Harry Potter and Coffee Cake

Hello, almost weekenders! Three cheers for Fridays!

What a week it has been. Late last night and into the early morning, I had the pleasure of going with a group of friends to the midnight showing of the final Harry Potter movie. Not only was the movie enchanting, but the entire evening of festivities was wonderfully enjoyable. We arrived at the theatre around 8:45 pm to find over a thousand people waiting in anticipation. People were decked out in HP gear, talking in English accents, and casting spells on each other. There was even a wizard band. You don’t believe me? Check it out yourself.

For real.

Now, I’m not a die-hard fan. I haven’t read the books; I haven’t seen all the movies. But, the excitement was contagious and I thoroughly enjoyed the anticipation and the motion picture. I am even inspired to read the books! Crazy, right? Downfall to the night: we got back around three this morning, and I had to work at eight. I definitely didn’t get the beauty rest that I wanted. However, one thing made my Harry Potter hangover not so bad. Six words: banana, chocolate chips, cinnamon, coffee cake.

On my day off yesterday, I really wanted to bake something. I checked the pantry and fridge, assessed my ingredients, and searched around the web for something delicious. I came across several recipes for coffee cakes and adapted them to fit my interests, taste buds, and ingredients. Thus, I bring you: banana coffee cake with chocolate chip and cinnamon streusel.

Ingredients:

1 cup chocolate chips (milk or dark chocolate- your preference!)

½ cup brown sugar

1 tablespoon cinnamon

¾ teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon baking powder

¼ teaspoon salt

¾ cup white sugar

1 ½ cups flour

½ cup butter (room temp.)

1 egg

3 large mashed bananas (I usually use frozen bananas; they are easier to mash once thawed)

1 6-oz package of Greek yogurt (some recipes call for buttermilk-I prefer yogurt)

1.       Preheat oven to 350 degrees

2.       Grease a 9x9 or 8x8 inch baking pan

3.       Make streusel topping- stir brown sugar, chocolate chips, and cinnamon together

4.       Mix flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda in a separate bowl

5.       With an electric mixer, beat sugar, butter, and egg together for two minutes

6.     Mix in mashed bananas and yogurt

7.       Gradually add bowl of dry ingredients

8.       Blend well

9.       Pour half of this batter into the baking pan

10.   Pour half of streusel mixture on top of batter

11.   Repeat steps 9 and 10, layering the remaining batter and streusel

12.   Bake for 44-48 minutes, or until a fork or toothpick comes out clean

13.   Allow to cool for a few minutes

14.   Enjoy with coffee or English tea

Easy-peezy, lemon squeezy.

I brought this coffee cake into work this morning and it was hit. So, TRY! You will have no regrets J

Till next week, flowers.

XO.

Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread

Hello all! And Happy Tuesday to you.

As promised, I’m here to share one of the best sweet bread recipes I have ever made! This sweet bread is otherwise known as Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread, inspiration found here. This is the perfect treat to compliment late night hangouts with friends, a work potluck, or a relaxing morning with tea. This bread is stellar. I can’t say it enough. Hope you love it!

Ingredients:

½ cup browned butter

2 cups flour

¾ cup brown sugar

1 teaspoon baking soda

½ teaspoon salt

¾ teaspoon cinnamon

2 large eggs

1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract (try to avoid
getting imitation vanilla; it’s just not the same)

¼ cup plain yogurt (I used greek yogurt because it’s what I had in my fridge)

1 ¼ cup mashed bananas

½ cup diced strawberries

1 strawberry super thinly sliced for the top of the bread


Directions:

1.      Heat oven to 350 degrees

         

2.      In a skillet, melt and brown butter. You will know it is done browning when it has melted completely, stopped crackling and popping, and starts to smell nutty.

3.      Grease and flour a loaf pan

4.      In a mixing bowl, whisk flour, brown sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together

5.      If the butter is done, remove from heat and allow to cool in a little bowl

6.      In another bowl, whisk eggs, vanilla extract, and yogurt together

7.      Gradually whisk the smashed bananas into the wet ingredient bowl

8.      Then, if the browned butter has cooled, gradually whisk it into the wet ingredient bowl

9.      Add the wet ingredient bowl to the dry ingredient bowl, folding together

10.  Fold in the diced strawberries (do not over stir!)

11.  Spoon the batter into the prepared loaf pan

12.  Top with thinly sliced starberries for decoration

13.  Bake for about an hour, but monitor towards the end to ensure you don’t overbake

14.  Remove from oven when skewer comes out clean and allow to rest for 15 minutes

15.  Slice, love, and share with friends and family!

Take a deep breath and savor the blessings of today, friends.

Until next time,

XO.