Moist Banana Muffins with a Cinnamon-Sugar Topping

For me, Fall is all about nostalgia. I am not sure if its the excitement I had for buying new school supplies and meeting my friends that first day of class after a long summer off or if its the smell in the air as the world closes yet another seasonal door and drops its leaves off on the way out. Either way, Fall brings me comfort. When the wind starts to blow that familiar cool air in the evenings I turn to our kitchen, the hub of every home, and dream up comfort foods to get us through the cold nights that are sure to come. 

Nothing brings me as much pleasure as the sight of a home lit up from outside, heat swirling from the chimney as the furnace chugs along and then walking in, cheeks burning from the nip outside, to smell all the goodness emanating from the kitchen. Be it hearty stews, homemade soups or my very favourite..cinnamon and spice baking in the oven. If you are the same as me, then I believe you will enjoy this recipe for moist banana muffins with a cinnamon sugar topping. They are light and fluffy, super easy to whip up a batch and the smell that fills your home? Mmm, divine!

I try and always have bananas in our home, they are a daily staple in my diet but too often they go ripe on me and I am left mashing and freezing them. Don't get me wrong, we love banana loaf in our home but why not try something a little different this Fall? Trust me, you won't be disappointed!

Alright so lets get baking!! This recipe was given to me by my momma and we have been enjoying it for many years now. And now its your turn to heat up the oven and make some muffins for breakfast.

Banana Muffins

makes approx 18 muffins

3/4 Cup margarine, room temp

1 1/2 Cups brown sugar

2 eggs

1 1/2 Cups mashed banana's (I used 3)

1 Tsp baking soda

1 Tsp baking powder

2 Cups flour

1 Tsp vanilla

Cream your margarine and brown sugar together before slowly adding the remaining ingredients in your mixer. Divide batter evenly amongst your muffin tins, 3/4 full. I used paper linings but you can also spray your pans well.

Topping

1/4 Cup brown sugar

1/2 tsp cinnamon

Mix together the brown sugar and cinnamon then sprinkle it generously overtop the muffin batter

Now pop those muffins in a 350 degree oven for 20 minutes and wait for the smells of cinnamon and sugar to waft thru your home!

I find I enjoy a more moist muffin top so the 2nd day is better, after it has had a night to sit, covered.

Enjoy!!

Mommas Rhubarb Cake

Its here! Its here! Rhubarb season is FINALLY here! Now, some people love rhubarb and some people hate it. There is no in between. Its tart and full of flavour and tastes amazing when mixed in with brown sugar. I, of course, am on the team that loves rhubarb. I crave it and miss it when its done producing in early Summer. But for these few glorious weeks of Spring..I now have unlimited amounts of rhubarb in my very own garden. I have missed having access to these plants since moving to the farm (my mother in law had these plants but I didn't have any) But today, I went out and harvested my first batch to make my moms amazing rhubarb cake

Can I just state how exciting it is to be back into the "eat what you grow" season? I harvested these rhubarb stalks this morning, brought them inside and chopped them up, washed them then bagged them and placed them in the fridge for a couple of hours while I finished yard work. Then, once Hudson was down for his nap, I got to work baking the most delicious cake made from homegrown rhubarb and a freshly picked egg from my coop this morning!

Rhubarb Cake

1 1/2 Cups Brown Sugar
2 Cups Flour
1 Egg
1 1/2 Cups Chopped Rhubarb
1/2 Cup Shortening ( I used baking margarine)
1 Tsp Vanilla
1 Tsp Soda dissolved in 1 Cup Sour Milk (I used 3/4 Cups of Milk with 1/4 Cup Vinegar)

Mix together the above ingredients. Put mixture into a 9x13 pan. This goes on top of cake before baking:

1/2 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Margarine

Mix together and sprinkle over batter. Bake 35 mins at 350


The result?

Its delicious. You should make it...like, now! Enjoy!

The Year I Baked: Apple Crisp

I have always considered myself a baker. For as long as I could remember, I have either been helping my mom or grandmother bake up delicious treats or heating up my own oven to create gooey brownies, deliciously frosted cupcakes or chocolatey chip cookies to share with family and friends. Now that I am a wife to a very hungry farmer, I find myself baking more and more but realized that my skills have only been perfected when it comes to cookies, cakes, brownies or cupcakes and I've come to the realization that I'd like to be challenged more to see what I could really do.

With that said, I am excited to introduce to you a new project for my blog entitled

"The Year I Baked"

I have begun making a list of all kinds of goodies I have never made before and am challenging myself to create  & record this year and share with you all my successes {and failures}, here on my blog. My first challenge? Something easy... Apple Crisp!! I made it last night and found out it is a favorite of my hubby's! Needless to say, he was a very happy man at dinner last night ;)

To begin, slice up your apples

Mix all your dry ingredients together..

Place your apples on the bottom of a baking dish {I added a teaspoon of sugar on top, just to sweeten the deal}

Then cover with the dry ingredients and bake to perfection

Serve with half & half or vanilla ice cream and ENJOY!!

Just the smell of this baking in our oven last night was enough to make me want to pull it out and eat it all with a fork...it was that delicious. If you are craving something flavorful and sweet, this recipe is for you!! Enjoy!!

Mom's Apple Crisp

1 Cup Oatmeal

1 Cup Brown Sugar

3/4 Cup Flour

1 1/4 Teaspoon Cinnamon

2/3 Cup butter, melted

5-6 Apples

1) Peel and slice apples into wedges, place inside bottom of baking dish

2) Mix remaining ingredients together in a large bowl

3) Cover apples with crust, pack it down as much as possible

4) Place in a 350 degree oven for 35-40 mins and serve warm

Men come and go but chocolate is forever..

As with many women before me, I have turned to a favorite past-time of mine (baking) to mend a broken heart. Okay so I'm not moping around crying with a trail of tissues behind me..but any excuse to bake is a good one, no?

After reading Melissa Phillips entry on her next baking endeavor..my interest was piqued..I mean who wouldn't be curious about a cake named "The Best Chocolate Sheet Cake.Ever"? As a baker, I knew I HAD to try this one out for sure..and let me tell you it did not disappoint!

I gathered my baking supplies last night, turned on Grey's Anatomy and baked to my hearts content! The aroma in my house was warm and chocolatey and as I poured the batter on to the cake sheet I had to laugh as, there on the floor, was my trusty side kick Jake, drooling and licking his lips, waiting for just a drop to hit the floor. Once the cake was out of the oven I poured the nutty icing on to the warm cake and couldn't resist digging my fork in immediately...


Oh.My.God...thats all I can say to possibly describe this amazing piece of heaven on a fork! If you love chocolate and quick desserts..you need to check out this recipe..The Pioneer Woman knows what she's talking about!! See her photo below for proof...mmmm





As well, I have recently added a new baking cookbook to my stash entitled "The Happy Baker: A Daters Guide to Emotional Baking"..its written by a fellow Canadian and let me tell you, I cannot wait to dive in to her recipes..the titles are hilarious, the photos are drool worthy and her dating stories are reminders that we've all be there..(and we all know where there is!). If you know someone who is going through a break up, experiencing dating disasters or just plain loves to bake.. I highly recommend this little gem!!





Other than that, Happy Friday everyone! Woo hoo! we made it through another week! I plan on doing a little cleaning, a little movie watching and a whole lot of eating Pioneer Womans chocolate cake this weekend..how about you?

Cupcake Anyone?

So, besides papercrafting and photography, another hobby of mine is baking! Yup, that's right, throw a cute apron on me and you've got yourself a "Suzy-Homemaker"! My favorite thing to bake is cupcakes, but my goal is to one day decorate my family's cakes like a Pro. There is nothing I love more than beautiful decorated baking and yummy tasting desserts =)

In fact, one of my favorite places to visit when in a new city is new, whimsical bakeries to taste test their cupcakes!! I love the adorable colours and designs..if I ever have my own store, it will be replicated after a bakery for sure!

So imagine my delight when I stumbled upon Bakerella! She has a dessert lovers blog that dares you not to drool! go ahead, check it out here and see for yourself! Her last posting was for Banana Cupcakes (photo above) and I had to try her recipe last night..and let me tell you, these are the best banana cupcakes I have ever made! They are dense and moist and buttery..omg I could eat them all in one sitting!! Thank God for family and friends who have taken them off my hands! Kim and Jeff..yours are being delivered tonight ;)

So happy baking everyone!