Small Celebrations

Friday was our last day with kiddos. Another school year has come to a close. The big misconception in teaching is that the last day of school equates freedom for teachers. Not quite. We have a few more days of grading, entering report cards, packing, cleaning, moving, and generally closing up shop. Both Justin and I worked hard this weekend and deserve a little celebration. The light is getting bigger and bigger at the end of the tunnel.

As I have mentioned before, I am not much of a baker, nor do I really like bananas. I also can't stand the sight of food going to waste. So when 4 large bananas were getting darker and darker on the counter I had put both my fear of baking and bananas aside. I wanted more of a cake than a bread and after reading a few recipes came up with this cake. It is incredibly moist and tender. It is a great cake to kick off the summer months!

Chocolate Banana Bunt Cake
4 large really ripe bananas
juice of one lemon
3/4 cup softened butter
2 cups white sugar
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 eggs
3 cups pastry or all purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup dark chocolate chunks or chips
1 cup milk

Heat oven to 275 degrees. (The low temp makes the cake extra tender.. supposedly)

1. In a medium bowl smoosh bananas and the juice of the lemon. Set aside.
2. In a stand mixer, cream butter and sugar until pale. Add eggs one at a time until mixed. Then add vanilla. Add bananas and beat until mixed.
3. In a small bowl, or in a mixing cup, mix flour, baking soda chocolate and salt.
4. Alternate adding flour mixture and milk until all in combined into the batter.
5. Pour into a greased bunt pan (or whatever you choose). It took an hour and 20 minutes for the cake to bake. It will probably take less time in a different pan. When the top is lightly browned and a knife inserted come out clean.
6. Cool by hanging upside-down off of a bottle.

Edited to add: While I finishing this up to post a young bird flew into the house! We secured the pug, opened all the doors, and after a short tour of upstairs and some waving of a bedsheet he made it safely back outside. Phew!