Banana Bread with a Side of Sweet Summer Feet

Okay, maybe not with the feet.  Yesterday I went to get a mani pedi and brought my daughter along for her very first professional paint job.  She love it and was such angel the entire time and of ourse she had to get a painted flower.  Best $5 I've ever spent.

Then after a day of work and personal errands we headed home to bake; one of my duaghter's favorite past times.  We baked a Banana Bread recipe from the Barefoot Contessa and it was delicious.  Try it for yourself.

Ingredients

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 cups sugar
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 pound unsalted butter, melted and cooled
• 2 extra-large eggs
• 3/4 cup whole milk
• 2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas (2 bananas)
• 1 cup small-diced walnuts
• 1 cup granola
• Granola and walnuts optional

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F.

Line 18 large muffin cups with paper liners. Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with a paddle attachment. Add the melted butter and blend. Combine the eggs, milk, vanilla, and mashed bananas, and add them to the flour-and-butter mixture. Scrape the bowl and blend well. Don't over mix.

Fold the walnuts and granola into the batter. Spoon the batter into the paper liners, filling each 1 to the top. Top each muffin with dried banana chips, granola, or coconut, if desired. Bake for 25 to 30 minutes, or until the tops are brown and a toothpick comes out clean. Cool slightly, remove from the pan, and serve.