond Baked Oatmeal
Banana Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Frosting	Double Chocolate Muffins with Banana Cream	Banana Chocolate Chip Bars
Brown Butter Banana Donuts	Healthy Banana Bread	Purple Ribbon Banana Bread
Biscoff Banana Bread	Banana Split Cheesecake	Easiest Banana Bread Ever
Strawberry Banana Bread	Healthy Banana Bread Recipe *Egg Free	(Almost!) Fat-Free Pumpkin, Banana & Butterscotch Whole Wheat Bread

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Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Walnut Zucchini Muffins

One of my blogging friends,  Brianne from Cupcakes and Kale Chips asked for some blogging help while she gets acquainted with her new little bundle of joy.  Since I recently went through this I know the first few months can be quite time consuming.  I barely got out a post a week for the first few months.  Although five months later things aren't much different.  No matter,  when she asked for help I was more than willing to contribute with some delicious Gluten Free Chocolate Chip Walnut Zucchini Muffins.

So if you would like to see the recipe for these delicious muffins head on over to Cupcakes and Kale Chips. 

Thanks, 

Banana Lentil Muffins

Do you ever make a recipe and forget an ingredient?  You only realize the ingredient is missing after the recipe has come out of the oven and think CRAP,  I forgot something.    But, do you ever make a recipe and forget an ingredient and the recipe still comes out good.    The funny thing is this is the second time I have done this to a Banana recipe.   I went to make these muffins and forgot the sugar.  I did the same thing with a banana bread in the summer.   The interesting this is the bread turned out terribly, these muffins did not.   I actually almost didn't notice I forgot the sugar, it was just in a second thought that I realized I didn't add it.

Canadian Lentils were a sponsor at the Blissdom Conference and they were giving away chocolate chip cookies made with lentils,  a recipe created by Michael Smith.   These cookies were actually insanely tasty. Although in my opinion loaded with too much sugar, which may explain the good flavour.   They also gave us a cookbook of recipes that used lentils, I of course went straight to the desserts at that back of the book and found these banana muffins.   There were also brownies that I will be making soon enough.   I made a few tweaks, some on purpose and some not.

Banana Lentil Muffins

(adapted from Canadian Lentils)

INGREDIENTS:

• 1 cup green lentil puree  (1 cup of drained canned lentils + 1/4 cup water pureed together)
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 egg
• 1/4 unsweetened applesauce
• 1/4 cup vegetable oil 
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar ( I forgot this and they are still good)
• 1 cup whole grain bread flour
• 1/4 cup unbleached all purpose
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp salt
• 3/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 1/3 cup chopped dark chocolate

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Preheat the oven to 400F. Smash or puree the bananas.  I pureed them with my hand blender until they resembled a sauce.

2) Combine lentil puree, banana puree, apple sauce, egg, oil and sugar (if you remember).   Whisk together. 

3) In a small bowl combine flours, baking soda/powder, salt, cinnamon.  Add chocolate and walnuts and blend in. 

4) Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and fold in until just combined. 

5) Line 12 muffin tin with paper liners,  fill evenly with the batter.   Bake for 18-20 minutes.  Let cool in pan for a few minutes.   Store in air tight container.

Easy to put together, healthy and moist.   Good with or without sugar.  ;-)

MEG'S RATING : D-EEEE-LICIOUS!

Raspberry Quinoa Muffins

I am back from the sun and relaxation.  It was a great trip and Barbados is a beautiful island.   I spent most of my days at the pool reading, going through 2.5 books.  We did manage to squeeze in a rum and history that took us on a tour of the island, some kayaking and catamaran trip.  Unfortunately my plan for turtles was swatted by a cruise ship over feeding turtles and some motion sickness in the water, so I sadly saw none.   Here are a few pics,  I oddly didn't take that many and just had the temperamental point and shoot.

This was a plantation we stopped at on our island tour.   Lots of old cool things in side.

These are some old shoes.  Look how thin they are.

This was the cabinet of old cameras.  There was two of these.   Very Cool.

We stopped at one of the many churches on the island.   This church had the tree of life in the cemetery,  I had to hug it. 

This is the East side of the Island.   A litte more rough and rocky.

This is the west side of the island at our resort.  Calm, sandy and wonderful.

Now back to reality and work. Ughh...who wants that.   The first few days back have been miserable and I have been one cranky lady in the office.   I am sure it is just first week back blues or maybe I just need some baking to get me back to normal.  I finally got this blog post out so I must be getting back on track.  This weekend will involve baking and some photo/recipe pinning.   Here are some healthy muffins to get me back on track after a week of a lot of desserts.

Quinoa Raspberry Rhubarb Muffins

INGREDIENTS:

2/3 cup Whole Wheat flour
1/2 cup oats
1/3 cup cooked Quinoa
1 1/4  tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/3 cup pureed dates
1/4 cup coconut oil
1/4 cup honey
1 large egg
1 tsp pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup raspberries
1/2 cup fresh or frozen rhubarb

INSTRUCTIONS:

1) Soak 1/2 cup of pitted dates in hot water. Let soak half an hour and puree until smooth.
2) Preheat the oven to 375F. Line a muffin pan with 12 paper liners
3) Combine whole wheat flour, oats, quinoa, baking powder and salt in a bowl. Stir together.
4) In a large bowl or mixer bowl beat together oil, dates and honey until well combined.
5) Add egg and vanilla, mix to combine
6) Stir in dry mixture until almost combined.
7) Fold in raspberries and rhubarb gently to minimize the raspberries from breaking and running.
8) Using a 1/4 cup scoop, fill the muffin liners, two thirds full.
9) Bake for 20-25 minutes, until a toothpick comes out clean. Let cool in pan 5 minutes, then place on wire rack to cool completely.

I love fruity muffins.  

MEG's RATING : D-EEEE-LICIOUS!