Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

I have to admit, I don’t often make banana bread.  Don’t get me wrong, it’s not that I don’t like it.  But the last time I made one, I was the one who consumed almost the whole loaf!  Ahem….it’s not that I didn't want to share; I believe food tastes better when shared with loved ones.  But seems like the rest of my family doesn't care about banana bread, and one doesn't even want to come close to it.  Is that even possible?



On the other hand, my kids love bananas, I often buy them in bulk because I don’t want to run low on my fresh banana inventory.  My kids seem to want one whenever we just ran out.  So, I tried to keep them around the house these days.  If they are ripen sooner than we can consume, I turn them into these Breakfast cookies or freeze them up to make smoothies at a later time.



Today was another day I needed to use up some over-ripen bananas, again!  Then, I realized my freezer still has quite a bit of frozen bananas and I also got these cookies around the house.  So, I thought of making banana bread, again!  However, I certainly didn't want to end up consuming the whole loaf all by myself, again!  Did I say again?  Then, an idea came to mind, which was adding more ingredients and flavors that my family loves, into this banana bread!  Bingo!  Why didn't I think of that last time? 



So, in this Banana Bread, I added some semi-sweet chocolate chips.  Who doesn't like chocolate chips, right?  And orange zest; what a winning combination?!  As I was reaching over to get butter and eggs from the fridge, I realized I have a bit of vanilla yogurt that I need to use up as well, so they all joined the pool!  The end result was amazing!  The Banana Bread was soft and moist in the middle because of the banana and yogurt.  The top and edges are golden brown and slightly crunchy.  The sliced almond on top added a little bit more crunch and nuttiness.  You can taste the aromatic banana, the refreshing orange zest, and a bit of decadent and sweetness from the chocolate chips all in one bite. 

Here’s how I make it:

1) This is how the banana looks, sometimes the bananas I used got even more brown spots than these!

2) In a medium bowl, mash the bananas with a fork, set aside.

3)In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda.  (this particular batch, I used brown sugar. more on that in just a minute)

4)Then stir in the chocolate chips, set aside.



5) In another medium mixing bowl, whisk together the eggs, melted butter, yogurt, vanilla and orange zest until well combined.

6) Then, whisk in the mashed bananas.

7) With a spatula, fold the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined.

8) Spread the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the sliced almonds on top (opps, forgot to take a picture after adding the almonds) and bake for 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center and comes out clean. Let the cake cool in the pan on a wire rack for 30 minutes, then turn out onto the rack to cool completely. Enjoy!



Super simple and easy to make, isn't it?  In the #3 pictorial above, you see that I used brown sugar this time. I was testing out different ingredients and you can use either brown or white sugar. The one with brown sugar yields a more chewy texture bread while the white sugar version will give you a more fluffy texture.  I personally preferred the later one, but it’s all up to you. Also, if you like the chocolate chips to be more evenly distributed throughout the cake/bread, use mini chips instead of the regular chocolate chips.



The verdict?  My family loves it.  Not only this bread is simple to make and take so little time to prepare, the most important point is that even my most challenging food critic in the house (also a non-banana bread eater) loves this loaf!  So, I declare this recipe is definitely a keeper!  I hope you’ll give this recipe a try too.  I know you’re going to love it.  Is there any food that you love but seldom make it at home because the rest of your family doesn't like it?  I would love to hear from you.  Thank you for reading and have fun baking!

Vanilla Dream Cake Recipe and a Giveaway

I’m falling in love all over again….with vanilla, of course.  Especially after having this Vanilla Dream Cake; it’s quite impossible not to fall in love with it, really!  The cake itself is a Vanilla Angel Food Cake infused with Vanilla Blackberry Sage Tea (more on that in just a minute).  The cake is then covered with a smooth, soft and fluffy Vanilla Cream Cheese and White Chocolate Frosting.  Now, I guess you see why I’m in love, right? 



When Singing Dog Vanilla contacted me to try their vanilla products, I couldn't be happier.  They specialized in vanilla and carries many unique vanilla products, such as vanilla coffee, vanilla lip balm, and this Organic Vanilla Blackberry Sage tea.  When I open the container of the tea, the wonderful sweet aroma from the vanilla and blackberry came right through. 



The tea comes with a reusable tea bag too, how thoughtful!  If you are to brew a cup to sip and enjoy, simply use 1 teaspoon of tea leave with 8 oz (1 cup) of boiling water; steep for 3 to 5 minutes and enjoy.



Since I only need 1/3 cup of warm liquid in my cake recipe, I used 1 teaspoon of tea leaves with only 1/3 cup of boiling water so the flavor of the tea is more intense and you can taste the wonderful Vanilla Blackberry Sage Tea flavor in the cake.  The vanilla and blackberry aromas are wonderful and the sage is pretty subtle, which is perfect for this cake.



I've used vanilla bean paste in many of my previously published recipes such as this Classic Crème Brulee and Vanilla Dutch Baby.  As I've explained in those posts that the seeds from the vanilla beans don’t impart lots of flavor, but it’s the pod that carries most of the flavor and fragrance.  Therefore, when a recipe doesn't call for steeping the vanilla bean pod, such as this cake, the Vanilla Bean Paste is the perfect product to use, especially if you are seeking that intense vanilla bean flavor, along with the visibly beautiful vanilla specks.  (See picture below and check out this video from Singing Dog’s website)



Ready to check out how I made this gorgeous Vanilla Dream Cake?  Follow me into the kitchen.



1) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. In a large mixing bowl, sift 3/4 cup of the sugar with the salt and the cake flour together, set aside.
2) In the bowl of the stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the egg whites, tea, and cream of tartar until foamy, about 2 minutes. Then, slowly add the remaining 3/4 cup of sugar. Beat until medium peaks form.
3) Then, beat in the vanilla paste until incorporated.
4) Sift about 1/3 of the flour mixture to cover the top of the egg white mixture. With a spatula, gently fold in the flour mixture. Then, sift in another 1/3 of the flour mixture, repeat until all of the flour mixture is incorporated into the cake batter.
 


5) Carefully pour the batter into an ungreased tube pan and bake for 40 to 45 minutes.
(Click here for more information on the Angel/Tube Cake pan that I used.)
6) Inserted a wooden skewer halfway between the inner and outer wall; the skewer should comes out clean.
7) Cool the cake in the cake pan upside down on a wire rack for at least an hour before removing from pan. (now it’s the perfect time to prepare the frosting)
8) To prepare the frosting: in the bowl of the mixer fitted with the wire attachment, beat the heavy cream and vanilla bean paste on high until stiff peak forms. Transfer to a separate bowl and set aside.



9)  In the same mixer bowl, beat the cream cheese and melted white chocolate together until creamy and well incorporated.
10)  Gently fold the whipped cream into the cream cheese mixture, 1/3 at a time until all incorporated.
11) When the cake is completely cooled, use a knife with a thin and flexible blade to insert between the outer cake mold and the edges of the cake.  Go around to loosen the cake from the mold.  Remove the ring mold.
12) Then, insert the knife between the bottom edges of the cake and the cake base.  Turn the cake around to loosen the cake from the base.



13) Then, insert the knife between the tube and the inner cake edges.
14) Line a cake stand with 4 stripes of parchment paper on the edges.
15) Remove (invert) the cake directly onto a parchment lined cake stand.
16) Frost the cake generously with the frosting. Remove the parchment paper and enjoy.  You’ll have a lovely frosted cake on a clean and neat cake stand.



Pretty simple, isn't it?  My family loves this cake.   It’s soft and pillow-y, definitely a vanilla dream comes true.  The cream cheese in the frosting has the perfect tangy flavor which balanced well with the sweetness from the white chocolate.  Perfect to enjoy with a cup of Organic Vanilla Blackberry Sage tea!



Now, are you really to make this cake at home?  I bet you do.  I have a wonderful giveaway for you today to help you with a step closer.  How about winning a set of Vanilla Blackberry Sage Tea (2 oz) AND the Vanilla Bean Paste (4oz), courtesy of the kind folks at Singing Dog Vanilla!?  And there will be 3 winners.  Aren't you excited?  I certainly am.  Thank you Singing Dog Vanilla for providing the giveaway.  Here’s how to enter.

This Giveaway is now Closed.  All winners were contacted.  Thank you everyone who entered.

To enter the giveaway, simply leave a comment on this post and tell me if you've ever used Vanilla Bean Paste in your recipes.  Please also leave your email address so I can contact you if you are one of the 3 lucky winners.

3 lucky uTry.it readers will win a Vanilla Blackberry Sage Tea AND the Vanilla Bean Paste.  This Giveaway is open worldwide.  Deadline to enter is March 15th by midnight PST. Winner will be selected through Random.org and announce shortly after the giveaway is closed.  Prizes will be shipped out directly by Singing Dog Vanilla.

For extra entries, do any or all of the following (simply leave a separate comment for each extra entry):

1) “Like” Singing Dog Vanilla on their Facebook Page, click here.
2) "Like" uTry.it's Facebook Page, click here.
3) Follow Singing Dog Vanilla on Pinterest, click here.
4) Add me to your Google+ circle here.
5) Share this giveaway on Facebook (with a link back to this post please)
6) Pin a picture from this post onto Pinterest.

Good luck everyone!    






Disclaimer: I received the Singing Dog Vanilla Blackberry Sage Tea and Vanilla Bean Paste free of charge for the purpose of this review. I was not compensated in any other way.  All opinions are 100% my own and always will be.

Orange Curd—Sunshine in a Bowl!

My whole family adores citrus, not just in sweet treats, but in many savory dishes as well.  I’ve made citrusy vinaigrette such as this one here and it’s been my family’s go-to salad dressing ever since.  With all the citrus fruit I get from my In-Law’s garden, it’s hard not to love these fruits.  If you haven’t done so, check out this Meyer Lemon Curd with Vanilla Sugar Recipe, it’s good on almost everything, such as toasts, scones, tarts, or even by the spoonful, ahem….don’t ask me how I know that.



So, with the super sweet oranges that I got recently, I’ve made some orange curd.  I put quite a bit of zest in this curd because I love the aroma from the zest.  The zest contains the essential oil and carries lots of flavor, even more so than the juice itself, in my opinion.  So, I didn’t strain this curd after it’s done cooking because I want as much zest in my curd as possible.  If you prefer a smoother curd with no zest, by all means pass the cooked curd through a strainer, the choice is yours. 



This Orange Curd taste like sunshine in a bowl to me.  It’s tart, its’ sweet, and it’s refreshing, yet it’s also very rich and creamy without any cream in it.  It puts a smile on my face every time I taste it.  I’m sure it’ll do the same to you if you give this recipe a try.  If the weather in your area is less than perfect, this Orange Curd  will brightens up your day.  Happiness could be really simple, as simple as a tablespoon of orange curd on a slice of homemade bread.  I believe happiness depends on our attitude in regards to how we perceive things around us. 



Thank you for stopping by today.  I hope you enjoy today’s recipe.  So, please share with me, what kind of recipes make you feel happy?  I would love to hear from you and give your recipe a try too.   Meanwhile, be happy and keep smiling.  You never know who would fall in love with your smile. 

Mint Shamrock Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache—For St. Patrick’s Day

Obviously, I’m not Irish.  I’ve never been so excited about St. Patrick’s Day, until this year, really!  Why am I so excited?  Food, of course.  I created these Mint Shamrock Macarons with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache and couldn’t wait to share them with you.  I know, shaped macarons are not new, if you remember these or these from a while ago.  But it’s the flavor and how fun these are that won me over.



Saint Patrick's Day is a cultural and religious holiday celebrated on the 17th of March, the anniversary of Saint Patrick’s death.  This day is supposed to commemorates Saint Patrick (c. AD 385–461), the most commonly recognized of the patron saints of Ireland, and the arrival of Christianity in Ireland.  Why the Shamrock always associated with St. Patrick’s Day, you might ask?  Irish folklore tells that one of his teaching methods included using the shamrock to explain the Christian doctrine of the Trinity to the Irish people. That was why. 



Are you still with me?  Okay, just checking.  I’m known to be amongst the first few who always falls asleep the fastest in History classes.  So, just want to make sure I didn't lose you with the last paragraph.  Let’s move on to the fun stuff.  How about we talk more on food, recipe and how-to’s instead?  Yeah? Come take a closer look on the shamrock macaron below.



If you've made macarons before, you know the macaron batter is filled into a pastry bag and piped onto baking sheets before going into the oven.  So, I'm sorry to tell you that there’s no cookie cutter you can use to make these shamrock macarons.  However, don’t be despaired, they are pretty easy to pipe.   Basically, they are a combination of 3 mini heart shapes and a trapezoid as shown in the picture below.  After piping numerous heart shaped macarons for the Valentine’s Day, I probably can pipe a heart shape macaron blind-folded (nah…I wished!)  So, these are not hard to do at all, just need a few practice and you’ll be all fine.



Here’s how they look before going into the oven.



With these macarons, I added about 10 fresh mint leaves and grind them all up along with the almonds and powdered sugar to make the shells.



The scent of fresh mint is amazing. 



Along with the Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache filling, these shamrock macarons are so refreshing and totally rock!  (Hey, that rhymes.)  They totally reminded me of the thin mint Girl Scout Cookies and the After Eight Chocolate Thin Mints, if you have tried those before.  Amazing stuffs.



I say, they are even better than a pot of gold!  Just sayin’!



If you’re looking for a fun and festive treat to celebrate St. Patrick’s Day, give these Mint Shamrock Macaron with Dark Chocolate Mint Ganache a try.  I know you’re going to love them!

I found this at my local craft store, or click here to see a similar product online.

Last but not least, may each petal of the 4 leaf clover (Wait! Why 4 and not 3?  I’m totally returning this dish!) bring you good health, good luck, love, and happiness!  Thank you for reading and I hope you’ll enjoy today’s recipe.  Until next time….

Blood Orange Margarita

It’s the citrus season, guys!  Which means, it’s harvest time from my In-Law’s beautiful garden with gorgeous Meyer Lemons, grapefruits, kumquats, mandarins, oranges, and blood oranges, etc.  I’m so excited because I’m a big citrus fan.  If you’re not familiar with the blood oranges, they are a variety of orange with almost-blood-colored flesh, hence the name. This fruit is smaller than an average orange. The distinctive dark flesh color is due to the presence of anthocyanins, a family of antioxidant pigments common to many flowers and fruit.  The skin of the blood oranges can be tougher and harder to peel than that of other oranges.  The flavor is stronger and the aroma is more intense as well.  They have a distinct, sweet flavor with a hint of raspberry, yum!



Take a look at the picture above, aren't these blood oranges bloody gorgeous?  I know, their name might not be too appetizing, but they taste wonderful and I am simply in love with that deep red color.



I can’t help it but to turn them into this gorgeous cocktail.  This Blood Orange Margarita is sweet and tart at the same time, and the tequila adds just the right kick (no pun intended).  The lime zest salted rim of the glasses adds another dimension of flavor while you sip.  So, make sure to serve this Blood Orange Margarita with a wedge of lime.  I was having fun sipping the margarita, licking the lime zest sea salt on the rim, and then biting into the lime wedge right after.  That reminds me of the fun “tequila pop” drink that I love back in the college years.  Oh boy, that was bloody long time ago!



I hope you enjoy this cocktail recipe and give it a try if you come across these gorgeous blood oranges in the market.  Bring them home, they are full of vitamin C and antioxidant goodness.  Stay tuned for more fun citrus recipes in the near future.





Please drink responsibly.  Health and General Disclaimers.