Part of the fun of making homemade buttermilk pancakes is adding mix-ins, and these banana walnut pancakes are a delicious way to start your morning.
A sprinkle of powdered sugar and a dollop of crème fraiche make them extra special.
Fluffy and moist, with a nice crunch from the walnuts, these banana nut pancakes will get even the grumpiest morning person to skip happily out of bed.
Sure, bananas bruise easily and are high in carbohydrates, but these are not reasons to dismiss them from your diet! Especially considering that bananas are loaded with nutritional benefits that will help you during a workout, and they can even lighten up your favorite dessert.
Today I realized that essentially I am in the midst of a common-law marriage to a bowl of oatmeal; we're going on seven years strong. Some might view this as sad, that one of the most significant relationships in my life is with an inanimate, even (cover your ears, oatmeal!) boring food. But I truly love the warming morning porridge, and thanks to a little ingenuity and know-how, we've managed to keep things interesting, and, until recently, I had little interest in straying from my comforting daily routine.
That is, until one morning not long ago, when a seemingly innocent flirtation with a new treat in town turned my world upside-down. It might not be conventionally attractive — in fact, it's pale, short, and frankly a little bit gloppy — but, boy, does it know how to make a woman's taste buds light up. The stranger I speak of is, of course, this creamy, velvety-smooth banana shake-smoothie hybrid. It's not much to look at, but with one sip, the depths of its complex but comforting nature become apparent. As a somewhat sneaky bonus, it even comes together in a flash, and is perfect for weekday mornings, a problem oatmeal and I have been attempting to reconcile for years. And while I can't say for sure what my future holds in this bizarre love triangle, I have an inkling that it'll involve both of these charming suitors.
Keep reading for a recipe worth straying from your morning routine for.
Bananas are the perfect fruit to incorporate into dessert, a healthy snack, or a nutritious smoothie. If you enjoy getting your daily dose of potassium through bananas, you'll love all the creative ways to cook with them. From vegan popsicles for a Summer treat to a sweet combination of banana and chocolate in a bar, these 10 recipes will make your mouth water.
Transform a basic piece of fruit into a beautifully sweet dessert that your child will go bananas over! No sticks here: this frozen dessert uses small pretzels, making it entirely edible. Converting a plastic baggie into a piping bag allows your child to swirl and drizzle the melted chocolate over the bananas in an expressive design, creating almost-too-pretty-to-eat banana goodies. Not only is your child learning basic cooking skills, he's expressing his artistic side, too!
Bananas foster has been around since 1951, when it was first served at Brennan's Restaurant in New Orleans. It's a special-occasion treat, as it involves a chef wheeling out a cooking cart to the table to prepare a beautiful, bubbling caramel sauce with bananas. The most anticipated moment is when the chef ignites the rum-laden sauce, sending a bright, dramatic flame up into the air. The crowd always goes wild! The warm, syrupy bananas are served à la mode, and the extra sauce is spooned over the top.
My mother grew up going to this restaurant with her family, so any time she sees bananas foster on the menu, she's guaranteed to order it. As a child, I loved the flame trick more than the dessert; my palate did not appreciate its rum flavor until I was in college. Now, I'll practically fight my Dad to get the last spoonful of caramel! I've sought to re-create bananas foster at home, dazzling my family with my flambé skills. Grilling the bananas first offers a beautiful presentation and turns the caramelized flavor up a notch.
Our mouthwatering Brain-Boosting Breakfast series continues with celebrity chefs and restaurateurs creating healthy, brain-boosting breakfast ideas to help keep kids going throughout the day. Today's quick breakfast for on-the-go families comes from Marcus Samuelsson, one of the most celebrated chefs in America, winner of the second season of Top Chef Masters, and owner of Harlem's acclaimed Red Rooster restaurant.
Marcus Samuelsson knows a few things about taste. Born in Ethiopia and raised in Sweden, he's mastered the art of mixing unusual flavors to create tastes that simply make mouths and stomachs happy. For his award-winning cookbook, New American Table ($27), Chef Samuelsson spent time working his way through local farms and kitchens across America to create new dishes for the entire family. A longtime supporter of charities that help give children a healthy start, such as UNICEF and the World Childhood Foundation, the chef is offering up an avocado-banana smoothie recipe to give kids a quick brain boost before heading off to school.
This is a great healthy breakfast option, as it's filling and nutritious; plus, kids dig the green color of the drink. It's inspired by the Indian drink lassi and is sure to be a family favorite.
Keep reading for Marcus Samuelsson's quick and easy Avocado-Banana Smoothie recipe.
Moist, delicious banana bread is one of life's simplest pleasures. It's awesome with coffee in the morning, tea in the afternoon, or a glass of sparkling wine late in the evening. It's a nostalgic dish that so many enjoy. Wrapped in pretty packaging, banana bread also makes a wonderful edible gift. Most people have strong feelings about mix-ins, but I like to toss in a small handful of chocolate chips for extra richness. While you probably already have a tried-and-trusted banana bread recipe, I thought it was high time I shared mine. Check it out now.
The banana in all its tropical glory made a bold runway debut at Prada; for Spring, we're seeing lots of tropical references, from palm prints to lattice shoes. It's a fun, lighthearted way — think of Carmen Miranda's gorgeous excess — to infuse color and texture into your Spring wardrobe, and it will carry you happily through the Summer months. If you don't want to invest in Prada's bananas, try these mini banana earrings ($5) for a small tropical punch. Or take a more subtle approach to tropical dressing with these Proenza Schouler lace-up shoes ($895).
Good morning! Here's an idea: why not be like Dice215 and make mascarpone-stuffed French toast over the weekend?
French toast made from Challah bread stuffed with mascarpone cheese and topped with warm brown sugar banana sauce.
Be sure to check out her blog for the recipe, and if you have a delicious photo to share, put it in the Savory Sights group. It could be featured here on YumSugar!
