Monday, March 23, 2009

banana peanut butter chocolate chip cake

yes, you read that title right. why haven't i thought of this or seen it before? what could be better? those three flavors in combination just feels RIGHT. you know what i mean? i saw a recipe for it here via foodgawker. i didn't have peanut butter chips or cinnamon chips, so i'll write up the recipe the way i made it and you can look at the original here.

4 very ripe bananas
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 cup granulated sugar
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. ground cinnamon
1 tsp. pure vanilla extract
3/4 cup peanut butter
2 cups chocolate chips

for topping:
3 Tbsp. granulated sugar
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
approx. 1 Tbsp. brown sugar

preheat the oven to 375 degrees fahrenheit. grease an 8-inch square pan. in a medium mixing bowl, mash the bananas well with a fork or potato masher. add the eggs, and stir well to combine. add the flour, sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, and vanilla, and stir to mix. add the peanut butter and when that is combined, add the chocolate chips. pour the batter into the prepared pan, and set aside. in a small bowl, stir together the cinnamon and granulated sugar. sprinkle the mixture evenly over the batter in the pan, then sprinkle brown sugar over the top. bake for 35-40 minutes (it took me longer so just be aware it might take more time), or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. let cool in the pan on a wire rack for at least 15 minutes before serving.


Wednesday, March 11, 2009

guest blogging

so, if any of you live in salt lake city i'm sure you are familiar with the blog, yourheartout.com. it's a darling blog created by ali that most people i know are obsessed with. we got in contact for work purposes and one thing led to another and now i have a guest spot on her blog, called "sweet caroline". so, check out the blog to see what's going on around town, good places to eat and shop, and just what's cute. also, i put recipes on there that i haven't put on here, so look at those, too (only two posts so far, but one is a smashing red velvet cake and the latest is delectable blueberry lemon muffins with brown sugar topping)!

Wednesday, March 4, 2009

spain-a food tour

i was recently in spain and i pretty much ate my weight in pastries and delights. here are some pictures of a few of my favorites listed with the cities i ate them in.

madrid - napolean chocolaté (one of the best things i've ever had in my life–and i'm not exaggerating)

toledo - a marzipan treat, i think it's called marquesas

toledo - another marzpan style delight, called panellets

granada - an almond tart (lots of almond confections in spain, by the way, delicious!)

granada - an apricot tart

car snack - a vacation favorite of mine - puffy cheetos

seville - almond cookies made by nuns

seville - i have no idea but it was delicious

everywhere - chocolate caliente con churros

barcelona - the best shawarma anyone has ever had, anywhere