Growing up it was our family tradition to have a special birthday breakfast waiting for you in the morning. I loved waking up in the morning and running out to the kitchen to see what was there. It was kind of like having your own personal Christmas! When you got to the kitchen you would find the table set for breakfast and your birthday presents waiting for you under your plate. I know it sounds kind of funny but your presents were always under your plate.
Every year for my Mom's birthday I try to carry on this tradition by doing something special for her for breakfast and of course I leave her birthday present! This year her birthday fell during the week so I made her banana nut muffins and fancy coffee so she could eat it on her way to work. It wasn't as elaborate of a breakfast as we had when we were kids but yummy just the same.
Banana Nut Bread/Muffins
Ingredients:
1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 cup (3 large) mashed very ripe bananas
1/2 cup sour cream
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup chopped walnuts or pecans
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Spray 9-by-5-by-3 inch loaf pan with non-stick cooking spray (PAM).
Cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
Add eggs, and beat until incorporated.
Add flour, baking soda, and salt.
Mix until just combined.
Add bananas, sour cream, and vanilla.
Mix until combined then stir in nuts.
Pour into prepared loaf pan.
Optional: sprinkle top with raw sugar crystals.
Bake until a cake tester inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 1 hour and 10 minutes.
Let rest in pan for 10 minutes before moving loaf onto a rack to cool.
*Note: If you over beat the batter once the flour is added it will make a denser loaf.
