“How can something so gross turn into something so good”

No, that’s not what the hubby said yesterday morning even though I did feel like I got hit by the ugly stick.  Ever have one of those days?  I blame it on having to arrive at work at 645a to prepare for my 7a meeting and 10 hour day.  This girl needs her beauty sleep…and a lot of it!

But in reality, the title is actually what the hubby said when I turned some pretty nasty looking bananas into these:

Banana butterscotch muffins

Recently I was reading Becca at I heart eggs and she shared a recipe from her grandmother for banana bread and it was just too good to pass up.  Besides, what else do you do with nasty looking bananas?

3 is a normal serving right?

The recipe is really quite simple and I followed in nearly to a T, well, except for I made muffins.  And added butterscotch chips

Bananas do a body good

Becca’s Nanny’s Banana Bread / Muffins (only slightly adapted by Shanna)

• In large bowl, mix 1 cup white sugar, 1/2 cup shortening (I used Crisco butter sticks)
• Add in 2 large eggs and 1/2 cup cold water
• Mash 3 bananas in small bowl and add to above bowl
• In separate bowl combine the following dry ingredients: 1 tsp baking powder, 1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 2 1/2 cups flour, 1 tsp cinnamon (cinn is my add-in)
• Slowly mix flour mixture into ‘wet ingredients’
• Mix in 1 cup of butterscotch chips (my add-in)
• Divide batter into 18 muffin lined muffin tins
• Bake at 350deg for 24 min

Plenty to share

What you get is a pretty tasty slightly sweet banana muffin.  Quite good I must say.  I also have to note that I can resist nearly every single baked item I create, but for some reason, I really wanted to devour these.  Dare I say I may have eaten 4 or 5 of them!

Another great recipe for PB Banana Bread can be found here.

Show me your favorite banana recipe (provide a link!)

What do you do to feel better when you’re having a blah day?

Winner and getting “sweet” with Courtney

Happy Friday!

The winner of my closet giveaway for the Chinese Laundry Cross-body purse is Lea from Healthy Coconut!  Congrats to my fellow Cali girl   Shoot me an email Lea with your address and I’ll get the goods in the mail!

Check out my guest post on dress shopping over at Courtney’s blog at Sweet Tooth, Sweet Life.

Question of the day:

What’s something you’re looking forward to this weekend?

Can anyone recommend a good movie that’s in the theaters?

Bailey’s Double Chocolate Chip Cookies

I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again: the best part of joining the food blogging community is finding recipes that blow your mind.  It is no surprise that Jessica from How Sweet It Is concocted a product of genius once again.

In preparation for St. Patty’s Day, Jess toasted her heritage with Bailey’s and Bailey’s inspired cookies.  Since I indeed forgot to tout my own Irish heritage (hey, may maiden name is McCord!), I had to redeem myself by recreating her recipe on Friday.

Epic cookies...really EPIC

I pretty much followed Jess’s recipe to a “T” so if you do make them, make sure to give her the credit

How Sweet It Is Double Fudge Irish Cream Cookies

Double Fudge Irish Cream Cookies

makes ~40 cookies

1 cup butter, softened (I used Blue Bonnet)

1 1/2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla

2 2/3 cups flour

1/2 cup cocoa powder (I used Nestle)

1 1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon instant coffee powder (I used Starbucks Cinnamon flavored VIA)

8 tablespoons Bailey’s Irish Cream liqueur (heaping )

1 cup white chocolate chips

1/2 cup chocolate chips

Cream butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla until fluffy. Add in Bailey’s one tablespoon at a time.

In separate bowl, mix flour, cocoa powder, instant coffee, baking soda and salt.  Gradually add to your butter mix and stir until combined.

Fold in chocolate chips. Refrigerate dough for 4 hours.

Roll into approximate tbsp-sized balls and set on a greased baking sheet.

Bake at 350 for ~10 minutes.

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I had to sample one of these guys right out of the oven and I nearly thought I’d be drunk if I had more than one cookie.  Then as they cooled, the flavors mellowed to perfection.

Thanks to two get togethers over the weekend, I had several taste testers, and dare I say, they were a HIT!

Next time, I may just use mint chocolate chips for an extra wow factor   Oh yes, I’d go there.  I also debated making them into brownie bars.

Share a link to your favorite cookie recipe (yours or another blogger’s)

What do you prefer: Cookies or brownies? I prefer a cookie 99% of the time.  Or I’ll choose “c” and say Blondies