Blueberry Banana Muffins

Today, I shall attempt to scale Mount Blueberry Banana Muffin.  Never before have I attempted this feat.  Blueberry muffins, yes. Banana muffins... yes.  But never before have I combined the two.

Today shall be the day.  I have some very ripe banana`s and a fridge full of blue berries, and they are just calling to have something done with them.  And of course, I shall complete this mission before work today!

Here is the recipe that I am attempting.  The reviews are great for it, and it sounds really easy.

Blue Berry Banana Muffins

3 ripe Banana`s.

1 Egg, slightly beaten

3/4 Cup Sugar

1/3 Cup Butter, melted

1 Cup Blueberries

1 Tsp Baking Soda

1 Tsp Baking Powder

1/2 Tsp Salt

1 1/2 Cups Flour

Mash Banana's in a large mixing bowl.

Add in beaten Egg, Sugar and melted Butter.

Stir in Blueberries.

In small bowl, combine dry ingredients.  Stir in to the batter mixture, taking care with the blueberries.

Spoon into greased muffin tin and bake for 20 minutes at *375.

So, Here's how it went for me:

I put banana's into bowl.  

 Decide to use my Kitchen Aid to do the hard work of mashing them.

I beat egg, in a cup, measure out the sugar, and put it into the bowl with the egg.

Oh yes!  This works wonderfully for mashing the banana's! 

I measure out the dry ingredients.

And this is where it all goes wrong!

 I then remember, I am supposed to call the Realtor about the sale of our house at 9:00.  It is now 9:01 so I decide to make the call while baking.  Realtor tells me someone has but in a crazy low offer while I am measuring butter.  (This is where my multi-tasking goes wrong).

I add in the sugar and egg.

Oh look!  I'm about to add my beautifully melted butter!

I add it in, give it a mix, then dump in the blueberries. 

I hand stir the blueberries so I don 't squish them.

Then I hand stir in the dry ingredients and scoop it into my muffin tins, which are a large sized.   I filled 7 of them.  Then they go into my preheated oven.

I set the timer, then review the recipe to type out here...  this is where I realize my mistake.

As I re-read the recipe I ask myself,  Just how much butter DID I add?  Oh-oh.  Instead of 1/3 cups, I added 2/3 cups.  Holy!  How the heck can I fix this one?  I'm not even sure I can.  

First thought is!  OMG!  It's only been 5 minutes!  I can scrape them out and double the recipe!  But No!  This will not work.  I only have 1 1/2 banana's left!  

Goodness.... I'm torn what to do?!!!  Leave them or try and fix it?!!!

I can't just leave them!  No.  I pull them out.   I mash up the remaining banana, add in another amount of sugar, egg, and dry ingredients, and a bunch more blueberries, mix it them add the over buttered batter to that... mix well, and into greased and floured bread pans they go.

At this point I am seriously questioning my abilities in the kitchen and the wisdom of even starting this blog. 

The smells wafting from the kitchen are good.  The loaves look not to bad, but the feel moist, even though the toothpick was coming out clean. 

Ok, so I did a taste test once they cooled down enough to cut, and it does taste pretty darn good!  My children shall love me after all!

But I will not give up!  I shall attempt these muffins again one day!  

How Not To Magically Turn Spaghetti Sauce Into Chili

Today in the kitchen I was attempting to cheat making chili.  Oh yes I did.  I got home from work, and was to tired to start something from the beginning, so was going to make something new from something old.

And just what was I using that is old, you may ask?  I was using some of my delicious spaghetti sauce that I was so clever to make a few weeks back.  Of course I always make way, way too much.  Most times this is accidental, but sometimes I like to do this on purpose.  This was one of those "On purpose" times.  You see, if you make up a huge pot of spaghetti sauce you can break it down into smaller portions and freeze them for a quick meal.  Or if you are adventurous, you can can the spaghetti sauce.  This is great too.

So today, I figured that I would save some time and magically turn my spaghetti into Chili.  "Ta-Da!"  

I chopped up some thick cut bacon and browned it in a pot, then drained it once it was cooked enough.  Next I put in my spaghetti sauce.  Now the magic is happening.  Open a can of kidney beans, drain and rinse... into the pot you go.  Next toss in a can of baked beans.  Give it a stir.  Are we done yet?  No.  How about a dash of liquid smoke?  Now the spices!  Ok, This is where my magic often goes astray.  I fail to measure the spices.  I dump in some Chili powder and some Cumin.  Ever smelled Cumin?  It smells great.  So I dump in some more... very precisely.  Give it a stir.  Wait a minute for it to heat some.  And a taste... hmmmm...  a little bland.  Well this is were I am bound for failure pretty much every time.  Maybe if I would just leave it and let it simmer, the flavors would come out a little more (don't forget that I already have spices from when I made the spaghetti sauce).  Anyways.  I taste.  I think.  Then I do what my nature can not resist.  I add MORE Chili, and Cumin....  perhaps too much.  So, I stir and simmer a little more, then taste again.  

Yep.  I did it, just as I knew I would.  I added too much.  It is way to spicy for me, I'm suspecting.  So I have a very small sample bowl... with sour cream.  By the time I am done, my eyes are sweating.  Who knew eyes could sweat?  I knew.  I've done this before.

Is all lost you ask?  Will she toss the pot of chlli?  

No! No, she will not!

Lucky for me that I made such a big pot of spaghetti sauce, that I have another container in the fridge to add to my flaming chili.  So into the pot goes more spaghetti and beans to calm the flames.  

The only problem is, I went from having a manageable cauldron of chilli bubbling to a big pot.  

Hmmmm.... Who shall I pawn some of this off on?  Bet my parents like chili...  they have no choice now.  I shall be the best daughter ever and bring them a nice container of chili.