Healthy Banana Bread

I was looking for a new banana recipe tonight and came across this one: http://cookieandkate.com/2015/healthy-banana-bread-recipe/ I changed a couple of things to fit the ingredients I had on hand. 

I love this bread, and love even more that it uses coconut oil and honey replacements. 

Ingredients: 

1/3 cup melted coconut oil

1/2 cup honey

2 eggs

3 mashed bananas

1/4 cup milk

1 tsp vanilla

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

1 3/4 cup flour

Preheat the oven to 325 degrees. Grease a bread pan. 

In a large bowl, whisk the oil and honey together. Add the eggs. bananas, milk, and vanilla. Whisk together. Add the baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Whisk to blend. 

Switch to a big spoon and add the flour. Stir until just combined. 

Pour the dough in the greased pan. Add about 1/2 tsp of additional cinnamon if you choose and swirl on top. Bake for 50 minutes. 

Let sit in the pan for about 10 minutes when done baking. Then place on a cooling rack to finish the cooling process. 

Cookie Dough Cupcakes

David's classroom celebrated his summer birthday today. He saw these cupcakes on Pinterest, so we made a version of our own. (https://sprinklesforbreakfast.squarespace.com/sprinkles-for-breakfast/cookie-dough-cupcakes) 

Cookie Dough Ingredients:

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup brown sugar

1 cup butter, softened

2 tsp vanilla

2 cups flour

3/4 tsp salt

3/4 cup mini chocolate chips

Cupcakes:

2 eggs and 1 egg white

1 cup milk

2 1/4 tsp vanilla

3 cups flour

1 3/4 cup sugar

4 tsp baking powder

3/4 tsp salt

12 Tbsp butter, softened

1/2 cup sprinkles

Start by making the cookie dough. Place the sugar, brown sugar, and butter in a mixing bowl. Using the paddle attachments, beat the ingredients. Add the vanilla. Then add the flour and salt. Mix until all incorporated. Add the mini chocolate chips. 

Using a mini ice cream scoop, roll out 60-64 cookie dough balls. Place them in the freezer for at least 3 hours. 

When the cookie dough is frozen, make the cupcakes. 

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees, line a cupcake pan with liners, and spray the liners with cooking spray. 

In a small bowl, combine the eggs, egg white, and vanilla. Set aside. 

In a mixing bowl, add the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt. Use the paddle attachment to stir the dry ingredients for about 30 seconds. 

Add the milk and butter. Mix on medium speed for about 1 minute.

Add the egg mixture in two separate additions. Beat on medium speed until just combined. Stir in the sprinkles.

Fill the cupcake liners about 2/3 of the way full. Add a frozen cookie dough ball to the middle of each cupcake. 

Bake for 16-18 minutes. (The ones I didn't fill 2/3 of the way full, had a small hole in the cupcake.)

Place on a cooling rack. 

When cool, frost the cupcakes and add sprinkles and another cookie dough ball. 

DIY Fidget Spinners with Legos and K'nex

The fidget spinners have really caught the kids' attention over the past month. I personally refuse to buy one, but that doesn't mean that I won't help the kids make one of their own. Today we crafted some out of K'nex and Legos. (Rachel's hands are too small for the regular-size spinners, so we made the smallest one pictured just for her.) My STEM students are going to use products they find around their homes this week to make their own creations. I can't wait to see what they come up with!