Keeping Cozy with Katie & Bean

Hello everyone!! It’s been a while… It’s not because I haven’t been reading or baking. It’s not even because I don’t want to blog…because I do!! Blogging is something I’ve wanted to do since 2006. This is very specific because it was when I was in a grade 9 computers/business class and we were introduced to this kind of thing. However, I haven’t posted anything since December because I work full time as it is…and I don’t always have the motivation or time to write a post on the weekends, so until I get the timing down, my posts could be weeks or months apart. Another reason why I am not always motivated is because I’ve never thought myself to be a good writer, or a captivating writer. Everyone who takes that leap into this world of media, whether it is in the form of a blog, or a niche on Instagram or TikTok is an inspiration to me. So, with that said, thank you. Thank you to everyone who has inspired me.

There is a reason why I came up with the name for this blog and that is because I love to bake and I love to read. My posts will not always be about both of those things at the same time. For instance, while this is another introduction, it is also going to be a baking post. I just wanted to make this clear, in case you’re all expecting a post about books today.

Back to banana bread… yesterday, I decided to make banana bread with the 3 ripe bananas that we had laying around. However, I wanted to do something different. I started looking everywhere for my bundt cake pan. I love baking with this pan, for one, it is so easy to get the cake out and the other, it always comes out looking nice. I recently, made a layered cake that I was devastated with because it looked terrible, but when I realized it tasted good, the cake slowly grew on me. This is why I love bundt pans though. They always come out looking lovely.

The Recipe:

Grease bundt pan with butter and preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Mash 3 bananas in a large mixing bowl. Stir in 1/3 cup of melted butter. Then add half a teaspoon of baking soda and a dash of salt. Mix that around, then add 3/4 cup of sugar, one teaspoon of vanilla, and one egg. Make sure to use a whisk to mix everything together in the bowl. Now slowly add 1.5 cups of flour and 1 tablespoon of cocoa powder (to make it a chocolate banana bread). I also added a dash or two of cinnamon, but you can choose any spice you want, or no spice at all! Lastly, don’t forget to add chocolate chips!! Continue to stir/whisk until it is all mixed together. Pour the banana bread batter evenly into the bundt pan. Sprinkle some more chocolate chips on top of the batter, if you want it to come out of the oven with chocolate chips on top like in the image above. Bake for 55 minutes. Every oven is different, so make sure to do the toothpick trick to make sure it’s done! Stick the toothpick into the banana bread and if it comes out clean, it’s done! Let it cool for a few minutes in the pan, then remove it onto a wire rack. When it’s fully cooled, you can add any kind of icing, whether homemade or store bought of your choice! Or enjoy it as it is, it is banana bread after all! If you’re feeling as courageous as I was, add your icing and sprinkle on another topping such as Reese’s Pieces. Enjoy this banana bread bundt cake with your morning coffee, or in the evening with a glass of wine! Happy baking!

This can be done with any banana bread recipe that you have, but the banana bread recipe I used I found online through Simply Recipes! The next time you make banana bread, just pour it into a bundt pan instead of a banana bread pan.

What should the next thing I make with a bundt pan be?? Any suggestions?

As for a side note on books… I recently read the book No Exit by Taylor Adams and really enjoyed it!! I am currently reading The Paris Apartment by Lucy Foley!

I hope everyone has a lovely Sunday afternoon!! (Even though it’s a cold spring day here). Until next time…