So who likes a rotten banana? Not my kids, but they will sure gobble up these banana muffins. This is the only recipe for banana muffins that you will need. I promise. They turn out every time, or 98% of the time. I suppose I should leave a 2% margin of error.

Supplies

• muffin tins
• paper muffin cups
• mixer
• spatula
• measuring cups
• measuring spoons
• mixing spoons

Ingredients

• all purpose flour
• rotten (ripe) bananas
• granulated sugar
• butter
• eggs
• baking soda
• baking powder
• salt
• chocolate chips
• sour cream
• brown sugar

How to make banana muffins

Cream together butter and sugar until creamy

Add the ripe bananas and eggs. Mix well

In a medium sized bowl. Add all the dry ingredients and mix together.

Add dry ingredients into the mixing bowl with and mix until combined. Mix for 1-2 minutes on medium speed until batter is light and fluffy.

Add the sour cream. Mix until blended then mix in the chocolate chips.

Fill each muffin cup approx 3/4 full.

Combine flour and brown sugar. Cut in the butter until crumbly. Sprinkle over muffins.

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Banana muffins

This is the only banana muffin recipe you will ever need.

Prep Time 15 minutes

Cook Time 20 minutes

Total Time 35 minutes

Servings 24

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter room temp
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 3 med ripe bananas
• 2 eggs
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 2 cups semi sweet chocolate chips
• 3 tbsp sour cream
• 1/3 cup all purpose flour
• 3 tbsp brown sugar
• 2 tbsp butter

Instructions

1. Line the muffin pan with the muffin cups.

   Set oven temp to 350 degrees.

   In a mixer. Cream together butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the bananas and eggs and mix well. 

   In a medium bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add this to the banana mixture. 

   Mix on medium speed 1-2 minutes until batter is light in color and fluffy. 

   Add the sour cream. Mix until combined.

   Pour in the chocolate chips and mix by hand to incorporate.

   With a large spoon fill the muffin cups 3/4 full with the banana muffin batter. Sprinkle with the streusel. 

   Bake for 20 min or until toothpick comes out clean. 

   Cool

   Enjoy.

Questions?

Can I use shortening instead of butter?

Yes you can.

Do I have to line the muffin tins with paper muffin cups?

No, but remember to grease liberally.

Can I use milk chocolate instead of semi sweet?

Yes. Please use whatever you want.

Are these healthy?

Better then a twinkie!

Can I add nuts?

Are you crazy! J/K add nuts if you are nuts:)

Here is a recipe for lemon blueberry cream cake. Yum.

What is happening on the farm?

Well we are busy babying the seedlings. It is a job to keep them watered and happy. I had a case of some fungus gnats but was able to get rid of them. Cross fingers.

I am hopefully going out this week to lay down the rest of the black landscape fabric over my beds.  My soil was supposed to be covered in the fall but time got away from me. I want to have it covered soon to help with weed control. Check out this little video on why tarps are helpful.

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You know the things that your mom made growing up, that no matter what, hands down, its the best! Well that is Lettu. I am pretty sure that my whole family would agree that Lettu is the bomb! There is not a lot to Lettu the Finnish pancake, so what makes it so great? Not sure actually, just try it. Some people have these “rules” on how you are supposed to eat Lettu the Finnish pancake. Well that’s nice, but I say eat it how you want. With just butter. Syrup and butter. Peanut butter and syrup. Jam. Whipped cream and jam. Whipped cream and berries. Berries mixed with whipped cream. Cold. Hot. Whatever you want. Love Lettu. Did you get that??

What is Lettu?

Lettu is a flat thin pancake that is made on a hot flat pan, similar to the french crepe. However lettu experts (people with Finnish descent)  will tell you that they are not the same…The goal of a good lettu is to make it very thin. Although when my Mamma would make them, a few would be on the thick side..and I loved them.

People in Finland love to make lettu over an open fire outside. Here in the US and Canada we tend to think of roasting hot dogs or marshmallows over an open fire , in Finland its Lettu.

Lettu is made with a few basic ingredients. Milk, eggs, flour and salt and I add a dash of sugar.

How to make lettu the Finnish pancakes

Ingredients

3 eggs

3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 tsp granulated sugar

1/2 tsp salt

1 1/4 cup milk

Directions

Crack the eggs into a medium sized bowl. Using a whisk, whisk the eggs until fluffy.

Add the milk and mix well.

Add the dry ingredients. Using the whisk mix until there are no lumps left in the batter.

Spray your hot pan with a non stick cooking spray. I like to use canola oil spray.

Using a 1/3 cup measuring cup. Pour the batter onto the center of the hot pan.

Pick up the pan. Swirl the pan slowly so the batter smooths out into a thin layer.

Let the batter cook until you see it setting up.

Flip the pancake using a spatula.

Cook on the other side for about 15 seconds.

Remove from pan.

Start over!

If you use a cast iron pan the lettu will be darker. If you use a non stick coated pan, the lettu will be lighter.

Answers and tips

Isn’t finnish pancake called pannukakkua?

Yes that is another type of Finnish pancake. It is made in a pan in the oven. It is kinda similar to Dutch babies, but on the thicker side.

How is it different from Crepes?

Not a lot. Most crepe recipes I have seen call for vanilla. Other wise they are very similar.

Are there other names for Lettu?

Yes there are a few other names for Lettu.

Finnish pancakes, lätty, lätyt

Why are my lettu not browning?

Your pan is not hot enough. Make sure your pan is hot before making the first finnish pancake.

How do I roll it once all the toppings are in?

Insert a prong of the fork at the edge of the pancake. Slowly roll your fork in your fingers and the pancake will roll up.

Here are few other Finnish recipes that we have

Lemon blueberry cream cake

Finnish Pulla Cardamom Bread

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Strawberry Rose Cheesecakes

Valentine’s Day is coming up and we have the perfect dessert to serve your friends, coworkers, or family! These strawberry rose cheesecakes are a fun twist to your traditional personal cheesecakes. With the strawberry covered in sugar on the top it gives the cake a fun and loving feel.

So get your Valentine’s Day shopping list started by adding these ingredients:

Crust:

2 c. Graham cracker crumbs

1/4c. Sugar

1/2c. Butter (melted)

Filling:

8 oz. Cream cheese(softened)

1 c. Heavy whipping cream

1/2 c. Sour cream

2/3 c. Powdered sugar (sifted)

2 tsp. Vanilla

Strawberry roses:

12 strawberries

Small bowl of sugar

Directions

Step 1:

Crush graham crackers. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until combined. Press 2 tbsp. of mixture into the bottom of cupcake pan. Freeze until firm.

Step 2:

Measure out heavy cream and with an electric mixer mix until cream is at a firm peak. Approximately 3-4 minutes. Transfer whipped cream to another bowl.

Step 3:

Mix together cream cheese, vanilla and sour cream. Sift in powdered sugar and mix until combined.

Step 4:

Fold in whipped cream until incorporated.

Step 5:

Add 1/3 c. of cheesecake mixture to each graham cracker crust. Smooth with a spatula and set in freezer for 1 hour.

Step 6:

While cheesecakes are chilling prepare your strawberry roses. To do this, wash your strawberries, cut off leaves and pat dry. Start by slicing in a petal at the base of the strawberry. Slice 3 petals around the base. The next petals are going to be a little further up the strawberry, use the same concept as before. Just be careful not to cut the petals completely off. Complete the Rose by cutting a third layer of petals toward the point of the strawberry. The last step is to dip the finished rose into sugar to give it a shimmery look.

Place a Rose on the top of each cheesecake. Serve and enjoy!

5 from 1 vote

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Strawberry Rose Cheesecakes

Perfect dessert.

Prep Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Total Time 1 hour 15 minutes

Servings 12 people

Ingredients

• 2 cups graham cracker crumbs
• 1/4 cup sugar + 3 tbsp
• 1/2 cup butter melted
• 8 oz cream cheese softened
• 1 cup heavy whipping cream
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 2/3 cup powdered sugar
• 2 tsp vanilla

Instructions

1. 1.Crush graham crackers. Mix cracker crumbs, sugar, and melted butter until combined. Press 2 tbsp. of mixture into the bottom of cupcake pan. Freeze until firm.

   2.Measure out heavy cream and with an electric mixer mix until cream is at a firm peak. Approximately 3-4 minutes. Transfer whipped cream to another bowl.
   

   3.Mix together cream cheese, vanilla and sour cream. Sift in powdered sugar and mix until combined.

   4.Fold in whipped cream until incorporated.

   5.Add 1/3 c. of cheesecake mixture to each graham cracker crust. Smooth with a spatula and set in freezer for 1 hour.
   

   6.While cheesecakes are chilling prepare your strawberry roses. To do this, wash your strawberries, cut off leaves and pat dry. Start by slicing in a petal at the base of the strawberry. Slice 3 petals around the base. The next petals are going to be a little further up the strawberry, use the same concept as before. Just be careful not to cut the petals completely off. Complete the Rose by cutting a third layer of petals toward the point of the strawberry. The last step is to dip the finished rose into sugar to give it a shimmery look.
   

   7.Place a Rose on the top of each cheesecake. Serve and enjoy!

Nothing is better than a good piece of cheesecake. I served theses personal strawberry rose cheesecakes at a family function not to long ago and by the time I went through the food line they were gone! Cheesecake always seems to be a big hit no matter who your audience is.

These  blissful Canadian Butter Tarts are the hit of the party also. Yum!

Here is another fabulous strawberry cheesecake dessert.

Cracked glass candy is a fun and delicious candy that is easy to make and hard not to taste! You can make this glass candy with any flavor you find in your local craft store and color it to your liking. A few of my favorite flavors are black licorice, cinnamon and butter rum. Add a splash of color to your Christmas desserts this holiday season by adding cracked glass candy to your list of must bake items.

Utensils for Cracked Glass Candy Making:

• Measuring cups
• Candy thermometer
• Parchment paper
• Pot
• Spatula
• Gallon ziplock bag

This candy is excellent for adding some texture and color to your Christmas desserts and also works as an awesome decoration on gingerbread houses! Christmas time is filled with sweets. Add this to your Christmas baking list, you will not be disappointed.

Happy holidays!

Another thing we like to bake around the holidays is , Finnish Pulla.  The warm loaf coming out of the oven is just the thing to add to that holiday feeling. What is your favorite holiday baking tradition?  Please share them in our comments section.

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