Murphy's Law Reigns Supreme

Yesterday... Oh how I wish I could forget you.... Here is proof that some days it's best not to bake even if you were really really reallly craving something. *will post recipe at a later date*

I should have known better since the past few days my brain has not been cooperating with me. Yet, when the sudden craving for Popovers came to mind I set about finding the ingredients...

Being a simple recipe I had everything and even decided to try making them with coconut flour (figured they would taste sooo good).

Two stirs and I knew something was wrong. It wasn't batter but dough! So, I added some extra milk to thin it out and put them in the oven. This is what came out....

Hmm yeah... flat... dense... Bollocks! Not one to give up I went back to the normal ingredients just in case the coconut flour was to blame.

Take two...

Nice fluffy... light... airy....

Just look how much better they turned out compared to the first ones...

I was sooo happy until I opened one up and found the inside RAW! Seriously?! I rarely have baking issues and never back to back... We are having nasty weather so not sure if that was partly to blame but BAH...

First, thing this morning...

"Mom..... can you make pancakes?" Wee Man begs in the hall way.

"Hey Lil Kiwi, do you want pancakes this morning?" DH asks and she nods yes.

They have the nerve to ask me to bake not 24 hours after the Great Popover Fiasco.... they must be crazy...

Anyone else brave enough to post or comment about their baking/cooking disaster?

Little Orange Monster

So there I was washing bottles and such when it hit me... Hungry.. I could picture that adorable orange monster from the TV calling to me.... How could I say no to the cutie when he started acting like a monkey and pointing to the bread.... I'm sorry and ashamed to admit that I broke down and made Hungry just what he wanted... Banana Bread...

Just to show him that I was in charge I added some chocolate on one side of the loaf... HA HA take that you little evil cute monster....

My DH thinks Hungry needs to visit more often because he loves coming home to different delicious smells.... He begs for me to make stuff because he can't bake... DH loves to kick me out of the tiny kitchen we have in this place to cook dinner but ooo he doesn't dare bake... The last time he did it was muffins... OH how I wish I had a picture to show of those poor sad things... They were flat, dipped in the middle, and the bottoms were burned.... Pancakes same thing flat and heavy.... Even when I have told him the secret to fluffy light pancakes he still messed them up... By the way, one of the secrets is a little sugar and some vanilla....

I do have something else to post today but not sure if I will get it done today or tomorrow since it's been two crazy days here...

OH and if anyone wants to make me errr I mean themselves a Hungry Monster I found a website with some info... Freaky adorable cute furry monster..... How to have your own Hungry Monster


Here is the recipe for this yummy Banana Bread with chocolate...

First, I need to let you know that while this is the recipe for it, I am known for adding stuff here and there... For example this time I didn't add any nuts and instead shaved some chocolate in layers on the batter before putting it in the oven...

Banana Bread with added chocolate

INGREDIENTS

1/4 cup butter, softened
1 cup white sugar
1 egg
3 ripe bananas, mashed (or more depending on size)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

here are some optional things you could add...
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
a pinch of cinnamon
1/2 cup of brown sugar for color (ie... use only 1/2 cup white sugar and 1/2 cup brown sugar)


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease an 8x4 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, cream together butter and sugar. Beat in the egg and mashed bananas. Mix in flour, baking soda and salt just until combined ( if adding nuts or chips add now). Pour into prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour. If top begins to brown too quickly, decrease heat slightly. Center should be soft and chewy, while the outside, crisp and crunchy.


If what you want is a CHOCOLATE Banana Bread then here is a recipe I like... Don't make it often because I don't always have the ingredients... Warning some find this bread very chocolaty and can't taste the banana.. Once again I normally change the recipe here and there depending on what I have in the cabinet...

Chocolate Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS

1 cup margarine, softened
2 cups white sugar (or brown and white)
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 lite sour cream
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (optional or add nuts)


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans.

In a large bowl, cream together margarine, sugar and eggs. Stir in bananas and vanilla. Sift in flour, baking soda and cocoa; mix well. Blend in sour cream and chocolate chips. Pour batter into prepared pans.

Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into center of a loaf comes out clean.

Chocolate Overload

Okay... I have something to admit... Now listen er read closely... What I'm about to type is going to shock most of you... I'm one of the few that is not a Chocoholic... Please do not stop reading... I know I just admitted something that most of you can not even imagine... However, think of how hard that was to admit to a world of Chocolate loving people....

In my defence I love DARK Chocolate it is just so yummy... So when the mood to eat chocolate hits it hits BIG... However, this evening was not about the mood to eat chocolate... This was a result of what happens when I get upset with DH.... Yep, he did not bring home the right thermometer even though he was informed...

"This *shows picture on website* is what I am looking for.... Here is where you can get it... This *shows website and name* is the only one I want... Do not bring anything but it home"

What I got was three Wii games, three milkshakes, two toys for the little girl across the street birthday and a thermometer that is similar to the one I wanted... He must have known he was wrong because this is what I got as an answer...

"I have the receipt so we can take it back... I made sure I could take it back just in case you did not want it..." *looks at me hoping this will save his hide*

What's a girl to do... I know he means well but come on... Thus, I went to cleaning and then decided to whip up some chocolate muffins with dark chocolate chips and some dark chocolate chip shavings on top... The kitchen smells of mouthwatering heavenly sweet yummy delicious chocolate... It was so over whelming I almost made a chocolate banana bread... However, no bananas and that would require more time away from the kiddos...



Wee Man seems to be getting worst so it could be a long night.... BAH

Here is the recipe for those oh so yummy Muffins...

INGREDIENTS

2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 1/2 cups white sugar
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups milk
1 egg
2 tablespoons vegetable oil
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips (I use the dark chocolate chips)
3/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
4 tablespoons white sugar (optional... or I use raw sugar or shaved chips on top)


DIRECTIONS

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin cups or line with paper muffin liners.

In medium bowl, sift together flour, cocoa, sugar, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In large bowl stir in milk, egg, oil and vanilla. Mix dry ingredients into large bowl; beat well. Add chocolate chips and walnuts, stir well.

Fill muffin cups 3/4 full. Sprinkle muffins with sugar or raw sugar. (or wait until they come out and then shave chips on top.)

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Then sit back and enjoy...