All things bananas !

Today I made an oatmeal banana muffin and oh so healthy! All things bananas because last week I baked a banana bread, plus I was trying to finish up some of my baking ingredients from 2012. Well, today I used up some left over bananas and the rest of the gluten free flour.

At first, I was going to bake a chocolate banana cake or cupcakes, but then I found a more healthy recipe and went for it. The oatmeal banana recipe was pretty easy and fast to make, plus the muffins smell oh so delicious !!

Find the original oatmeal banana muffin recipe here http://www.simplyrealmoms.com/posts/oatmeal-banana-muffins .

I replaced the wheat flour and regular flour by using 2 3/4 cups of Bobs Red Mill gluten free flour and the unsweetened apple sauce with sweetened cinnamon apple sauce. Also, I didn't have the mini semi-sweet chocolate chips so I used bitter-sweet chocolate. Finally, I added 2 tbs each of flaxseed and wheatgerm, the muffin recipe turned out just fine and deliciously moist !

End of the Year Baking Cleaning Spree

So, its the end of the year again! Gosh, another year went by super fast and I decided to clean up my baking stash and bake some goodies for the holidays with what I have. Well, one of my cleaning spree baking  ingredients, the wheat flour, was taken away by my clumsy and lovable dog Rudy; yup, that's him below.
I would make the homemade wheat bread; but, thanks to Rudy, there was a change of plans there.

Rudy got in my baking supplies the other night and had some fun with the wheat flour bag. He woke up during the night and decided he was bored; so, he went straight to my baking ingredients. I woke up to a room full of flour all over the navy blue carpet; thanks Rudy for the "woof" morning mommy! But, I still love him, look at that face!!

So, getting back to my baking cleaning spree for the end of the year. As I am writing this blog I also have a banana bread baking in the oven; which is making my kitchen smell delicious! I decided to bake the banana bread to finish up the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free all purpose flour I had and use some more of the Xanthan Gum as well. The banana bread is a recipe from the Bob's Red Mill Gluten Free flour bag. When I want to use up an  ingredient and I don't know what to do, I just look at the package and see what's the recipe suggested; it's a great way to use up left over ingredients. 

This is the banana bread in the oven. I can't wait until it's done :-)

The banana bread recipe also let me use some more baking ingredients, such as walnuts, which I finished the bag, raisins that I also had in my cabinet and other usual baking ingredients.

For Christmas dinner, I am making Tiramisu for dessert which will allow me to use the bag of ladyfingers that has been in my cabinet for a few months now. In addition, I will use some of the brandy I also have for a while and cocoa powder. I still have a few chocolate cake mixes that I also want to use, but those will have to wait until next year; it's enough sweets for now.

So, just take a look in your kitchen cabinets and check the baking ingredients you have there; make sure you check the expiration dates and start by using the ones that will expire first. This is my end of the year baking cleaning spree suggestions... from my kitchen to yours :-)

Happy Holidays and a an even better New Year!!

Final product ... the delicious banana bread!