Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

My favorite loaf pan manufacturer just started making the skinny Cocktail Loaf Pan that I’ve been searching for for years. Cocktail bread is traditionally rye or pumpernickel, but I like to use this pan for quick breads. One pan will make a long skinny loaf of quick bread that would normally fit in a 9x5 loaf pan. I absolutely love serving smaller slices from this size pan - perfect portion control. Here’s a recipe for chocolate chip banana bread with a touch of cinnamon and cardamom. Enjoy!

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Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• 3x14-inch tea or cocktail loaf pan https://amzn.to/3XW6CBV

• pure vanilla extract https://amzn.to/3ELpRVX

• mini chocolate chips https://amzn.to/3ENvMtu

• ground cardamom https://amzn.to/3ENvFy4

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Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

makes one 3x14-inch cocktail loaf pan (or one 9x5 loaf pan)

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 2 cups all purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1 teaspoon baking powder

• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 1 teaspoon ground cardamom

• 1 teaspoon fine table salt

• 2-3 ripe bananas, mashed

• 1 tablespoon milk

• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract

• 1/2 cup white granulated sugar

• 1/2 cup light brown sugar

• 8 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature

• 2 large eggs

• 1/2 cup mini chocolate chips (semisweet or bittersweet), plus more for sprinkling

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 325F with rack in lower third of oven.

2. Prepare a tea or cocktail loaf pan (3x14-inch) with nonstick baking spray.

3. In a medium bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, cardamom, and salt; set aside.

4. In a medium bowl, whisk together the mashed bananas, milk, pure vanilla extract; set aside.

5. In the bowl of a stand mixer fitted with a paddle attachment, beat both sugars and butter together until light and creamy, several minues.

6. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating for 20 second after each addition.

7. Beat in the mashed banana mixture.

8. Add the flour mixture just until no traces of dry ingredients remain.

9. Remove bowl from stand mixer and stir in the mini chocolate chips by hand (scrape side of bowl in the process).

10. Pour batter into prepared pan and sprinkle with additional mini chocolate chips if desired (looks great after baked).

11. Bake on lower rack for 50-60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

12. Cool in pan for 10 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely before serving. Leftovers should be stored in an airtight container at room temperature.

Notes

• If you don’t have a 3x14-inch tea/cocktail loaf pan, a 9x5-inch loaf pan can be substituted (increase baking time to 65-75 minutes).

• Alternately, batter can be mixed with a handheld mixer.

• The batter for a double recipe will fit in a 5-quart stand mixer.

• This banana bread is very heavy and can break in half when turning out of the pan. To avoid this, be sure loaf is completely supported by a cooling rack when unmolding. Don’t be tempted to unmold loaf into your hand like you might do with a standard sized loaf.

• Although the photos above show these pans wrapped with insulated baking strips, I’ve concluded doing so is unnecessary for this recipe.

adapted from allrecipes

Berry Breakfast Smoothies

Our youngest is home from college this summer and we've been treating ourselves with smoothies each morning.  Too much work that early in the day?  No worries, just put everything in your blender jar and stash it in the fridge… the only thing you’ll have to do in the morning is walk your groggy self to the blender base and hit the power switch.

This recipe was inspired by Alton Brown.  It's not only delicious, but it contains high vitamins, antioxidants, and fiber so it's nutritious too!  

Start with strawberries, blueberries, peaches, and bananas (amounts given in the recipe below).  You can use fresh or frozen fruit.

If you use frozen fruit, place it in the blender jar and store overnight in fridge (to partially thaw) or on the counter (to fully thaw) before processing.  Makes for quicker morning prep too. 

Add pomegranate juice and milk (or milk substitute).

Blend until smooth.

Gotta love how fast and easy smoothies are to make. 

Breakfast for two - one for me and one for you.

And here's my little tip for cleaning that dirty blender jar.  Fill it with some water and ONE DROP of liquid dish soap.

Cover and blend, blend, blend.

All the junk is dislodged from the jar and lid - just a quick rinse and it's ready for breakfast tomorrow.  

Items used to make this recipe:

(affiliate links)

• digital scale https://amzn.to/3yeKeXS

• ninja master prep https://amzn.to/3JujXeS

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Berry Breakfast Smoothie

makes 2 servings

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

• 4 ounce strawberries

• 4 ounces blueberries

• 4 ounces peaches

• 4 ounces bananas

• 4 ounces pomegranate juice

• 4 ounces milk (or milk substitute)

Directions

1. Weight all ingredients and place in blender or food processor; blend until smooth.

adapted from Alton Brown