• honey nut banana muffins cooling on a wire rack on kitchen counter
    Baking,  Food

    Honey Oat Banana Muffins

    With the warm flavors of honey and oats, these banana muffins are dairy-free and can be made with your choice of healthy oils. If opting for olive oil, make sure to select one that is mild and more fruity than peppery to complement the delicious banana flavor. I love these for breakfast and also with an abundant lunch salad full of seasonal produce. They’re so versatile I know you will find plenty of ways to enjoy them. Bananas should be allowed to ripen fully before baking with them, which means having a highly speckled to almost entirely darkened peel. This will lend the maximum amount of natural sweetness. If you…

  • Banana pudding in individual cups
    Baking

    Banana Pudding

    Topped with lightly sweetened crème fraîche whipped cream, my twist on banana pudding is perfect for serving in individual dessert cups. In place of traditional vanilla wafers, I whip up a thin vanilla cake, which is then cubed to form the bottom layer. Next come layers of sliced bananas and homemade vanilla pudding. The slightly tangy topping makes for a dessert that has just the right amount of sweetness. If you’re prepping ahead, you can make the pudding and cake in advance then assemble just before serving. Unlike vanilla wafers, which need to soften a bit before serving, the soft cake layer needs no such waiting time. When you’re ready…