Hi, Sweet Friend,
Have you ever experienced a “Banana Overload” happening in your kitchen?
I bet you have, because I’ve been in this sort of a trouble more than once! And did you know that according to Google Search the most popular 2015 recipe search on Google was for a Banana Bread? It’s just a fun fact, but it does make a PERFECT sense to me! Because every once in a while I get totally overwhelmed by The Banana Overload happening in my kitchen.
This is how it usually begins: I salivate at those beautiful bananas in the store and buy more than just a few. And then… I maybe eat just one. Maybe someone else goes for another one. And as for the rest of the bananas… no one else is in the mood for them that day. And that’s how that precious moment when the bananas are nice and ripe is missed. The bananas turn brown and start looking unappetizing. And then… what else can you possibly do besides searching for another banana bread recipe?
But just like you must’ve had, I’ve baked quite more than a dozen of banana breads in my lifetime to grow a little bit weary of the classic banana and walnut variation… Besides for whatever reason my kids don’t like any walnuts in their banana bread and without the walnuts a banana bread gets somewhat dry… and, well… boring…
But what is a food blogger’s answer to the “Breaking the Old-Good Banana Bread’s Boredom” problem?
Adding a secret ingredient and giving it a healthy-gooey remake, of course!
Today I wanted my banana creation to be really chocolaty. And so instead of the bread I decided to make… brownies. But even a Banana Brownie idea wasn’t enough to truly inspire me! I wanted my brownies to be… extra decadent. Really gooey, and irresistibly creamy!
This was when an idea of adding one of my favorite “Secret Ingredients” crossed my mind.
And my favorite secret ingredient is… no, it’s not quinoa! I love quinoa, but there is something that I like even better than the popular ancient grain.
Millet!
Millet is also an ancient grain. And it’s also super-healthy. But I think that it’s sweeter and somewhat creamier than the quinoa. Blended with all four bananas that I had to use up today, my favorite millet gave these banana brownies a nice and creamy texture that I loved sinking my teeth into!
I also want to add a word about the sprinkles. These sprinkles don’t look as bright and colorful as the sprinkles usually do. But these guys are all-natural and so I am not worried about letting my kids sprinkle an extra spoonful of them on their healthy brownies.
I got these little cute guys in a natural food store, since during the super-crazy-busy summer break (with my kids home All The Time) I didn’t have a head to be also making sprinkles. But if you do have time and would like to make your own sprinkles or if you can’t find the all-natural sprinkles in your market you can get a wonderful recipe at http://chocolatecoveredkatie.com/2012/08/07/rainbow-sprinkles-homemade/. By the way I love Katie’s blog! She’s got so many healthy and easy dessert recipes! Inspiration is endless!
- 4 bananas
- 1/2 cup cooked millet
- 1/2 cup sugar
- 1 cup flour
- 1/2 cup cocoa powder
- 1/4 cup oil
- 1 egg
- 2 egg whites
- 1 tsp lemon juice
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1/2 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- Put the bananas and the cooked millet in a blender and blend until smooth.
- Preheat your oven to 350 F.
- Beat the egg, egg whites and sugar just a little bit until the sugar dissolves.
- Add the banana-millet mixture to the egg mixture, add the oil, vanilla and lemon juice. Mix everything well.
- Whisk the flour with the cocoa, making powder, baking soda and salt.
- Add the dry mixture to the wet mixture and stir until everything is incorporated.
- Bake for about 40 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle of the brownies comes out clean.
- Cut into 16 squires and enjoy every bite!
I hope that you’ll give these guys a try and if you do, I’d LOVE to see what you thought of them! 🙂
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