Recipes

One of my kitchen cupboards is filled with cookbooks. I have all kinds: cookbooks from churches, schools, Quick Cooking magazine, a family reunion cookbook, and even a complete set of the Woman's Day Encyclopedia of Cookery (published in 1966!). My cookbook cupboard also contains a file folder stuffed full of recipes from the newspaper and various magazines; some carefully cut out and others ripped from pages and in no particular order. And finally, right in the front of the cupboard, sits a little brown recipe box containing handwritten recipes gathered years ago when I first moved out on my own.

You would think that I would be a wonderful cook with all these cookbooks. Unfortunately, I enjoy reading the recipes more than actually making them. And lately I'm realizing that when I do want to cook or bake, I'm no longer turning to any of the cookbooks in my cupboard. Instead I turn to my computer and the wonderful "google" search button.

Last weekend I had a pile of soft, mushy bananas and decided to make banana bread and muffins. I found this wonderful recipe for Banana Oat Muffins from the allrecipes.com website. They are actually the best banana muffins I've ever tasted; I can't believe I made them! And they have oatmeal in them, so they're healthy. I also added a little cinnamon and some pecan pieces. Anyway, I thought I'd share the recipe.

Maybe I'll go through some of the cookbooks in my cupboard on our next snow day.

Banana Oat Muffins

Ingredients:
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 cup rolled oats
1/2 cup white sugar
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 egg
3/4 cup milk
1/3 cup vegetable oil
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup mashed bananas

Directions:
1. Combine flour, oats, sugar, baking powder, soda, and salt.
2. In a large bowl, beat the egg lightly. Stir in the milk, oil, and vanilla. Add the mashed banana, and combine thoroughly. Stir the flour mixture into the banana mixture until just combined. Line a 12-cup muffin tin with paper bake cups, and divide the batter among them.
3. Bake at 400 degrees F (205 degrees C) for 18 to 20 minutes.