Banana Honey Bran Muffins #MuffinMonday

These lovely banana honey bran muffins, made with mashed bananas and sweetened banana chips, are further sweetened with honey and dark brown sugar.

In honor of the Academy Awards last night, I’d like to nominate this muffin for Best Muffin in a Supporting Role.  It’s got your fiber in the form of bran flake cereal as well as honey and egg and banana for your essential nutrients and protein.  (Did you know that honey can stop the growth of cancer?!  Read it in my local paper just this morning!)  And for a little crunch and extra banana flavor:  sweetened banana chips.  Truth be told, these are probably the healthiest muffins I’ve ever made.  (Yeah, yeah.  I know that isn’t saying much, coming from the woman who puts candy bars and cookies in muffins.)  But they are also tasty.

Ingredients
1 1/2 oz or 1 cup or 43g bran flake cereal
1/4 cup or 60ml cream
1/4 cup or 60ml milk
1 1/2 cups or 190g flour
1/4 cup firmly packed or 50g dark brown sugar
2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup  or 60ml canola oil
1 large ripe banana
4 tablespoons honey
1 egg
1 cup or 100g sweetened banana chips

Method
Preheat your oven to 375°F or 190°C and prepare your 12-cup muffin pan by inserting paper liners or spraying with a non-stick spray.

Soak your bran flakes in the cream and milk and set aside.  (If you are serious about the health thing, by all means use all milk, even low fat.)

Into a large mixing bowl, measure your flour, brown sugar, baking powder and salt.   Give it a good stir.

In a small mixing bowl, mash your banana with a fork and then add in the oil, honey and the egg.  Whisk well.

Use a sharp knife to chop the banana chips into smaller pieces and set aside about one quarter (eyeball it, no need to measure) for topping.

Add your soaked bran flakes (and any milk/cream from that bowl) into the egg mixture and stir well.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry, stopping before they are completely mixed.  There will still be some flour visible.

Add in the bigger pile of chopped banana chips and fold some more.

Divide your batter between the prepared muffin cups.  Sprinkle the tops with the remaining banana chips.

Bake for 20-25 minutes or until golden.  Meanwhile practice your Best Supporting Muffin acceptance/thank you speech.  Don’t forget to thank your parents for raising you right.

Remove from the oven and cool for a few minutes in the pan.  Remove to a wire rack to finish cooling.

Enjoy!

Banana Cream Napoleons

Napoleons are cream “sandwiches” made with crispy puff pastry and filled with custard and whipped cream. Banana Cream Napoleans include, of course, sweet bananas.

This week’s Sunday Supper theme is, of course, Valentines’ Day, so when I was contemplating what might be a good treat for my sweetie, it had to be something banana cream related.  Everyone knows how much he loves banana cream pie, but I thought I would pretty it up and create a banana cream Napoleon.

Napoleons are cream “sandwiches” made with crispy puff pastry and filled with custard and whipped cream. You find them in all the windows of fancy pastry shops, where, sadly, you do not find banana cream pie. More's the pity. This rendition would rectify that.

The banana cream Napoleons came out lovely, and my husband enjoyed them but, in the spirit of full disclosure, I have to tell you that he did ask why I was trying to improve on perfection and said, in future, he’d still rather have his ideal, the banana cream pie. All right. All right. Duly noted!

They were fun to make and I was pleased.  (I am thinking my next Napoleon might be completely untraditional.  Savory with whipped cream cheese and vegetable fillings, perhaps.  Wouldn't that be nice for a ladies' lunch?)

Ingredients for two large Napoleons
Vanilla custard – made from this recipe here, or your own, and chilled till set
About 17.5 oz or 500g puff pastry (A little more or less won’t matter.)
Flour for rolling out pastry
3 1/2 oz or 100g powdered or icing sugar (A little more than 3/4 cup)
3 1/2 teaspoons milk (You may not use it all.  Add gradually!)
1 large banana
1 cup whipping cream

Method
Preheat your oven to 400°F or 200°C and line your baking sheet with parchment paper.

Sprinkle on a little flour and roll out your puff pastry dough till it’s about this thin as in my photo and pretty much covers your baking sheet.  I stick a piece of cling film to the countertop first because it makes lifting the puff pastry easier once it's rolled out.

Roll the pastry over your rolling pin and transfer it to the lined baking sheet.

Use a fork to dock the pastry (poke holes in it) so it doesn’t puff up too much while baking.

Cover it with another piece of parchment paper and top it with another baking sheet.

Bake for about 15 minutes, in your preheated oven.  Remove the top baking sheet and piece of parchment and bake for a further 15-20 or until the pastry is a nice golden color.

Just after the top baking sheet and parchment were removed. 

While your pastry is baking, whip your cream into firm peaks.  Pop it in the refrigerator until you need it.

Remove the pastry from the oven and transfer it to a large cutting board.  Trim off the sides so you have a nice straight rectangle.

Use a measuring tape to figure out how to cut your pastry into eight even rectangles.  The size of each doesn’t really matter, as long as they are equal.  Pick the two flattest and possibly least attractive of your rectangles and set aside to be the tops.  You are going to cover these with glaze any way.

I think traditional Napoleons have only three layers of puff pastry.  But then I've always been an over-achiever. 

In a small bowl, mix your powdered or icing sugar and the first teaspoon of milk.  Stir well.

Add another teaspoon of milk and stir well again.

You are looking for a consistency that will pour but then stay put without running completely off of the puff pastry.  Add just a little more milk until you reach that.  I ended up adding 3 1/2 teaspoons altogether, the last 1/2 teaspoon a 1/4 teaspoon at a time.

Place the two puff pastry rectangles you chose as your tops on a low wire rack with a piece of parchment paper underneath it to catch the glaze run off.  (I reused the one that baked on top of the pastry.)  Spoon the glaze over the two pieces of pastry, using the spoon to gently push the glaze over the sides.

Using a small decorating tip, pipe small lines of custard across the glaze.  Run a toothpick back and forth to create the traditional Napoleon zebra design.

Since I used custard instead of chocolate, the zebra stripe wasn’t exactly traditional or as pretty, but chocolate just wouldn’t fly in banana cream pie. One can only take so many liberties with a beloved recipe. Set the tops aside.

Start your “sandwich” building with one puff pastry rectangle as the base and pipe or spread on vanilla custard first.   I decided piping was much easier since spreading seemed to lift bits of the puff pastry.

Peel one side of your banana and slice it into thin slices with a sharp knife.

Line up about eight (or however many comfortably fit on your rectangle) slices on top of the custard.

Pipe or spread on the whipped cream.  Once again, I opted for piping, using one of the flattish tips meant for leaf-making.

Top with another crispy piece of puff pastry and continue the process – custard, banana, cream, puff pastry - until you are ready to add the top.  Hold the top piece by the edges, so you don’t mess up the zebra pattern and press gently onto the layer of whipped cream.

Repeat with the second Napoleon so you will have two, one for you and one for your sweetie. Eat the balance of the vanilla custard, if any, with a spoon. Same for the whipped cream. Pretend it all came out even. Refrigerate until ready to serve.

Enjoy!

If you are looking for Valentines’ Day inspiration, you have come to the right place!  Have a look at all the fabulous dishes and sweet treats the #SundaySupper bloggers are featuring this week!

#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Breakfasts, Apps & Main Dishes:

• Asparagus, Clam & Bay Shrimp Pasta from Galactopdx
• Bacon Double Cheese Burger Bites from In the Kitchen with KP
• Cheese Stuffed Cannelloni from Curious Cuisiniere
• Fried Heart Pizza from Mooshu Jenne
• Garlic Shrimp Bruschetta from MarocMama
• Green Olive, Goat Cheese & Basil Crostini from Hip Foodie Mom
• Indian Shrimp Pulao from Soni’s Food
• Individual Beef “Phyll-ingtons” from Cupcakes & Kale Chips
• Ranch, Bacon and Cheese Crisps from Daily Dish Recipes
• Red Velvet Pancakes with Cream Cheese Frosting from Peanut Butter and Peppers
• Rissóis de Camarão | Portuguese Shrimp Dumplings from Family Foodie
• Spicy Red Cabbage Quiche | Veggie Quiche Recipe from Masala Herb

#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Sweet Eats:

• Banana Bourbon Blondies from The Messy Baker
• Banana Cream Napoleon from Food Lust People Love
• Brown Butter M&M Cookies from Dinners, Dishes, and Desserts
• Brown Butter Rolo Toffee Chocolate Chip Cookies from Damn Delicious
• Cherry Pie Hearts from Home Cooking Memories
• Chocolate Baumkuchen from Webicurean
• Chocolate Bread Pudding from La Cocina de Leslie
• Chocolate Chip Banana Cake with Banana Cream from The Lovely Pantry
• Chocolate Covered Bacon from I Run For Wine
• Chocolate Covered Stuffed Strawberries from Country Girl in the Village
• Chocolate Mousse from Mom, What’s For Dinner?
• Chocolate Roll filled with Nutella Cream from Basic N Delicious
• Chocolate Truffles from The Wimpy Vetegarian
• Chocolate Velvet Ice Cream with Cherry Sauce from Vintage Kitchen Notes
• Cinnamon Sugar Tortillas with Chocolate Sauce from The Roxx Box
• Coconut Sweetheart Cookies from Cindy’s Recipes and Writings
• Coeur a la Creme from That Skinny Chick Can Bake
• Cream Cheese Mints from Simply Gourmet
• Dark Chocolate Pomegranate Mousse with Coconut Cream from Sue’s Nutrition Buzz
• Dark Chocolate Raspberry Torte from Kelly Bakes
• Deliciously Baked & Festively Glazed Mini-Donuts from Mangoes and Chutney
• #GlutenFree Chocolate Almond Cloudless Cake from Cooking Underwriter
• Heart Shaped White Chocolate Cakes with Raspberry Cream from Noshing with the Nolands
• Homemade Cherry Mash Candies from Juanita’s Cocina
• Maple-Date Bars from Diabetic Foodie
• Meyer Lemon Marmalade from Shockingly Delicious
• Mini Samoa Bundt Cakes from Ruffles & Truffles
• Molten Chocolate Lava Cake from Gotta Get Baked
• Peanut Butter and Jelly Cupcakes from The Meltaways
• Pistachio and Chocolate Souffle from Small Wallet Big Appetite
• Raspberry Custard Tart from Kudos Kitchen
• Raw Fudge Love from Mama’s Blissful Bites
• Red Velvet Cheesecake Brownies from Hezzi-D’s Books and Cooks
• Red Velvet French Macarons with White Chocolate Cream Cheese Filling from The Girl in the Little Red Kitchen
• Red Velvet Fudge from What Smells So Good?
• Red Velvet Ice Cream Sandwiches from Cravings of a Lunatic
• Red Velvet Sandwich Cookies from Magnolia Days
• Red Velvet Sugar Cookie Bars from Chocolate Moosey
• Red Wine Cupcakes with Mascarpone Frosting from The Urban Mrs.
• Strawberry Shortcake! from The Foodie Army Wife
• Strawberry Valentine Cake Hearts from Ninja Baking
• Tres Leches Tea Cakes with Honey Riesling Soaked Fruit from Neighborfood
• Valentine’s Bakewell Tarts from Happy Baking Days
• Valentines Chocolate Apples from Big Bear’s Wife

#SundaySupper Valentine’s Day Drinks:

• Blood Orange Vodka Martinis from The Catholic Foodie
• Bloody Raspberry Cocktail from My Cute Bride
• Strawberry Gin Fizz from girlichef

Pin these Banana Cream Napoleans!

Banana Chocolate Bit Muffins #MuffinMonday

Some people have an old boy network or even an old girl network.  I have an expat network!  And there is nothing more knowledgeable, helpful or friendly than the expat network.  Our fingers spread wide in every pie, in every town, in all the world.  Are you moving to Houston, London, Paris, Perth, Sydney, Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Quito, Austin, Athens, Mexico City, Nashville, Boston, Aberdeen, Lagos, San José, Taipei, Shanghai, Mumbai, Caracas, Copenhagen, Berlin or Stavanger, just to name a few cities?  I know someone there who will help.  Often more than one someone!  Ah, yes, good people.  I can find out where to get decent chocolate chips and Extra Chunky Jif peanut butter in most cities of this world at the drop of a quick email or new Facebook status.  The expat network is also invaluable when you are moving.  When we found out about the transfer to Dubai, the first thing I did was send out a query on housing.  In which areas should I look?  And why?  The responses were immediate and thoughtful, taking into account our empty nest status and Boxer dog who needs a yard.  So, far from being a strange city, Dubai was already well-mapped in our heads before the first appointment was made.  You can’t buy worldwide expertise like that!  The point of all this is that we found a home and from (probably) mid November you will be seeing photos from a whole new kitchen.

Meanwhile, we are still baking muffins in Cairo!  This week’s Muffin Monday choice is from Nigella Lawson’s Kitchen but you can also find it online, right here.  I decided to leave off the cocoa powder and add mini baking bits of semi-sweet chocolate.  If you are wondering why I have just brown, yellow, blue and orange, I’ll tell you.  Last December a dear friend generously stepped into the role of Christmas party planner for her son’s fourth grade of about 100 children.  She needed decorations for cupcakes or cookies or something so we sat and picked all the red and green ones out of my bag of baking bits for her project.  Because, when you love someone, you will even give her your imported red and green baking bits.  True story.

Ingredients
1 1/2 cups plus 1/3 cup or 225g flour (Life is so much easier with a scale!  You should get one.)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2-3 very ripe bananas (10 oz or 285g by weight when peeled)
1/2 cup or 125 ml light vegetable oil
2 medium eggs
1/2 cup or 100g packed soft dark brown sugar
1/2 cup plus extra for sprinkling on top or about 100g semi sweet baking bits

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C and grease your muffin tin or line it with paper cups.

Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together.  Make sure to mash out any lumps of brown sugar.

Mash the bananas with a fork then add in the eggs and the oil.   Mix until thoroughly combined.

Fold your wet ingredients into your dry ones until they are just mixed.

Add in the half cup of chocolate baking bits and fold again gently.

(Small side note:  M&M have stopped making the semi-sweet baking bits so these were actually ordered from NutsOnline in a five-pound bag.  I have started a Facebook campaign to get M&M to reconsider this decision.  If you have a moment, go on over to the Facebook page and follow the link in About to send Mars North America a message on their website.  Thank you!)

Divide the batter between the muffin cups.  Decorate with the remaining baking bits.

Bake in the preheated oven for 20-25 minutes or until golden.

Allow to cool slightly in the muffin tin before removing to a wire rack.

Enjoy!

And, for those of you who care:  Here is our new house.  Assuming the paperwork goes through without a hitch.

Banana Bacon Peanut Butter Chip Muffins #MuffinMonday

The Elvis sandwich in muffin form, these banana, bacon Peanut Butter Chip muffins will delight anyone who loves their sweets with just a little hint of salt and smoke. These are so good!

Today for the first time, I am joining a group of bloggers who make muffins every week for a celebration called Muffin Monday!  We get a specific muffin recipe, in this case, an easy to follow banana espresso chocolate chip one from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking and we are allowed to adapt it to our preferences.  At least, that’s the way I understand the rules so I hope I got it right.  I would hate to be booted out just as soon as I’ve gotten in.

I am not a big fan of coffee flavored things, except ice cream (well, and actual coffee – can’t live without that) and the chocolate banana combo didn’t do anything for me either, so I thought, what can I substitute for these two flavors, while still keeping the essential banana-ness of the muffin?

So bacon is the new espresso and peanut butter chips replace the chocolate ones. Truth be told, the bacon flavor is subtle, just four pieces in 12 muffins, but it adds a smoky, salty, sweet depth to the traditional banana-peanut butter sandwich combination.

Banana Bacon Peanut Butter Chip Muffins

If you are thinking the combination is odd, I offer you the review of my 66-year-old, relatively unadventurous-eater uncle, after eating a muffin without being told the ingredients: “That was really good!” Couldn’t have said it better myself.  To his credit (and as further proof of deliciousness) he continued to eat them with gusto despite being taken aback when I told him about the bacon. Adapted from Baked: New Frontiers in Baking

Ingredients 4 very ripe medium-sized bananas 1/2 cup or 115g sugar
1/4 cup (firmly packed) or 50g light brown sugar (I used dark brown for a deeper flavor.)
1/2 cup or 115g unsalted butter, melted
1/4 cup or 120ml whole milk
1 large egg
1 1/2 cups or 187g all-purpose flour
4 slices of streaky bacon
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
6 ounces or 170g peanut butter chips

Method
Preheat the oven to 350°F or 180°C. Spray your 12-hole muffin tin with nonstick cooking spray or line with muffin liners. Mix together the bananas, sugars, butter, milk, and egg with your beaters.  Set aside.

Meanwhile, fry your bacon strips until very crispy.  Drain on paper towels and then chop them finely with a sharp knife.

In another medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda and salt and three-quarters of the bacon.

Make a well in the middle of the dry ingredients.  Pour the wet ingredients into the well and stir just until combined.

Fold in the peanut butter chips.

Distribute the batter between the 12 cups.

Sprinkle the remaining bacon bits on the top of each.

Bake in the center of the oven for 20-30 minutes, until a toothpick inserted in the center of the muffin comes out clean.

Move the muffin pan to a cooling rack, and let cool for 15 minutes. After 15 minutes, remove the muffins from the pan and let them finish cooling on the cooling rack.

Enjoy!