Chocolate Peanut Butter Banana Bread

I love banana bread. I love chocolate banana bread. Then I found this recipe for chocolate PEANUT BUTTER banana bread and I was in heaven! Three things that simply belong together! In this recipe, I wanted to add chocolate chips for the extra bit of chocolate in every other bite, but alas, I had no chocolate chips. I had about half a bag of butterscotch chips and well, that was the direction I went and they worked! Enjoy this with a dark cup of coffee or black tea. It’s delicious!

 

INGREDIENTS

• 1 cup all-purpose flour
• ½ cup cocoa
• ⅓ cup peanut butter, slightly melted
• ¾ cups sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ¾ teaspoon baking powder
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• ½ cup vegetable oil
• 2 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1/2 - 1 C. chocolate or butterscotch chips (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1. Preheat oven to 350°F. Line a large loaf pan with parchment paper. Set aside.
2. In a large bowl, mix together the slightly melted peanut butter, sugar, mashed bananas, vegetable oil, and eggs. After mixing, stir in cocoa, baking powder & soda, salt, and vanilla. Stir in flour last. If using chips, stir in just until incorporated.
3. Pour into loaf pan and bake for roughly 55 minutes, until a knife inserted in the center of the loaf comes out clean. Cool on a wire rack for 20 minutes.

Play With Your Food!

I made an outstanding salmon dinner the other night, but forgot to take pictures. The salmon was so pretty, that I can't post the recipe until I have pretty pictures to go with it. So, I am going to share a fun recipe that goes against my parental advice of not playing with your food. I have made this for my kids on rainy days and have been holding onto it for just such an occasion. Until it dumps on us again, I am sharing with you. Trust me, when I say it also tastes quite good. With younger kids, there is A LOT more eating than playing, but that's okay. With older kids (especially my older boys) it's fun to see them make creatures, then play like they are monsters eating them. So, here is both a small recipe and larger recipe so that if you have a daycare setting or just lots of little ones, you can make a big batch. It also freezes really well. So you can make it in advance and have some on hand for rainy days. Have fun!

INGREDIENTS

• 3 1/2 cups peanut butter
• 4 cups confectioners' sugar
• 3 1/2 cups honey
• 4 cups dry milk powder

DIRECTIONS -
In large bowl, cream together peanut butter and confectioners' sugar, then beat in honey and fold in milk powder. Divide into 15 equal portions and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.

Children can mold and shape while eating it. It's a great after school snack.

Servings Per Recipe: 15

NUTRITION INFORMATION

Calories: 843

Total Fat: 31g

Cholesterol: 6mg

Sodium: 456mg

Total Carbs: 126.7g
Dietary Fiber: 3.7g
Protein: 27g
----------------------------------------------------
Playdough for 8 servings

INGREDIENTS

• 1-3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons peanut butter
• 2 cups + 2 tablespoons confectioners' sugar
• 1-3/4 cups + 2 tablespoons honey
• 2 cups + 2 tablespoons dry milk powder

DIRECTIONS -
In large bowl, cream together peanut butter and confectioners' sugar, then beat in honey and fold in milk powder. Divide into 8 equal portions and refrigerate or freeze until ready to use.