The Best Banana Bread Ever!

I absolutely love how this banana bread recipe turned out! Super moist, lots of walnuts, nice and sweet! I used this recipe, and made a few small changes to make my life easier. This recipe makes a 9 x 13 cake pan, or two loaf pans.

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups sugar
1 cup butter, softened
3 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. table salt
5 eggs
2 tsp. vanilla extract
1-2 cups walnuts (opt.)
1/2 cup milk
5-6 bananas (ripe to overripe)

ALSO:

Large mixing bowl - this recipe is rather large. 

Spatula to scrape bowl. 

BAKE 

350 degrees for 

45 minutes in a 9x13 pan

(or) 50-60 minutes in 2 regular loaf pans (or) mini loaves for about 35 minutes. 

This is how you will make the delicious bread:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Use non-stick spray in 9x13 pan, two regular loaf pans, or approximately 18-20 mini loaf pans. Cover with foil the last 10-15 minutes so edges don't burn. 

Melt butter and let cool slightly, so eggs aren't "cooked" when added. Mash bananas in a large mixing bowl. Add sugar, butter, eggs, milk, and vanilla, and beat until fluffy and well-combined, about 2 minutes. 

Next, add flour one cup at a time to reduce any possible mess. Add baking soda and salt, and continue to mix until well-combined, and no flour lumps are visible, while scraping sides of bowl. Lastly, add walnuts and beat a little longer until well-combined. That's it! 

Throw that bread in the oven and bake as directed above, depending on what pan(s) you use. This would be amazing for giving as gifts in mini loaf containers, since the recipe makes so much. 

This bread was SO good! 

Fall Leaf Rice Krispy Treats / Made the REAL way!

Ever wonder why your rice krispy treats don't turn out soft, rich, buttery, and super tasty? You may be using the wrong method. Here, I will show you the old-fashioned way to make Rice Krispy Treats on the stovetop - with real butter.

I love how these little leaf treat pops turned out! They could be customized to just about any holiday or party theme, too! Feel free to add food coloring to them to really customize them in a new, unique way. 

Here we go!

Ingredients:

- 3 Tbsp. REAL Butter (Organic Preferred)

- 6 C. Rice Krispy Cereal 

- 6 C. Marshmallows

- Sprinkles in Seasonal Colors

(Not Pictured)

- Parchment Paper

- Baking Dish 

- Smaller Wooden Skewers

- Leaf-Shaped Cookie Cutters

Instructions: 

In a large pot, melt butter over low heat (slower is better, so the butter doesn't burn.). 

As that melts, add marshmallows. Continue to melt the ingredients over low-medium heat. 

Make sure to watch the mixture so it doesn't brown. 

The mixture should look a little something like this right before you add the cereal.

Add the cereal and mix well to combine all of the ingredients. 

Next, transfer the cereal mixture to the pan. 

1.) Spray baking dish with non-stick spray or butter. Cut a piece of parchment paper to fit inside the dish.

2.) Pour in Gooey Cereal Mix.

3.) Use another piece of parchment paper to pat down the cereal mixture flat into the dish. This will keep your hands WAY less messy.

Once cereal has cooled, remove the cereal and parchment paper, and put it onto a cutting board.

Use your favorite leaf-shaped cookie cutter, press firmly down into treats. You can use a bit of non-stick spray on the cookie cutter if the treats stick. Carefully insert small skewer sticks into the leaves. Make sure you don't jab your hand...

I got about 12-13 leaves out of my batch, and had lots of pieces left over to devour :)

Enjoy! Happy Fall!