Going Bananas

It feels like the perfect day to make turkey stock to use as a base for my Thanksgiving gravy. The wind is howling outside, but I have a nice fire going in the kitchen fireplace. And my dog Cricket is keeping me company. Yes, I should be making stock, but I'm not. I'm making banana coffee cake, for two reasons: I have lots of overripe bananas and I need something to serve my house guests on Friday morning, besides leftovers. This particular coffee cake is one I make a lot. It's good for people (me) who like some texture in their cakes, because it has nuts and chocolate chips. Sure my last post was about peanut butter and chocolate, but I think banana and chocolate is a divine combination too.
A long time ago, back in the early 80's, Ben & Jerry's made an ice cream called Chunky Monkey that's different than the Chunky Monkey they sell now. As I remember it, it was banana ice cream with big chunks of chocolate and maybe some almonds. I wish they would bring the original back - and Dastardly Mash too, while we're at it.
Ok that's a little off subject...I'm back now. That happens sometimes. Here's the recipe for the cake I made earlier today, adapted from one I found on Epicurious:

Banana Coffeecake with Chocolate Chip Streusel

Preheat oven to 350 and grease an 8 x 8 baking pan. In a small bowl, combine
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
2/3 c. brown sugar
1/2 cup chopped pecans
1 Tbsp. ground cinnamon
and set aside.
In another bowl, whisk together
1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
3/4 sp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. salt
Using electric mixer, beat
3/4 cup sugar
1 stick unsalted butter (room temp.)
1 egg
in a large bowl until light and fluffy.
Beat in
3 large, very ripe, mashed bananas
3 Tbsps. buttermilk
Add dry ingredients and blend well.
Spread half of batter in prepared pan. Sprinkle with half of streusel. Repeat with remaining batter, then streusel. Bake 45 minutes or until tester inserted into center comes out clean.


In a little while, I'm going to put another log on the fire and make Lots-of-Ways Banana Cake from Dorie Greenspan's Baking From my Home to Yours book. Then I'll probably get some Ben & Jerry's ice cream. I suddenly have this craving...