banana

Creamy Tropical Fruit Slushies

Trade in your handheld popsicles for this frozen slushie treat that’s iced, creamy, and a total tropical flavor delight made from real fruit and almond milk, making it more delicious AND healthier than what you’ll find at the local snow cone shack.

This recipe is brought to you by Almond Breeze

Who else has stood in line at the little wooden shack on a hot summer day sweating bullets but so totally not moving because you’re finally next in line for a cold, frozen slushie/snow cone/ icy treat?

Or rather, who hasn’t?

Once we hit the dog days of summer, the summertime slurping ritual of savoring a brain freeze/Slurpee/shaved ice is at an all-time high. But here’s the deal, do you really know what’s in those things? Basically, it’s just a lot of sugary syrup made from weirdly manufactured ingredients over chunks of ice. And if you get the creamy version (because it tastes SO much better!) it’s doctored with heavy cream and/or sweetened condensed milk.

Talk about a calorie load!

But you do have options! Instead of piling on the unnatural sugared syrups and heavy cream options, it’s so easy to make healthier iced slushies at home. And you don’t even need a slushie machine to do it. Instead, just a good quality kitchen blender will totally do.continue to the recipe… about Creamy Tropical Fruit Slushies

German Chocolate Banana Bread

My favorite banana bread recipe gets a nutty chocolate chunk upgrade, making this quick bread a dessert lovers dream.

To say I have a fetish with German Chocolate anything and everything is a severe understatement. Proof in the chocolate pudding is right here.

I could try and blame it on my German heritage, but let’s just say it like it is: I am a load-it-up-with-all-the-nuts-chocolate lover and I have no willpower when this flavor-bomb combo is in sight. I mean, have you ever had Baskin Robbins German Chocolate Cake ice cream?

Has chocolate ever been considered a part of our DNA? Apparently so! Who-da thunk that someone (not me) was likely to investigate?

My favorite part of this banana bread is all the additional fixins, but the secret is what lies under the toppings, and proof that beauty is more than skin deep.

continue to the recipe… about German Chocolate Banana Bread

Cherry Berry and Banana Overnight Oats

Oats, cherries, berries and banana soak in almond milk overnight in the refrigerator to create a no-cook red, white and blue layered, healthy on-the-go breakfast in a jar.

This year I’m partnering with Blue Diamond Almond Breeze to share healthful recipes made with almond milk, like these easy, no-cook overnight oats that will help you serve up your best.

This summer our days have been jam-packed. No lazy days of summer here. She’s been a busy 12 year old with one camp or another almost every week this summer.

Golf camp. Soccer camp. And to continue carrying on my sport-loving legacy, she had her first volleyball camp too.

continue to the recipe… about Cherry Berry and Banana Overnight Oats

Peach Pie Smoothie + $100 VISA Gift Card Giveaway

The flavors of fresh peach pie is made into a creamy, sippable smoothie made with almond milk, that’s perfect for healthy breakfast, dessert or snack.

This year I’m partnering with AlmondBreeze to create and share recipes using almond milk. We’ve traversed the course of sweet to savory and we’re finishing things off with a classic reason to use almond milk: it’s smoothie time folks!

But let’s be clear, smoothies aren’t just for breakfast anymore. Especially when you have the flavors of homemade peach pie in the mix.

We’ve been hitting the farmers market hard these days. It’s seems like it’s always that way thanks to our short growing season and the realization that before long our mountain air will be throwing down blizzards of snow instead of sweltering rays of sunshine. At least that’s what I’m counting on thanks to the good old Farmer’s Almanac. Make it so!

These peach pie smoothies don’t actually contain pie. Although that would be pretty darn good, but it would sort of negate the healthy aspect of this recipe. Or would it?

I’ll let you be the judge.

continue to the recipe… about Peach Pie Smoothie + $100 VISA Gift Card Giveaway

The Best Banana Bread Pancakes

These easy and fluffy buttermilk pancakes taste just like banana bread, thanks to a simple mashing of banana into pancake mix, warm spices, and healthy additions like old-fashioned oats and chopped pecans.

These pancakes have a few secrets going on. Secrets that pancake purists should probably just ignore. But they’ll come around, and will totally be asking for just one more flapjack. That’s just the way it goes.

These pancakes are a mash-up. Oh, did I really just say that? Yes, a forcefully forked mash-up of super ripe bananas, pancake mix, nuts, buttermilk and spices whose smell as the cakes cook conjure up cravings for fresh baked banana bread.

But hold on tight, I haven’t even hit the secrets that lie in them there hot cakes.continue to the recipe… about The Best Banana Bread Pancakes

Mango Smoothie Plus 11 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

This week the internet exploded. Not because of political scandals, the return of Downtown Abby or even because some guy raised a baby duck in his beard.

No, it’s because with the new year comes new resolutions for better health and a plethora of new smoothies recipes. It’s a cool and refreshing domination of the www. and perfect timing to add mine to the pack with my mango, banana and coconut tropical smoothie.

Back in the day when I would drag myself into the office after my morning torture weight training session with my trainer, I would somehow will my legs one. step. at. a. time. to the community kitchen, meagerly toss a handful of ice into the blender, peel a banana, add a dash of milk and pour in a packet of protein powder. In my post workout trance I’d refuel with a fantastic protein-powered shake that nourished my rebuilding-muscle tissue and keep me full and satisfied til lunch.

Since I don’t work in the office anymore, I can invest a little more time and effort into my smoothie cravings. Sometimes I get a even get a little exotic. Okay maybe more tropical than exotic. Ah hell, who cares. I’m going big, and going with exotic.

continue to the recipe… about Mango Smoothie Plus 11 Favorite Smoothie Recipes

Spring Fever and a Strawberry Banana Milkshake

Would you take a look at that? What, what? What could it be? Sun. Languishing. Full on soaking it up time.

Now, you might be thinking to yourself, “Self…Why is Heidi posting Strawberry Banana Shakes when its not even St. Patrick’s Day? Where’s the green minty shake? The Easter Egg colored Smoothie?”

I’ll give you two reasons for this shake. Smudge and her friend K.K.’s a request for a sweet afternoon treat. See, now that the weather has finally made a turn—70 degrees is in the forecast today and I’m going skiing to celebrate—the girls decided it was high time to ditch the snowpants and break out the shorts, tanks and lounge cushions.

Shakes are a summertime staple around here but with sweet, spring strawberries hitting the stores we think it’s high time to take an early plunge into shake making. Oh, that poor dog in a dress.

One of our standing traditions after Smudge visits the dentist, and if she gets a clean bill of dental goodness—Hey mom, look! No cavities yet!—all bets are paid up and its time to get a milkshake. That’s when we head to Iceberg.

continue to the recipe… about Spring Fever and a Strawberry Banana Milkshake

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread Plus Sweet Banana Recipe Roundup

When she speaks, I listen. And when her friends speak I listen louder.

Yes, I meant to say that. Louder. Because actions are louder than words and when they eat every morsel, every crumb, I know we have a winner.

Smudge is becoming a big help in the kitchen. I find myself stopping in my tracks to watch her flit from counter to cupboard, completely unaware of anything going on around her as she sings softly under her breath to the tune that never seems to end in her head. For good measure she’ll give a twirl, an elegant flick of her wrist then cock her elbow, throw her hand behind her head and rock a pumping sprinkler dance.

And then we return to the never-ending song in her head.

Recently a friend of hers came over for a playdate. What did they want to do? Bake banana bread. Well alright then, let’s do it. And we did. And they ate. And I listened when her friend declared this recipe was, “the best banana bread I’ve ever eaten.”

Umm, yeah. Perhaps because it tastes like a giant slice of banana bread chocolate chip heaven?

Hey, I’m just here to listen.

I’ve experimented with plenty of banana bread recipes including the recipe I used in 7th grade that called for vegetable oil as the main moistening ingredient resulting in a greasy crumb that deflated quickly. Using greek yogurt in this version gives ample moisture minus the greasy fingers. This is banana bread, not french fries people.

Of course adding in a few chocolate chips to any recipe can only make the world go ’round a little easier, a little sweeter. And not to take away from our banana bread goodness, but if you’re in the mood for some serious chocolate chips recipes, Averie has your number.

But when I’m in a need for a basic proven recipe I’m often drawn to my go-to 1,028 recipe tomb: The New Best Recipe Cookbook by Cook’s Illustrated. I’ve slightly adapted the recipe by adding a touch more vanilla, subbing pecans for walnuts and yes, aforementioned chocolate chips.

If you make this recipe, please let me know! Leave a comment below or take a photo and tag me on Instagram with #foodiecrusheats.

5 from 2 votes

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Adding another layer of sweetness, Chocolate Chip Banana Bread will cure your every craving

Ingredients

2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
1 cup pecans toasted and coarsely chopped
3 bananas very ripe and mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
1/4 cup plain greek yogurt
2 large eggs beaten lightly
6 tablespoons unsalted butter melted and cooled
1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

Instructions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottom and sides of a 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Whisk first five ingredients together in large bowl; set aside.
In a medium bowl mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter, vanilla and chocolate chips. Gently fold banana mixture into dry ingredients until just combined. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan.
Bake for about 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and top is golden brown. Cool in pan for 5 minutes then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm with a swath of sweet butter or at room temperature with a cold glass of milk.

Recipe Notes

slightly adapted from The New Best Recipe Cookbook from Cook's Illustrated

Obviously as I was creating this post I was on the hunt for more lovely banana-inspired recipes and I must say, the banana is severely neglected out there unless its in a muffin, pancake or bread variety.

I say, “Raise the banana flag!” Let’s give the banana it’s sweetened day in the sun. Here’s a selection of food bloggers doing just that, and doing it well.

Modesty must be Glory’s thing because according to her Glorious Treats Banana Caramel Cream Dessert isn’t groundbreaking. I beg to differ.

Jaime gives us the perfect reason to splurge with a simple remedy for the midnight sweet tooth with Sophistomom‘s Caramel Bananas

Gluten and dairy-free but full of flavor with a history in family lore and subject that leaves Shauna in stitches, Gluten-Free Girl’s Coconut-Banana Cream Pie is sure to make us smile too.

Cassie makes sure the health nuts aren’t left out with a chia see and whole wheat flour recipe for Bake Your Day’s Vegan Banana Nut Breakfast Cake that’s enough to convert even the non-vegans in some of us

Diana layers her nana-nanas with an extra banana flavored icing thanks to banana extract in Created by Diane‘s Banana Icing on Banana Walnut Muffins

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Top 5 Doughnut Recipes for National Doughnut Day

It’s a Fry-day. It’s a holey-day. Hellz yeah, it’s National Doughnut Day!

photo > Sian Kennedy via Bon Appétit

Dunkers and sinkers, no matter what you call them or where you live, we all love them .

Far from the beyond-overexposed Krispy Kreme franchises (they lost all appeal when I found them “fresh baked” in my local grocery store) we’ve rounded up our top 5 make-at-home ringer recipes.

photo > Butterfly Food

If the photos aren’t enough to compel you to try these light and airy hole-challenged treasures, their unusual source just might. Straight from a…mystery novel—love unusual inspirations—Easy Raised Donuts from Ash’s food blog Butterfly Foodie are beyond tempting with with strawberry glaze, sprinkles or toasted coconut.

photo > Lara Ferroni

What better expert to feature on this holey-est of days than from the doyenne of doughnuts herself, Lara Ferroni, author of Doughnuts: Simple and Delicious Recipes to Make at Home. Her Baked Chocolate Cake Doughnuts are tender, chocolatey and baked—saving calories from frying so you can add just a couple more to your plate.

photo > Tartlette

Healthy doughnuts? Er, well, maybe! Offseting the effects of the Fry Baby and solving Helene’s banana-overload conundrum, Tartlette‘s Banana Doughnuts with Dried Banana “Streusel”deliver a healthy dose of potassium rich bananas—mixed right into the batter—and when glazed and decadently topped with another dose of dried bananas, deliver a delicious contrast in textures.

photo > Sips and Spoonfuls

Doughnuts. And Dubai? Sukaina’s recipe for Nutella Doughnuts at Sips & Spoonfuls is proof enough that doughnuts hold international appeal, especially when combined with flavor of the month Nutella. Create her version with the hole or stuffed with a hazelly-Nutella center.

photo > Cherry Tea Cakes

And finally, riding the bacon wave that is almost ridden out, Jana from Cherry Tea Cakes takes a homemade riff on the popular donut I first saw at this downtown L.A. diner. Maple Bacon Donuts are the sort of flavor combo not found often enough : savory, sweet, salty—toppings that when combined with the gooeyness of the moist doughnut cake make angels sing. Dig in, pour a big glass of milk and remember to leave room for the pound of bacon topping.

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