Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen #116: Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Time for Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen

(A weekly linky to share what you and your children have created in the kitchen.)

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The linky is at the bottom.

Last week I decided to make banana bread with the children. It has been so long since I had made banana bread, and I never had the children help me with it. I used to make it all the time for bake sales, but for some reason we just hadn't had any for a long time. I made some for our church's refreshment time and had enough bananas left to make two loafs for us.  As I made that first loaf, I realized it is such an easy recipe, no reason the children shouldn't be helping. We ended up making 1 plain banana bread and one chocolate chip banana bread (which is the exact same recipe, just had the chocolate chips). Even though we did a double batch, I will be sharing the ingredient amounts for a single loaf.  I have had this recipe for years, long before I had internet, and I am not sure where it originally came from, but I have looked up other banana bread recipes when I misplaced this one, and I have never enjoyed them as much as this one, it has a yummy flavor and great texture. 

 Ingredients:

3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup oil
2 eggs
1 cup mashed banana (approximately 2 large or 3 small)
Make sure the bananas are nice and overripe for best flavor.
1 3/4 cup flour
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tea salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips

Two girls all ready to help.

They took turns mashing bananas, because they both wanted to help with that step. While Amelia mashed her share, Tabitha was combining the sugar, oil, and eggs.

We just use a fork to mash the bananas.

We mix the oil and sugar first and then add the eggs.

We beat it until it was nice and frothy.

When Amelia was done with her bananas, Tabitha took over in the banana mushing department while Amelia combined the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt in a small bowl.

When the bananas were ready we added them to the sugar mixture.

Tabitha stirred it up, while Amelia finished the flour mixture.

We then poured the flour mixture into the sugar/banana mixture and folded it together. Technically, it ended up to be more of a gentle stirring. 

We then stirred in the chocolate chips.

We greased and floured 2 loaf pans and poured the batter in.

Two loaves of bread ready to go in the 325 degree oven.

We baked it for 1 hour, til the crust was golden brown.

Directions: 

1- Combine sugar and oil, then add the eggs and beat vigorously until frothy.

2- Mash bananas and blend thoroughly. Set aside.

3- In a small bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt. 

4- Stir flour mixture gently into sugar/banana mixture until well blended.

5- Stir in chocolate chips.

6- Pour into greased and floured loaf pan.

7- Bake at 325 degrees for 1 hour until crust is golden brown.

8- Remove pan to a rack and let stand for 10 minutes.

9- Remove from pan onto a plate and allow to cool if you can resist the temptation to dig in. (We can't as we enjoy it nice and warm from the oven.)

It tastes really, really good with butter. Or you can omit the butter if you are like my husband and just enjoy the bread

Do you have your children help you in the kitchen?  What lessons do they learn? Do you have any kid friendly recipes to share?

I'd love to see your posts, whether you have done something this week or some time in the past. Just link up below. This is a weekly linky.

I am linking up to:

Melt in Your Mouth Monday
Try a New Recipe Tuesday at Home to Four Kiddos
The Gathering Spot at Mamal Diane
Friday Food Frenzy at Close to Home
Fantastic Thursday at Five Little Chefs
Foodie Friends Friday at Robyn'sView
Family Fun Friday at Happy and Blessed Home

And here is my Kids and a Mom in the Kitchen linky