Tag: banana

Banana Talk

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Banana Talk (3)

This quick game was an adorable way to play with Veronika at mealtime. It’s about concrete learning on the one hand – vocabulary, taste, texture – but also introduces a playful silliness that your baby can understand now, at eight months old. Banana phones are a classic of a reason!

I came over to Veronika’s tray carrying a banana up to my ear. Hello hello hello? I had a quick chat into the phone, and passed it to her.

Banana Talk (1)

She looked at it in wonder and wanted to grab for it, of course.

Big brother wanted to have a quick turn on the phone call too!

Banana Talk (2)

Next I turned back one edge of the banana peel and let her pull it the rest of the way down. Bananas are the perfect process food!

Banana Talk (4)

She looked amazed as she worked her way around the whole peel – and then of course we broke off bites to eat and share!

Banana Talk (5)

Banana Muffins

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Banana Muffins alt

After tons of play with our Baking Crate from KiwiCo, we still wanted more adventures in the kitchen! To wit: these easy banana muffins, the perfect recipe to make after returning from vacation to find three very ripe bananas waiting on the counter.

Ingredients:

  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/2 cup melted Earth Balance butter
  • 2 Ener-G eggs
  • 1/2 cup unsweetened coconut milk
  • 3 mashed ripe bananas
  • 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2 cups flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  1. Mix together the sugar and butter in a bowl, stirring until combined.Banana Muffins (1)
  2. Add the Ener-G eggs and coconut milk.
  3. Stir in the mashed bananas – mashing these was definitely the best part of the recipe!Banana Muffins (2)
  4. Stir in the flour, baking soda, and salt.
  5. Divide the batter evenly among 12 greased muffin cups. Bake at 350 degrees F for 25 minutes.

 

Chunky Monkey Cookies

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Chunky Monkey cookies

We pretty much never tire of banana + chocolate + nuts around here. If you prefer your chunky monkey in liquid form, head on over to my smoothie recipe. These cookies will satisfy anyone looking for something a bit more toothsome.

Ingredients:

  • 6 pitted dates
  • 1/4 cup water
  • 1 cup rolled oats
  • 1/2 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/2 cup peanut butter
  • 1/2 cup mashed ripe banana
  • 1 Ener-G egg
  • 1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
  • 2/3 cup vegan chocolate chips
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  1. In a blender or food processor, combine the dates and water and process until very smooth, to make a date paste. You should have about 1/2 cup. Set aside.
  2. Combine the oats, salt, and baking soda in a bowl; set aside.
  3. In a large bowl, whisk together the peanut butter, mashed banana, and date mixture until smooth. Stir in the Ener-G egg and vanilla.
  4. Add the oat mixture to the peanut butter mixture and stir until combined. Stir in the chocolate chips and pecans. Let the mixture chill for about 10 minutes while you preheat the oven.
  5. Using an ice cream scoop, drop the dough by generous portions onto a parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake at 350 degrees F for 14 to 16 minutes, until set.

If, like me, you’re a little tired when you make these cookies and end up doubling the amount of chocolate chips by accident, so much the better!