Mashed Banana-Pineapple Muffins

This is a great breakfast or snack option that is super easy and fun to make.  Parents control the oven and then sit back and let those little cooks have at it.  I got this recipe from a great Hawaiian cook book called Sam Choy’s Cooking with Kids.

Ingredients:

1 ¾ cups all purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

¾ teaspoon salt

¼ cup butter at room temp.

¾ cup sugar

1 egg

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

¼ cup drained crushed pineapple

¾ cup mashed ripe banana

Directions:

First measure out and mix in a separate bowl the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.  Set this bowl to the side.  In a bowl that you can blend in or a standalone blender mix butter until light yellow and fluffy.  Add egg, vanilla extract and sugar slowly, continue to blend until well mixed.  Mash the banana until smooth, and add the mashed up banana and drained pineapple to the butter and blend until mixed well.  Slowly add the flour into the butter and fruit mixture and blend until smooth.  With two spoons drop batter into muffin papers, fill about ¾ of the way full.  Place in a 425 degree oven and bake for 15-20 or until light brown on the top. 

ENJOY!

Danielle

Learning Corner:

What other kinds of fruit would make good muffins?

My favorite is Pineapple zucchini!

These could be a great fathers dad breakfast, ask you dad, grandfather or other important caregiver what their favorite fruit is a try to make them a muffin.

Grape Ice Cream Turtles

This week we are looking at a great alternative to the classic ice cream dessert.  This grape turtle would be a great party favor or just week night treat for you and your kids.

Ingredients:

1 pint of ice cream, sorbet or gelato

Grapes any color you like

Pecans

Chocolate chips

Directions:

Take a scope full of ice cream or sorbet; I used lemon so that it went with the fresh fruity grapes.  Make into a ball and flatten the bottom onto a plate.  Before you put the sorbet back in the freezer stick in 4 pecans for the legs, and cut 2 X’s into a grape and stick in 2 chocolate chips for the eyes.  Push the head into the sorbet.  Place the turtle in the freezer for 30 min or until hard again.  While you are waiting cut some grapes lengthwise to make the shell of the turtle.  Remove the turtle from the freezer and begin pushing the grapes around the body.  Start on the bottom and work your way to the top.  For the bottom layer place the grapes up right so they are taller than they are wide.  For the rest of the shell place them horizontally.  You can drizzle a little chocolate on top of the grapes in a crisscross patter to add yumminess.  Place the turtle back into freezer for  until the turtle is nice and cold and ready to eat.

ENJOY!

Danielle

Learning Corner:

• What other fruit could be used to look like different animals?
• Are the different color grapes different in size, texture or flavor?

POODLE PANCAKES

Who doesn’t love Food Networks Rachael Ray?  This week’s recipe comes from her magazine Everyday with Rachael Ray.  This is a great weekend treat for the whole family.

Ingredients:

1 ¼ cups flour

2 tablespoons sugar

2 ½ teaspoons baking powder

½  cup milk

1 egg

¼ cup peanut butter

3 tablespoons butter, melted

Whip Cream

Chocolate chips

Fresh strawberries or strawberry flavor roll up

Directions:

Wisk together flour, sugar, baking powder and salt in a large bowl, in a smaller bowl beat up the egg, milk, peanut butter and melted butter until smooth.  I had to work hard on this so don’t get discouraged.  Heat a nonstick skillet or griddle to medium heat and place a ladle of pancake patter, and cook until golden brown.  Once you have your pancakes done, take one and cut it in half to make two have circles for the ears.  Place the ears on either side of the pancake that you have picked out for the face.  Cut a third pancake into a small circle for the nose, this can be as big or little as you want it to be.  Under the nose place a slice of strawberry or fruit roll for the tongue.  Place two chocolate chips on the face for eyes and one on the small round pancake for the nose.  Spray a little mound of whip cream on the head in between the ears for hair, and you have the cutest pancake you will ever eat. 

For more details or additional pictures go to www.rachaelraymag.com

Enjoy!

Danielle

Learning Corner:

• Make sure no one has a peanut allergy before starting this recipe.
• Mix up the nut butter with almond or cashew for a new twist, ask parents or siblings what their favorite nut is and make some poodle pancakes just for them.