Growing up, I was always good at math.  But as an adult, there is one formula I simply cannot master–how many bananas to buy.  Mathematically it looks something like this:  (# of bananas each family member will eat per day) x (# of days before bananas will go bad) – (# of bananas I will eat from my office kitchen) = # of bananas I should buy.  You can practically see the gears turning as I stand in front of the banana display at the grocery store.  Of course I also have to factor in each family member’s preferred level of banana ripeness (ranging from “just ripe” for Jake to “almost banana bread worthy” for me).  And then there’s the weather–if it’s humid at all, the bananas will ripen faster than we can eat them, throwing the previously mentioned equation out the window.  Not that the formula is perfect anyway, as evidenced by the amount of bananas currently residing in my freezer waiting to be mashed into a smoothie (I hate washing the blender) or ice cream substitute (come on…there’s no substitute for ice cream…).

I decided to make banana bread with this week’s batch of overripe bananas.  Here’s the thing about banana bread:  I don’t love it–I “nothing” it (when I told my husband this, he said he learns something new about me every day.  He always thought I liked banana bread since I make it often—but I only make it so I won’t waste my overripe bananas!).  It’s not that I don’t like breads.  I love my mom’s zucchini bread (she puts chocolate chips in it and no nuts–it’s scrumptious!).  I love any kind of cinnamon bread.  I love Arlene’s Pumpkin Bread.  But banana bread I can take or leave.  I’m always searching for that “perfect banana bread recipe that will make me want to come back for seconds”.  And now I found it.

I came up with this recipe by combining some of the components of Arlene’s Pumpkin Bread with a banana bread recipe I’ve made before (with good but not amazing results).  Voila!  Perfect banana bread that had me coming back for seconds.

But wait, there’s more!  This banana bread has a crumb topping that just makes it over-the-top good.  No joke—this is literally the first loaf of banana bread that my family finished.  Ever.  Jay, Jake and I all had more than one slice (usually the boys have one piece, say they like it, and never touch it again.  And I eat and/or freeze the rest.)  We just kept eating it until it was gone.  Since nothing is off limits in my house, we also took a few pieces, put them on a buttered griddle, and fried them up like French toast minus the egg.  And then put syrup on them.  And then died and went to heaven.

Banana Bread with Crumb Topping

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Yield: 16 skinny slices or 8 generous slices

Serving Size: 1 slice

Ingredients

• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup packed light brown sugar
• 1/4 cup margarine (1/2 stick), softened
• 4 oz Philadelphia original cream cheese, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 3 overripe bananas, mashed (approximately 1¼ cups mashed)
• 1½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/4 teaspoon baking powder
For the crumb topping:
• 2 Tablespoons all-purpose flour
• 1 Tablespoon margarine (softened)
• 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar
• 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease and flour one 9x5 inch loaf pan.
3. In a large bowl combine sugar, brown sugar, margarine and cream cheese with an electric mixer. Mix until well blended.
4. Add eggs and vanilla extract and mix well.
5. Stir in mashed bananas with a rubber spatula or large spoon.
6. In a separate bowl combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon and baking powder. Stir with large spoon or wire whisk until blended.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing with the electric mixer just until moistened.
8. Pour into prepared loaf pan.
9. Prepare the crumb topping by combining 2 Tablespoons flour, 1 Tablespoon margarine, 3 Tablespoons light brown sugar and 1/2 teaspoon cinnamon in a mug or small bowl. Mix with a fork until thoroughly combined and crumbly.
10. Sprinkle crumb topping evenly over the batter in the loaf pan.
11. Lightly run a butter knife through the crumb topping in both directions (not necessary, but I do it so the crumb topping seeps into the batter a little bit).
12. Bake 50-60 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Mine took 54 minutes.)
13. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then remove to wire rack to cool completely.

2.6

http://www.sweetsbeforeeats.com/banana-bread-with-crumb-topping/

My favorite holiday is almost here!  Thanksgiving is just around the corner, and it is hands down the best meal of the year.  When I was a kid, I hated Thanksgiving.  I was a picky eater (imagine that!) and didn’t like gravy, stuffing or sweet potatoes.  So my Thanksgiving consisted of dry turkey and mashed potatoes, although luckily my family always had THE BEST dinner rolls.  Nowadays my brother and sister-in-law host Thanksgiving.  Not only do they make a delicious meal, they also make the day super-casual (like “sweatpants casual”—right up my alley!).  Over the years my taste buds got with the program and I now like stuffing, gravy and sweet potatoes.  I still love mashed potatoes (when I make them I add melty mozzarella cheese…mmm…) and cranberry sauce (from the can.  I know, I know…but I like it!).  If I were hosting Thanksgiving it would include sweet potato pie with toasted marshmallows on top and homemade macaroni and cheese.  Some day…when we have a house with a dining room (or when they move Thanksgiving to July so we can party outside).

Let’s talk Thanksgiving dessert.  Um…YES PLEASE.  Oddly enough, I do not like pie.  Let me rephrase that—I do not like pie crust.  So I don’t eat apple or pumpkin pie (or any fruit pies for that matter).  I like pies with graham cracker crusts, like the German chocolate pie I make.  Even if you remove pies from the equation though, Thanksgiving always offers yummy desserts.  Since I’m traveling 3½ hours to my brother’s house for the holiday, I am bringing a few desserts that travel well—chocolate chip cookies, cinnamon snaps and Arlene’s Pumpkin Bread.

Arlene is my co-worker, and she always makes sure the office feels homey.  A few weeks ago, she brought homemade pumpkin bread to work.  It’s scary how quickly the four people in my office polished it off.  It was AMAZING.  I’ve never tasted a bread of any variety that was this moist.  It is the best pumpkin bread ever.  She kindly gave me the recipe, and now I bring it to you.

I made two batches of pumpkin bread, which yielded three loaves and 16 muffins.  I’m freezing one loaf for Thanksgiving, and I left another loaf forJay, Jake and I (mostly “I”) to pick at until I’m forced to freeze it for fear my pants will not button.  I donated the remaining loaf and muffins to this great local charity, Helping Hands in West Islip, that was hosting a Thanksgiving Drive.  Helping Hands was founded by a local mom over 20 years ago and provides local children in need with essentials on a year-round basis.  This includes food, clothing, shoes, toys, backpacks, school supplies and much more.  At the Thanksgiving Drive they were collecting homemade baked goods and Thanksgiving centerpieces, holiday food baskets, canned goods and food gift certificates.  I like knowing my small contribution will be enjoyed by a family in my own community.  As the holidays approach and I’m stressing over gift-giving, it’s a nice reminder that I’m lucky to have what I do and I can help others by spending just a couple hours in my kitchen (which, let’s face it, I’d find an excuse to do anyway!)

Arlene’s Pumpkin Bread and Muffins

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Yield: 2 loaves or 32 muffins or 1 loaf and 16 muffins

Serving Size: 1/16 of a loaf or 1 muffin

Ingredients

• 2½ cups sugar
• 1 8 oz pkg Philadelphia original cream cheese, softened
• 1/2 cup margarine (1 stick), softened
• 4 eggs
• 1 15 oz can pure pumpkin
• 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1½ teaspoon cinnamon
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
• 1/2 cup golden raisins

Instructions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F.
2. Grease and flour two 9x5 inch loaf pans.
3. In a large bowl combine sugar, cream cheese and margarine with an electric mixer. Mix until well blended.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each addition.
5. Add pumpkin, mixing until combined.
6. In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, cinnamon, baking powder and ground cloves. Stir with large spoon or wire whisk until blended.
7. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients, mixing just until moistened.
8. Fold in nuts and raisins.
9. Pour into prepared loaf pans.
10. Bake 1 hour or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. (Begin checking at 50 minutes.)
11. Cool 10 minutes in pan, then remove to wire racks to cool completely.

Notes

For muffins, pour batter into lined muffin tins filling each 2/3 to 3/4 full. Bake at 350°F for 15-25 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clear.

Recipe by Arlene.

2.6

http://www.sweetsbeforeeats.com/arlenes-pumpkin-bread-and-muffins/

A few weeks ago, my father-in-law asked me “Have you ever made cinnamon rolls?”  He’s obviously on to me–he knows if he suggests a baked good, I’ll suddenly feel an overwhelming urge to make it.  I’ve never made cinnamon rolls.  But I love them.  What’s not to love?  Warm, soft, sweet, covered in icing…it’s the perfect comfort food for a brisk fall morning (or anytime!).  We were having dinner at my in-laws’ house the following week, and I was bringing dessert.  Why not give cinnamon rolls a try?  I did a little googling for a recipe, and decided to give the Betty Crocker recipe a whirl.  I don’t usually go for typical standbys like Betty Crocker, preferring recipes that real people (like me!) have actually used and perfected.  But the Betty Crocker recipe looked straightforward and simple enough, and what’s the worst that could happen?  Maybe they’ll come out crappy.  Who cares?  I had a contingency plan in place–I didn’t tell anyone I was bringing cinnamon rolls, and my chocolate chip cookie dough was already in the refrigerator waiting to be baked.  If the cinnamon rolls were a disaster, no one would be the wiser (until my husband and son ratted me out!)

Luckily they didn’t come out crappy.  They came out awesome.  Although the recipe was long, it was actually quite simple.  I got nervous about having to roll up the dough – any time I try to make dough that needs to be rolled, it never cooperates.  It’s either too sticky, too thin or too thick.  But this dough was just the right consistency for rolling.

Since my cinnamon rolls were one of several desserts, I decided to make them miniature sized.  The Betty Crocker recipe yields 15 cinnamon rolls.  My recipe below yields 28 mini cinnamon rolls.  I have this handy Wilton Roll and Cut Mat that I use anytime I need to roll out dough (or fondant, when I went through an experimental phase with fondant).  The mat was particularly useful here, because it has a grid pattern with each inch marked off.  The Betty Crocker instructions said to roll the dough into a 15” x 10” rectangle (yielding 15 cinnamon rolls).  I knew I wanted to miniaturize my cinnamon rolls, so I split my dough in half, and rolled each half into a (not-so-perfect) 15” x 10” rectangle.  My goal was to get 30 mini cinnamon rolls, but I ended up with 28.  The OCD part of my brain was annoyed by this, but I got over it quickly (a warm, gooey cinnamon roll helped ease the anxiety).  If you don’t have a handy mat with measurements for rolling, have no fear.  Just eyeball it.  This is not an exact science (much to my dismay!)  One more tip – I used a serrated bread knife to slice my rolled up dough, and I marked where I was going to cut before I began cutting (in an attempt to yield cinnamon rolls of uniform size…which didn’t exactly happen.  But again, I got over it).

Take my advice:  read the entire recipe before starting.  Even if you don’t want to, do it anyway. The dough has to rise twice, so you need to plan ahead to be sure you have enough time.  I managed to make these cinnamon rolls on a rainy Saturday while also attending my son’s baseball tournament and making chocolate chip cookies.  You don’t need a whole day to make them – you just have to make sure you have enough time for the dough to rise.

Cinnamon Rolls

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Yield: 28 Cinnamon Rolls

Serving Size: 1 Cinnamon Roll

Ingredients

Rolls
• 3½ to 4 cups all-purpose flour (plus additional flour for rolling dough)
• 1/3 cup sugar
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 packages dry yeast (4½ teaspoons)
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 large egg
• cooking spray to grease bowl and pan
Filling
• 1/2 cup sugar
• 2 ½ teaspoons ground cinnamon
• 7 tablespoons unsalted butter
• 1/2 cup raisins (optional)
• 1/4 cup finely chopped nuts (optional)
Glaze
• 2 cups powdered sugar
• 2 tablespoon unsalted butter, room temperature
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/4 cup milk, warmed in the microwave for 20 seconds

Instructions

For the Rolls and Filling
1. In a large bowl, stir 2 cups of the flour, 1/3 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon salt and 2 packages yeast with a wooden spoon until well mixed.
2. In a 1-quart saucepan, heat 1 cup milk over medium heat until very warm but not boiling.
3. Add the warm milk, 1/4 cup butter and 1 egg to the flour mixture.
4. Beat with an electric mixer on low speed 1 minute until flour mixture is moistened, frequently scraping batter from sides and bottom of bowl with a rubber spatula. Continue beating on medium speed 1 minute, frequently scraping bowl.
5. With a wooden spoon, stir in enough of the remaining flour, 1/2 cup at a time, until dough is soft, leaves side of bowl and is easy to handle (dough may be slightly sticky).
6. Lightly sprinkle flour on a countertop, large cutting board or mat. Remove dough from bowl and place dough on floured surface.
7. Lightly dust your hands with flour, and knead the dough, sprinkling surface and hands with more flour if dough starts to stick. Knead the dough for about 5 minutes, until dough is smooth and springy.
8. Spray a large bowl with cooking spray and place dough in bowl, turning dough to grease all sides.
9. Cover bowl loosely with plastic wrap, then cover bowl with a towel or blanket.
10. Let dough rise in a warm place about 1 hour 30 minutes or until dough has doubled in size*. Dough is ready if an indentation remains when you press your fingertips about 1/2 inch into the dough.
11. In a small bowl, mix 1/2 cup sugar and 2½ teaspoons cinnamon; set aside.
12. Spray the bottom and sides of two muffin tins with cooking spray**.
13. Lightly sprinkle flour on a countertop, large cutting board or mat.
14. Gently push your fist into the dough to deflate it. Gently pull the dough away from the side of the bowl, and split the dough in half***. Place one half on the floured surface, leaving the other half in the bowl for now.
15. Place 7 tablespoons of unsalted butter in a small mug or microwavable bowl. Microwave on low setting until the butter is partially melted, but still keeps its form. This makes the butter easier to spread on the dough.
16. Lightly flour your hands and a rolling pin. Using the rolling pin (or your hands), flatten dough into a 15x10-inch rectangle.
17. Spread half of the softened butter (3½ tablespoons) over dough to within 1/2 inch of edges.
18. Sprinkle evenly with 1/2 of the sugar-cinnamon mixture, and 1/2 of the raisins and nuts if desired.
19. Roll dough tightly lengthwise into a log. Pinch the seam to seal. Using your hands, gently roll the log of dough until it is even, sealed, and approximately 15 inches long.
20. Using a knife or toothpick, lightly mark off 1 inch slices on the log of dough prior to slicing into the dough (I got 14 slices out of each log of dough). Using a sharp serrated knife, cut dough into slices where marked.
21. Place slices in muffin tin sprayed with cooking spray (1 slice per muffin cup).
22. Cover pan loosely with plastic wrap, then with a dish towel.
23. Repeat steps 16 through 22 with the remaining half of dough.
24. Let dough rise in muffin tins in a warm place about 30 minutes or until dough has doubled in size.
25. Remove towels and plastic wrap.
26. Preheat oven to 350°F with the oven rack in the middle position. Bake 15 to 25 minutes or until cinnamon rolls are light golden brown. Immediately remove rolls from pan, placing each roll right side up on a cooling rack. Place your cooling racks over a cookie sheet or on top of paper towels, for easy cleanup once you drizzle with glaze. Cool rolls for 5 minutes, while you make the glaze.
For the Glaze
27. Pour ¼ cup milk into a mug or small microwavable bowl. Microwave for 20 seconds or until warm (but not boiling).
28. In another small bowl, stir 2 cups powdered sugar, 2 tablespoons butter, 1 teaspoon vanilla, and 2 tablespoons of the warmed milk. Add additional warmed milk, 1/2 tablespoon at a time, until glaze is smooth and thin enough to drizzle (you will probably use 2-4 tablespoons of warmed milk total).
29. With the cinnamon rolls on the cooling rack, and the cooling rack placed over a cookie sheet or paper towels, drizzle the glaze over the warm cinnamon rolls, using a spoon or measuring cup to make thin lines of glaze over each cinnamon roll. Don’t worry if your rolls have completely cooled before your glaze is ready--just drizzle glaze onto the cooled rolls.
30. Cinnamon rolls can be served warm or at room temperature. If desired, glazed cinnamon rolls can be reheated individually by microwaving each roll for 15–30 seconds, until warm. Store at room temperature once the glaze sets.

Notes

*My dough rose for 4 hours. The extra rising time didn’t affect the dough.

**If you don’t have (enough) muffin tins or you want to make larger cinnamon rolls, you can use a 13x9 inch pan. Follow the instructions as stated above, but after cutting the rolled dough into slices, place the slices in a 13x9 inch pan sprayed with cooking spray, so the slices are near each other but not touching. Cover the pan loosely with plastic wrap and a dish towel, and continue following instructions above.

***To make larger cinnamon rolls, don’t split the dough in half. Roll the entire ball of dough into a 15x10 inch rectangle. Your measurements for the filling ingredients remain the same, except you will probably only need 1/4 cup of butter. Follow the instructions as stated above, slicing dough into fifteen 1 inch slices and baking in a 13x9 inch pan as instructed in the above note.

Adapted from Betty Crocker Old-Fashioned Cinnamon Rolls

2.6

http://www.sweetsbeforeeats.com/cinnamon-rolls/