It's Not Banana Bread Snack Cake

I have never successfully purchased the number of bananas that our family needs. Never. In fact, it's one of those things that I used to try to challenge myself with. Sad, but true. As a former stay at home mom, then mompreneur with my own business, and then back again as a stay at home mom, I had forgotten how sometime as an at-homer, I would try to challenge myself with odd tasks. Yes, sometimes this job is just plain mundane and I've got to entertain myself somehow!

So, back to the bananas. I think this is a law of nature or something. If I buy too many bananas, they sit on the counter until super sweet spotted and end up in the freezer. Buy too few and in a day or two someone will cry, "Who ate the last banana?" Buy the same amount every week for the next year and chart the results (no, I really didn't do this), and you'll get a varied result each week. I guess it all just depends on who is hungry for a banana or if perhaps banana cravings are contagious. I'm sure somewhere in some windowless university lab, a pale researcher is attempting to figure this out.

Anyway, when we have a plethora of overly ripe bananas, they end up in the freezer. My intention is always to throw them into pancake or muffin batter and I do occasionally do that, but sometimes they start to take over every available nook and cranny of my freezer and I have to bake.

Being incredibly busy this summer, I don't have time to think about banana bread, loaf pans, sifting, etc. So, I searched and tweaked this recipe until it came out relatively Point friendly, super easy, and best of all (in the summer), it doesn't require the oven to be on for over an hour like banana bread does.

I will say, though, that when baking it, Young One will follow his nose to the kitchen and then his face will fall and say, "It's Not Banana Bread Cake!" Hence, the name.

It's Not Banana Bread Snack Cake

This incredibly moist snack cake uses bananas in place of the oil, you certainly won't miss the fat, and just a touch of mini chocolate chips will hit that chocolate craving. Makes 24 servings at 3 Points each. Cool and cut into servings before tasting!

1 box yellow cake mix--I'd bet it would be great with spice cake, chocolate cake, and white cake too!

4 over ripe bananas, thaw if frozen (you can zap in the microwave if you haven't planned ahead)

1 egg

3/4 cup water

2/3 cup mini chocolate chips

Dump the first four ingredients (do I have to tell you to peel the bananas?) into your mixer bowl and let it beat on low until combined, raise the speed up until it's just short of splattering your kitchen and let it fly for a couple of minutes. Lower speed and toss in the chips, mix just for a second until combined. Bake as directed on the cake mix box. You may wish to make into cupcakes for better portion control. It takes about 30 minutes or until a kid comes in the kitchen and complains about it not being banana bread, but in the same breath, asks when it's going to be done.

Low Fat Banana Bread that Doesn't Taste Like Crap

I know. I KNOW, the title is really not appetizing at all. But, I've been searching for a decent low fat banana bread recipe for ages and this title sums it up. Really, it shouldn't have been this hard. Let me tell you, we've tried some pretty gross experimental recipes. This recipe is somewhat original, but with a little tweaking it suits us just fine. If you're watching your fat and cholesterol like we are, don't be afraid of the butter in the recipe. It's a small amount and much needed for flavor.

*Please note that Sam is in the background working on a Dakota Indian diorama. He went above and beyond what was needed for this project. I was so proud! He's taken to checking his grades online (way more than I do--I think I last checked in before Christmas sometime). He's become so responsible and talks to his teachers if he disagrees with a grade or finds an assigment that appears missing on SchoolView despite the fact that he KNOWS he turned it in. I guess my "be your own advocate" speeches worked! Sometimes, especially during these years, you need a little parental validation that you've done something right!

LFBBtDTLC

4 bananas, peeled and mashed (I just throw them in the mixer and let em whirl)

1 1/2 cups flour

1 cup sugar

2 TB butter, no substitutes

1 1/2 tsp real vanilla, no substitutes

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 cup egg substitute or 1 egg or 1/4 cup egg whites

2 TB applesauce (unsweetened is best, but use what you have)

Mix all until well blended. Place in a large loaf pan and bake at 350 for 50-60 minutes or until a knife inserted in the center comes out clean.

Variations:

• add 1/2 cup chopped pecans or walnuts


• dust top with cinnamon and sugar before baking or dust the pan after greasing with cinnamon and sugar


• add raisins and/or chocolate chips and bake in a 9x13 inch pan as a snack cake (check after 20 minutes for doneness) Sam's friends love this.


• make in muffin tins for better portion control, add streusal topping to wow and amaze your family


• use leftover (if there is any) or double the batch and use one loaf for bread pudding


• I LOVE toasted banana bread for breakfast. You need a toaster oven or use your regular oven, but it's yummy and delightfully different. The toasting caramelizes the bread. Top with orange marmalade... or not.

We always have unpeeled bananas hanging out in the freezer. We use them in smoothies, I bake with them (add to a cake mix, any flavor, with a little water and some egg whites and you've got a wonderful cake). They're a must have for us and a great way to use up the bananas that we don't eat before they start looking nasty. Freezing makes them look even nastier. No worries. The inside is just fine and the peel is the only packaging that they need to survive the freezer.

The Five

A little green is needed on a gray Minnesota day.

Here's what my five senses have been experiencing.

Sight

Oxygen by Carol Casella

I expected this book to be a fluff read. You know, a good book to read on a beach. Well, since it's winter here in Minnesota, maybe I should just say, a good book to curl up by the fireplace with. It was definitely much more than that. I request books from my library that I've read reviews of or heard about from friends. This one had so many requests. I've been waiting so long, I've forgotten where I heard about it.

Dr. Marie Heaton is a dedicated anesthesiologist. She loves the technical aspect of her job, yet it's her compassion that makes her an excellent physician. Jolene is a young girl under her care in the operating room for a relatively routine surgery. She's mentally retarded and the daughter of a single mother. Something goes terribly wrong during Jolene's surgery and she dies. All sharply pointing fingers of blame are aimed at Marie.

During the course of the investigation of Jolene's death, much comes out about Dr. Heaton. Her almost estranged relationship with her father is detailed as is her relationship with her friend and former lover. Dr. Heaton goes over and over every detail in an attempt to figure out just what went wrong during that surgery. While the ending wasn't surprising to me, I would imagine anyone without medical experience would miss the give away at the beginning. And, though not surprising, it was still cleverly presented.

Casella is clearly an excellent writer. She's able to convey her medical expertise, blending her technical skill with a talent for mixing words. I hope we will see much more from her.

Sound

Rock Ferry by Duffy

I just love this girl, her voice, her attitude. She's got it all goin' on. I downloaded this from iTunes as a reward for losing some weight. Those little goal gifts really help! She's soulful, her ballads are amazing, and if you don't sing along to Mercy, then there's just something wrong with you.

Scent

It's Not Banana Bread Snack Cake--I made it as cupcakes this time. 24 cupcakes, 3 WW Points each. Young One and his friends love these.

Taste

BBQ Chicken Legs. Chicken legs were on sale last week. Since they come in at about 1 Weight Watchers Point each, if skinless, they're a great option for me. I just drizzled with a little honey BBQ sauce, covered and baked for about an hour with some potatoes. Simple, kid friendly, and delicious. You must allow for the BBQ sauce when you count your Points.

Touch

The new kitchen light switch. We had horrible lighting in the kitchen. D ripped it out this week, creating much more of a mess than anyone should be allowed to make. But, I love the new lighting. Too bad the ceiling isn't finished yet, but I'm so thankful I have a husband that can do these things. I'm very lucky.