Nov. 11th - A Few of My Favorite Things

Raindrops on roses and whiskers on kittens, bright cooper kettles and warm woolen mittens... Haha, I'm a sucker for Julie Andrews!

I have recently realized my growing addiction to Starbucks. I used to "treat" myself once a week with a fabulous beverage, however I now own an espresso machine at home (not a barista though damnit) and still find myself in the ridiculously long drive thru line at Starbucks on a daily basis. What is it about that place that lets me throw my spending cash into the wind, thinking that $4 is totally reasonable for a cup of coffee?!?! Possibly the fabulous selection of mugs and knick knacks? Or the awesomeness that is the Pick of the Week? Maybe its the fact that the morning baristas know you by name, remember your order by heart and comment on your outfit? Yes, yes and yes. However this is not the sole reason I go to Starbucks Personally I think its their pastry offerings. At least 3 times a week I wake up hungry for pumpkin loaf. And why wouldn't I? They serve it year round (halleliujah)! But nothing holds a candle to "old reliable"; the banana loaf. One day, while chit chatting with my favorite barista, I noticed that there was a card laying on the counter. What do my pretty brown eyes see but the secret recipe for their banana walnut bread. OMG OMG OMG!!! Here it is, for your snack time pleasure:

2 C Flour
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 egg
1 1/8 cups Sugar
1/2 cup vegetable oil
2 Tbsp buttermilk
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup + 1/3 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 325. Grease loaf pan and dust with flour. Blend flour, soda & salt together and set aside. Mix together egg, sugar & oil until combined. Add flour mixture and when blended add the buttermilk, vanilla and bananas. Mix until combined. Fold in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and pour batter into loaf pan. Top batter with remaining 1/3 cup walnuts. Bake for 45 to 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean (my oven takes 1 hour 12 minutes). Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from pan.

In the words of Emeril, BAM! Starbucks Banana Bread!!! =) =) =)

PS - #2 favorite thing right now are the holiday mint m&m's. Mint & Chocolate is by far the best combination in this world.