Sour Cream Banana Muffins

Every home cook has at least one recipe that they make so often they can recite the measurements and ingredients by heart! In my kitchen, one such recipe are these muffins. I've been baking these for so long that the orignal recipe I copied into my recipe notebook 12 years ago, became so faded and splattered with batter that it eventually ended up in the trash! I've never bothered reprinting it.

These are my go to snack for playdates, or for when I've got a few girlfriends over and we're craving something sweet to go with our coffee. There always seem to be a few over ripe bananas in the fruit bowl, and the other ingredients are always handy as well. I've had many requests for this recipe, and I'll modestly admit that I've yet to taste a banana muffin I like any better than these. So, give them a try. Perhaps they'll become a favorite in your repetoire too!

Sour Cream Banana Muffins

1/2 Cups Butter or Margarine
1 1/4 C Sugar or Packed Brown Sugar
2 Eggs
1/4 Cup Sour Cream
3 Ripe Bananas Mashed
1 1/3 Cups All Purpose Flour (Whole Wheat works too!)
1 tsp Baking Soda
1/4 tsp salt
Chopped Pecans or Walnuts for Sprinkling

Prepare a muffin tin with papers. Preheat oven to 400*
Beat butter and sugar until fluffy. Beat in the eggs and sour cream. Add mashed bananas and stir. In a small seperate bowl mix flour, soda and salt. Pour into wet ingredients and stir to combine, being careful not to overmix. Fill muffin cups 2/3 full. (I like to use a potato scoop for this!) sprinkle with chopped nuts and bake for 18-20 minutes. Remove the muffins from the tin and cool on wire racks. Or, you can always enjoy them hot from the oven as well!

Indian Butter Chicken

One of my favourite cuisines is Indian. I love the bold, spicy, warm flavours. As a stay at home mom who tries to watch our grocery budget, I also appreciate how frugal preparing Indian cuisine can be. Stocking up on spices is a cheap way to make meals interesting. I've also found that unlike other ethnic cuisines, Indian food makes use of many ingredients you'd find in any typical North American grocery store. I came across this recipe for Butter Chicken a few years ago, and it's become a regular favorite in my weekly meal plan. My 11 year old daughter Mimi is always eager to come to the dinner table when she knows this delicious curry will be on her plate! I like to serve this dish with rice that has been steamed in chicken stock with turmeric added to it. At the last minute I like to add a few frozen peas to the rice for some more flavour and color. Of course, you can't have a curry without naan bread. I think my children enjoy scooping up the curry with their bread. That's another reason this meal is a hit...finger food is fun!

Indian Butter Chicken

1 ounce of butter
1 onion chopped
2 cloves of garlic chopped fine
2 large boneless skinless chicken breasts chopped into 1" cubes
1 teaspoon powdered ginger
1 teaspoon chili powder
1 teaspoon turmeric
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup of heavy cream
1 tbsp tomato paste
1/2 teaspoon garam masala

Saute onion in butter over medium heat until the onion is translucent. Add the garlic and saute for a few seconds being careful not to burn it. Add the chopped chicken breasts and saute until almost cooked. Add the spices stirring to coat the chicken, and cook for a couple of minutes to release the full flavour of the spices. Add the heavy cream and tomato paste and stir to combine. Simmer gently for a couple of minutes, the curry will thicken just a bit. Garnish with garam masala or chopped cilantro. Serve and enjoy!

A Sweet Savour

A question that I've always had a hard time answering is, "What do you prefer to do in the kitchen, cook or bake?" For me, that's like asking which one of my children I like better! It depends on my mood, but I'm passionate about both. Like others who are in love with cookbooks, cooking shows, food blogs, kitchen gadgets, farmers markets, ethnic grocers and good restaurants....food is my canvas. Food is how I express myself, it's my creative outlet, it's how you'll know that I love you...because I'll invite you to my table, and I'll make sure your belly is full and your taste buds are dancing. I create with flavours, and if food really were a canvas, I would paint a picture with bold spices, fresh produce, sweet confections and savoury meats. So, welcome to my kitchen. Take off your coat, put on a warm sweater, slip into a comfy pair of slippers. Now, pour a steamy mug of your favourite tea, sip on a nice glass of your favourite wine, or tall glass of icey lemonade. Pull up a chair, or lean on the counter as I chop, stir, whisk or knead. Mel's in the kitchen...and your about to enjoy a hearty meal.