Chocolate Banana Loaf

We had a wonderfully tiring weekend, visiting friends from all over. We drove over 700 miles, stopped in 5 different cities and met adorable baby Joseph, played with a bunch of little kids, chatted with a handful of college friends, had dinner with my old church small group, and even saw a few friends from our high school days. There were many more we wish we could have seen, but we're saving them for another trip.

I made this chocolate banana loaf for Jon, one of the coolest friends we have. Thanks for hosting us and for treating us to some great soondubu! Glad you were able to eat some Sunday morning, and I hope you've enjoyed more since. :)

Among all the catching up, we were asked how our families are doing, and we heard some great compliments about our family members. Specifically, we heard from Tim's high school buddy how he recalls my mother-in-law, Mama, being the sweetest person he's ever met. Mama, I hope that you're reading this and that you realize you've touched many people's hearts with your love and kindness. Happy Birthday to my dear mother-in-law!

Chocolate Banana Loaf

Ingredients:
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
3/4 cup sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips
2 large eggs
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted
4-6 ripe bananas, mashed well
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
2. Butter and flour the bottom and sides of a loaf pan.
3. In a large bowl mix the dry ingredients together (flour, sugar, cocoa, baking powder, baking soda, and salt)
4. In another bowl combine the wet ingredients: bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla.
5. Fold the banana mixture into the dry ingredients until just combined. Then fold in the chocolate chips.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake about 60 minutes until bread has risen and a cake tester comes out clean.
7. Let cool slightly, remove loaf from pan, and serve warm.

Chocolate Banana Muffins

Here's another over-ripened banana recipe. One thing about me, I don't like making plain ol' banana bread anymore. I had an awful experience where I burned one, and now I know doubling the temperature does NOT mean it will bake in half the time. I won't make that mistake again, but still, banana bread reminds me of that traumatic moment. Plus, I love new recipes (and chocolate!), so I decided to use the recipe below.

Chocolate Banana Muffins
adapted from allrecipes

Ingredients:
1 cup butter, softened
2 cups white sugar
4 eggs
6 bananas, mashed
2 teaspoons vanilla extract
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sour cream
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Line three 12-cup muffin trays with muffin paper linings.
2. In a large bowl, cream together butter, sugar, and eggs. Stir in bananas and vanilla.
3. Sift in flour, baking soda and cocoa; mix well. Blend in sour cream and chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared muffin trays.
4. Bake in preheated oven for 20-25 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean.

Mocha Banana Muffins

Leftover ripened bananas makes for great breakfast recipes. I love a good banana nut bread like most of you do, but I was definitely in the mood for making something with chocolate. Then I had some espresso while I was making the muffins and thought I'd add that into the mix. So here we have... mocha banana muffins.

Mocha Banana Muffins

Ingredients:
2/3 cup butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
2 ripe bananas
2 teaspoons espresso
3/4 teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1/8 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon baking powder
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
2/3 cup semisweet chocolate chips

Directions:
1. Cream together sugar and butter. Beat in egg, banana, espresso, and vanilla.
2. Add in flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Blend until flour disappears.
3. Gently mix in chocolate chips.
4. Spoon batter in 12 paper-lined muffin cups.
5. Bake for 25 minutes in preheated (350F degrees) oven.