Banana Bread Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Ganache and Nutella Frosting

In my last post when I said I would be back with these cupcakes soon, I bet you didn't think soon meant 4 months, eh? Look at that title and maybe you'll forgive me. I know these babies are a mouthful but they sure are a delicious one. Ba dun bum. Okay sorry, I apologize for that one.

It sounds a little time consuming, but really it's pretty simple. Also, come on-peanut butter, nutella, banana bread? Winning combo.

Make the banana bread cupcakes:



Core out the middle of the cupcake and scoop it out. I'm not telling you what to do, but I can think of a good way to get rid of the extra cupcake...

Be careful not to scoop all the way to the bottom. Fill it with the peanut butter ganache.


Then put the top back on, and frost with the nutella frosting!




Best enjoyed with a big glass of milk!

Banana Bread Cupcakes with Peanut Butter Ganache Filling and Nutella Frosting
For the banana bread:
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup sour milk (I put 1 1/2 tbsp vinegar in a measuring cup and fill the rest with milk)
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1/2 cup melted butter
2 eggs
pinch of salt

Mix the dry ingredients, then the wet ingredients. Mix all together. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full and bake at 325 degrees for about 25 minutes. (Oven times vary-the cupcake is done when a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.)

While the cupcakes are baking, make the ganache and frosting.

For the peanut butter ganache:
5 oz chocolate
1/4 cup peanut butter
1/2 cup cream
1/2 tsp vanilla

Heat the cream and vanilla in a medium saucepan over medium heat for 3 minutes. Pour mixture over the chocolate and peanut butter and let melt. Stir to combine.

For the nutella frosting:
1/4 cup softened butter
1/2 tsp vanilla
3 tbsp milk
1/4 cup nutella
1 cup powdered sugar

Mix all ingredients in a medium bowl with a hand mixer until well combined.

When the cupcakes have cooled, cut a circle in the top and scoop out the middle of the cupcake, being careful not to hit the bottom of the cupcake. Fill each cupcake with the peanut butter ganache, then return the top circle of the cupcake.

Frost with the nutella frosting.

Hoisin Chicken with Rice

I made this last night and it was a big hit with the hubs. He is kind of picky, so score. It was my first time dealing with Hoisin sauce and it was really yummy! Kind of sweet but savory all at the same time. A nice change from teryaki or just soy sauce. Paired with some rice it was a really good dinner, and my hubby even ate leftovers...a true rarity. He's one of those leftover snobs. Anyway, I only have one picture to show because I've got mini me aka my shadow so I had to sneak a picture in really quickly before she got mad. :)

Chicken with Hoisin Sauce
1 lb chicken tenderloins, cut into bite size pieces*
2 tbsp oil (vegetable or olive, I used canola)
1 green bell pepper, chopped
1 red onion, chopped
3 garlic cloves, minced
2 Tbsp soy sauce
1/3 cup hoisin sauce
1/2 cup chicken broth
3 Tbsp corn starch dissolved in 1/4 cup water

1. Add the oil to a skillet over medium heat. Add the minced garlic and cook until you can smell it.
2. Season the chicken with salt and pepper. Add the chicken and cook until cooked through and juices run clear.
3. Add the red onion and bell pepper and saute until tender crisp, about 4 minutes.
4. Combine the soy, hoisin, chicken broth, and the corn starch (already dissolved in the water) and stir. Add to the chicken mixture. Bring to a boil, then simmer until the sauce thickens.

*You don't have to use tenderloins, this is just what I always use for everything. Breast, breast halves, whatever you want would work.


Also...I realize that I super suck at taking food photos. I can't promise I will get better at it.

I have a really awesome idea for some banana bread cupcakes with nutella frosting and filled peanut butter ganache that I hope to make within the next week or so. Let's face it it anytime you add nutella into the mix you know it is going to rock your socks.

Butterbeer cupcakes + Butterbeer=Harry Potter Heaven

Let me start by saying my husband and I are BIG Harry Potter nerds. One of our first dates was to go see the 4th one in the movie theatre, and we have seen every one together since then. We are planning a trip to the Harry Potter World next July hopefully. Until then, I found these two recipes that will have to tide us over.

Butterbeer that I found at The Pastry Affair. This turned out exactly as I'd imagined butterbeer to taste. It's an awesome blend of butterscotchy, cream soda, buttery goodness. It is so good. And the best part is, it was so simple to make. I really wanted to take pictures of the hubby and I enjoying it but we had to rush in our sips before he had to go to bed for a 4AM wake up the next day. But I have promised to make it whenever we watch the movies, so pictures will come someday. Anyways, that recipe is legit and probably the closest you will come to butterbeer without transporting into the book and having the real stuff.

Second, butterbeer cupcakes at Amy Bites. You guys. These are so good. It was the absolute best cupcake I've ever had. They took awhile and I cleaned my kitchen up for days after making them, but amazing nonetheless. The hubs and I decided that next time I make them, I'll fill them with the frosting and top the frosting that's on top with some of the butterscotch ganache. The frosting was just so good, the top wasn't enough for us. I think it'd also be good if you poke multiple holes in the cupcake and fill several different holes with the ganache. As it was, it just wasn't quite enough. Other than that, so very yummy.

As delicious as these both were, we had them at the same time and it was a bit much :D I think our stomachs hurt for an entire day after that. But we wanted the experience of having them both together, just once. I would recommend making them separately. There's only so much rich butter+sugar combo one stomach can take.

New Beginning!

*waves* I have a regular blog here. But let's be honest, not everyone wants to read about how my 5 month old daughter just ate her foot for the first time, or how many diapers I change a day, or how cute her precious wittle smile is. All of those things are the story of my life right now and of late it's hard for me to find inspiration to write about anything. My days are jam packed with smiles and cuddles with my little girl and while I love my life and couldn't ask for more, I realize it doesn't make for the most interesting reads to everyone else.

When I'm not being mommy, I love to cook and read. I thought this blog could be fun for me to post awesome recipes I've tried or created, if for no other purpose than to document it for myself. I am ridiculous in the kitchen. I can take the simplest, easiest recipe and turn my kitchen into a war zone within a half hour. I will have to take pictures for proof. I have no idea how it happens, it is just me. So while I love cooking, I wish I had Paula Deen's life and didn't have to worry about the pesky task of cleaning up after yourself. How cool would that be?

While I love to read, my beautiful daughter does not like to allow me much free time. Remember how I'm stupid messy in the kitchen? The time I do get, I usually need to spend it cleaning up after said kitchen. I have to steal an hour to read after my little angel has nodded to sleep, usually reading until midnight before I must get some sleep to do it all again the next day. That being said, I will also be reviewing books as I read them here. I will admit that I still can't get enough of the angsty young adult books, but at the same time I adore Jane Austen. You will just have to bear with me here because I'm kind of all over the place.

Anyway, I always feel the first post of a blog should be explanatory and introductory and whatever other applicable word that ends in "ory". So now that that boringness is out of the way, I'll be back with some yummy treats and awesome reads soon. :)