Banana Bread - The Perfect Loaf

Here is a recipe that is my proud result of many trial and error loaves of banana bread in an effort to achieve the perfect loaf. I've tried many other banana bread recipes and experimented several times to create my own recipe. Let's just say baking is an art, it's quite temperamental the measurements need to right on. It's easier to create a recipe for an entree rather creating a recipe for a baked good. So, after several loaves of experimenting I've finally found the perfect measurements and ingredients to create what I call The Perfect Loaf of Banana Bread. Just how good? Good enough that it doesn't even need a slathering of butter! It's so good I've made it two days in a row. It's amazingly moist, perfectly sweet, slightly rich, loaded with banana flavor and my favorite part - the topping. Be sure not to leave it off or use substitutions. It compliments the banana bread perfectly. I wanted a topping that enhanced the bread, you know made it fancier than your average banana bread =), and this topping does just that. I love how the spice is just on top. Before I made this recipe I would always have to decide if I wanted my banana bread to have a hint of cinnamon flavor or not. Now, I get a bit of cinnamon flavor but not throughout the entire loaf so it doesn't take away from all that amazing banana flavor it just brushes the top of the loaf. I hope this recipe becomes your go to banana bread recipe for all your overripe bananas.

Banana Bread (aka The Perfect Loaf)
Yields 1 loaf


Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
6 Tbsp butter, softened
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
2 eggs, at room temperature
1 3/4 cup mashed well, overripe bananas (about 3 1/2 - 4 bananas, be sure to measure)
1/3 cup sour cream, slightly warm (I warmed mine 20 seconds in the microwave)
1 tsp vanilla extract


Topping:
2 Tbsp Raw Turbinado sugar
1 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp nutmeg


Directions:
Preheat oven to 325 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together butter, granulated sugar and brown sugar until pale and fluffy about 3 - 4 minutes. Stir in eggs, one at a time mixing after each addition. Add in mashed bananas, sour cream and vanilla and beat until combine scraping down the sides of the bowl frequently. Add in flour mixture and mix just until combine. Pour mixture into buttered 9 x 5 loaf pan. In a small mixing bowl whisk together raw sugar, cinnamon and nutmeg. Sprinkle mixture evenly over batter in loaf pan. Bake in the center of oven about 1 hour 10 minutes until toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Remove from oven and allow to cool 5 minutes before removing to cool on a wire rack (I used a large plate when removing the loaf from the pan. I placed the plate over the top of the loaf then carefully flipped it upside down, then placed the wire rack over it and flipped it again. I don't know if that makes sense in writing =) but it helped keep more of the sugar on the top of the loaf).


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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Applesauce Spice Cupcakes

The greatest thing about these cupcakes (other than taste of course =), they are made using ingredients you likely already have on hand. I eat dessert everyday, I don't go a day without it. I sacrifice by having a low calorie breakfast and lunch so I can splurge at dinner and have dessert. I'd have to say I don't feel very guilty about eating 2 or even 3 of these cupcakes. They don't contain a whole lot of fat, because they get most of their moisture from the applesauce they contain rather than needing loads of butter. I'd say these cupcakes belong to the carrot cake family. They taste very similar but no extra time is needed to grate carrots, bonus! These may seem like fall cupcakes but to me they are perfect year round (I'll take one any day!), they don't require a fresh fruit that's in season.

The cupcake recipe I found in the amazing Martha Stewart Cupcakes book but I added my own frosting. The other changes I made were omitting cloves (they listed using 1/8 tsp), I omitted the 1 cup pecans they added to the batter (I prefer the nuts along with the frosting rather then in the cupcakes) and I used salted butter rather than unsalted. 

I forgot to mention my cheat to get eggs to room temperature quickly when I posted the coconut cupcakes a few days ago. All you do is gently place the eggs in a bowl, cover them with warm tap water and let them rest for about 10 minutes while you gather up the remaining ingredients for the cupcakes. It's a great kitchen cheat I use basically every time a recipe calls for eggs at room temperature.

Applesauce Spice Cupcakes
Yields 20 cupcakes


Ingredients:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp salt
2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed light-brown sugar
4 large eggs, at room temperature
1 1/2 cups unsweetened applesauce
1 Recipe Cream Cheese Frosting, recipe follows
1/2 cup chopped pecans, for garnish (optional)


Directions:
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg, set aside. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, whip together butter, granulated sugar and light-brown sugar until light and fluffy, about 3 - 4 minutes. Add in eggs, mixing after each addition. With mixer on low speed, add in applesauce. Stir in flour mixture and mix just until combined. Divide batter evenly among 20 paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven, rotating pan once halfway through baking, for about 19 - 20 minutes until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Allow cupcakes to cool several minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool. Cool completely then frost with Cream Cheese Frosting and sprinkle with optional pecans. Store cupcakes in an airtight container.


Cream Cheese Frosting 


Ingredients:
4 oz. cream cheese, softened
1/4 cup butter, softened
2 cups powdered sugar
1/2 tsp vanilla extract


Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer whip ingredients together until smooth and fluffy about 1 - 2 minutes. Note: if you want a lot of frosting you may want to double this frosting recipe, personally I thought the amounts listed were plenty.

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Chicken Tacos (Cafe Rio Shredded Chicken Copycat Recipe)

I will admit it, I'm a Cafe Rio/Costa Vida addict.  It's rare that I go more than a week without eating at one of the two. All their entrees are so full of exciting flavors that they keep me coming back for more. Since I eat there so frequently I thought maybe it's time to create another copycat recipe. One of my favorite things to get there is the shredded chicken salad or shredded chicken tacos, so here is my version of that chicken. 
This chicken is SO easy to make! If you haven't noticed, I love my slow cooker. You simply toss in a few ingredients along with some spices, and then allow it to cook low and slow all day while the flavors meld together and wallah! It almost seems to good to be true doesn't it? It does all the hard work. 
This Shredded Chicken recipe is not only to be used as a taco filling but also for burritos, enchiladas, salads, quesadillas, taquitos, etc. So, if you don't use it all the first night you make it you can use the left over chicken to make a different entree the next night, bonus! I hope you love this amazing shredded chicken that is so incredibly tender and filled with the prefect blend of flavors and spices. May it be your go to chicken filling for many of your favorite Mexican dishes! Enjoy!

Shredded Chicken for Tacos


Ingredients:
2.5 lbs boneless skinless chicken breast halves
3/4 cup chicken broth
1/2 cup Zesty Italian Salad dressing
1 Tbsp fresh lime juice
1 Tbsp chili powder
2 tsp onion powder
1 tsp garlic powder
1 tsp paprika
1 tsp cumin
1 tsp salt
1/2 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/2 tsp cayenne pepper, optional (adjust according to desired heat preference or omit)


Directions:
Place chicken breast halves in the slow cooker.  In a mixing bowl whisk together remaining ingredients. Pour mixture over chicken in slow cooker, cover slow cooker with lid. Cook chicken on low heat 6 - 8 hours. Shred chicken (it's so tender I usually just shred it in the slow cooker without even removing it), then cook shredded chicken in broth in slow cooker an additional 30 minutes on low. Drain broth from chicken. Serve warm in tacos, burritos, enchiladas, quesadillas, taquitos etc. Note: for taco filling ideas and how to cook corn tortilla shells see this post here.


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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Authentic Mexican Rice

In my opinion there are two Mexican sides that are a must with nearly every Mexican entree, beans and Mexican rice. This recipe is my go to Mexican Rice recipe that I've been making for years. I make it at least once a week, some weeks as many as three times a week. It only takes a few minutes to prepare and it tastes just as good as any authentic Mexican restaurants Mexican rice. I have tried several different recipes for Mexican rice and this one is definitely my favorite. I've tried using tomato sauce and fresh tomatoes but I think the key to great authentic Mexican rice is the Caldo de Tomate. You can find it in the Latin section of the grocery store. My sister gave me the recipe and I added my own additions to it, you will see them where I listed optional ingredients. This rice can be made with or without those but I love the extra boost of flavor they give the rice. Also, I used to always use vegetable oil but I've tried to be a bit healthier =) so I've switched over to olive oil so just use which ever you prefer. I hope you love this rice and that it becomes a staple in your home as well. Enjoy!

Authentic Mexican Rice
Yields about 4 servings


Ingredients:
1 Tbsp extra virgin olive oil or vegetable oil
1 cup uncooked long grain white rice
2 cups warm water
1 1/2 tsp Caldo de Tomate (I use Knorr brand)


Optional ingredients:
1/2 tsp onion powder
1/2 tsp garlic powder
1/4 tsp freshly ground black pepper
1/4 tsp chili powder


Directions:
In a mixing bowl whisk together water, Caldo de Tomate, optional onion powder, garlic powder, black pepper and chili powder, set aside. Drizzle oil into a non-stick saucepan and heat over medium high heat.  Add rice and cook several minutes, stirring constantly until rice is slightly puffed and golden. Add water mixture to rice then stir and cover pan with lid.  Reduce heat to low and allow rice to simmer for 20-25 minutes until water has been absorbed (you'll notice water bubbles stop coming to the surface). Remove from heat, fluff rice with a fork, cover with lid and allow to rest 5 minutes. Serve warm.


Note: I also love this rice served with a drizzle of sour cream, a few dashes of Mexican hot sauce (such as Tapatio) and some fresh guacamole. Just a few more flavor boosters I sometimes add that are optional.


Recipe Source: Cooking Classy

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Coconut Cupcakes with Coconut Frosting

These are one of my new favorite cupcakes!  I love how they don't have pieces of the chewy coconut in them because you grind the shredded coconut in a food processor before adding it.  These cupcakes are pure bliss. Everyone loved them! The frosting melts in your mouth.  The cupcake recipe is one I found in the Martha Stewart Cupcakes book, but I decided to add my own frosting recipe.  They are perfect together!  I also like how the frosting recipe I used can be made in under 7 minutes =), it takes maybe 3. I hope you enjoy these dreamy cupcakes as much as I do!

Coconut Cupcakes
Yields 20 cupcakes

Ingredients:

½ cup packed sweetened shredded coconut

1 ¾ cup all-purpose flour

2 tsp baking powder

½ tsp salt

¾ cup butter, softened (1 1/2 sticks)

1 1/3 cups granulated sugar

2 large whole eggs, at room temperature

2 large egg whites, at room temperature

1 ½ tsp vanilla extract

¾ cup unsweetened coconut milk

1 recipe Coconut Buttercream Frosting, recipe follows

Sweetened shredded coconut, for garnish (optional)

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Pulse coconut in a food processor until finely ground. In a mixing bowl, whisk together flour, baking powder, salt and ground coconut, set aside. With an electric hand mixer on medium high speed, cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy about 3 – 4 minutes. Add in eggs and egg whites, mixing after each addition. Stir in vanilla. With mixer on low speed, add in flour mixture alternating with coconut milk in three separate batches, mixing until combine after each addition. Divide batter evenly among 20 paper lined muffin cups, filling each cup about 2/3 full. Bake in preheated oven, rotating muffin tins once halfway through baking, until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean about 19 - 20 minutes. Allow to cool several minutes before removing from tin to cool on a wire rack. Cool completely then frost with Coconut Buttercream Frosting and garnish with additional shredded sweetened coconut if desired. Store cupcakes in an airtight container.

Coconut Buttercream Frosting


Ingredients:
1/2 cup butter, softened
4 cups powdered sugar
1/4 cup unsweetened coconut milk 
1/2 - 1 tsp coconut extract or imitation coconut extract


Directions:
Combine all ingredients in a large mixing bowl.  Using an electric mixer, whip ingredients together until smooth and fluffy.


Recipe Source: 
Coconut Cupcakes - Martha Stewart
Coconut Buttercream Frosting - Cooking Classy 

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