banana nut muffins

I absolutely love having friends visit us at our apartment.  Even though we don't have tons of space for entertaining or lots of seating, it's so much fun to host!  Maybe it will be even better once we finish start decorating!

Cal and Ashley are our overnight guest guinea pigs.  We look forward to the weekends they spend with us, like this weekend!  I love cooking for people, especially good friends.  Whilst I love cooking [anything], my favorite meal is breakfast.  So naturally, that's one of my favorite meals to cook.  

Whenever Byron and I spend weekends with Cal and Ashley, we always enjoy a nice big breakfast together.  Last weekend was no different when Banana Nut Muffins were added to the menu -- Mmmmm!

Banana Nut Muffin Recipe:

Ingredients:
1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda OR 3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup of chopped pecans
ground cinnamon

(makes 12 muffins)

Directions:
Preheat the oven to 350.  Place muffin liners in a 12 count muffin pan.

Sift the flour, baking soda, and salt into a bowl and set aside.  Whisk the eggs and vanilla together in a large measuring cup with a spout and set aside.  Cream the butter and sugar together using an electric mixer until light and fluffy.  Gradually pour the egg mixture into the butter mixture while continuously mixing the batter together.  Then add the flour mixture, pouring it 1/3 at a time.  Mix until all ingredients are incorporated.  Add in the bananas and continue mixing.  The batter will look curdled -- don't worry!  Once the bananas are combined and mixed well, use a rubber spatula or large spoon to fold in the nuts.

Evenly distribute the muffin batter into the muffin cups.  Sprinkle cinnamon on each muffin.  Bake for about 20 minutes or until the muffins pass the toothpick test (Insert a toothpick into a muffin -- the muffins are finished when the toothpick is clean when removed from the muffin.).  Let the muffins cool for a few minutes before serving.

Variation: Use cinnamon roasted almonds instead of pecans.

Enjoy!