Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins

I realized I haven't baked anything in awhile and I had to use up a couple of very ripe bananas.  I came across a Banana-Walnut Muffins recipe from Rachel Ray's magazine.  Here is the official recipe since I did change it up with what I had.  Overall the muffins were good, moist and I even like the walnuts in it.  I don't typically add nuts to many baked goods but the walnuts were good in these muffins.  I added in the chocolate chips because any baked banana goodies I make has to have chocolate of course.   I brought these banana walnut chocolate chip muffins to work to share with my lucky coworkers.  Enjoy! 

Banana Walnut Chocolate Chip Muffins

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

¾ cup sugar

1 ½ teaspoons cinnamon

1 1/3 cups whole wheat flour (or use all-purpose flour)

2 teaspoons baking powder

½ teaspoon salt

½ cup walnuts, chopped

½ cup chocolate chips

1 cup mashed banana (2 ripe bananas)

1 cup plain greek yogurt

1 egg

4 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted

Directions

Preheat oven to 375 degrees F.  Line a muffin pan with baking liners.

In a small bowl, mix ¼ cup sugar with 1 teaspoon cinnamon.  Set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together flour, remaining ½ cup sugar, baking powder, salt, remaining ½ teaspoon cinnamon, walnuts and chocolate chips.

In a small bowl, combine banana, yogurt, and egg.  Stir in melted butter.

Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until combined.

Fill each lined muffin cup with batter.  Sprinkle with the cinnamon-sugar mixture on top.

Bake for 18 to 20 minutes.  It is done when a toothpick inserted into the center comes out dry.

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

I had the best Mediterranean Chicken Salad at Restaurant Mez (one of my previous birthday eats).  I knew I could recreate this salad at home and I did it!  I literally have been making and eating this salad daily.  To make things easier, I prep all the ingredients ahead of time (like the grilled chicken).  This has been the perfect salad for all the warm weather we've been getting in DC because I haven't felt like cooking any hot meals for dinner lately.  This is not only a beautiful salad, its absolutely delicious and healthy.  I love the red wine vinaigrette with this salad especially since that is how they serve it at Restaurant Mez.  Enjoy!

Mediterranean Chicken Salad

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 bag of salad mix  (I used romaine or spring mix.)

2 chicken breasts, grilled and sliced into bite-site pieces

¼ cup kalamata olives, pitted and halved

¼ cup fresh mozzarella cheese, bocconcini (small balls)

½ pint grape tomatoes, halved

1 seedless cucumber, sliced and quartered

1 apple, diced (I used a fuji apple.)

Red wine vinaigrette (or your favorite salad dressing)

½ cup whole wheat croutons (optional)

Directions

Combine ingredients in a bowl.

Toss salad with red wine vinaigrette (or your favorite salad dressing).

Serves 4.

Easy Indoor Grilled Chicken

I admit that I am afraid to use the propane grill that my building has for everyone to use.  My solution is this Calphalon Unison Nonstick 12-Inch Round Grill Pan, which I received as a Christmas gift this year.  I love it!  It makes cooking this Easy Indoor Grilled Chicken actually easy!  Haha!  If only I was paid to endorse this pan but unfortunately that is not the case.  I have been making this chicken ahead of time so I can have it ready for salads, specifically a Mediterranean chicken salad (next recipe to be posted) that I've been eating almost daily for meals now.  If you love to grill outdoors, that will give a nice char to the chicken.  Enjoy!

Easy Indoor Grilled Chicken

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

Chicken breasts

Olive oil

Salt and pepper

Directions

Drizzle a little olive oil on each chicken breast to lightly coat. 

Season each chicken breast with salt and pepper.

Heat a nonstick grill pan over medium-high heat.

Grill chicken for 4 minutes on each side or until cooked through.

Allow chicken to rest for about 5 to 10 minutes before slicing.  This will prevent the chicken from drying out. 

Note:  If making ahead of time, refrigerate and store in covered container for up to 3 days.  I usually cook and cube the chicken and store for salads during the week.

Red Wine Vinaigrette

The weather in DC has been beautiful all week and I've been walking the dogs for 2 miles every day after work.  I do have to admit my AC wasn't turned on the last few days (its a main switch in my building) and it was super hot in my apartment so I've been MIA.  Luckily it got turned on this morning and I can finally be comfortable again.  I have to share this Red Wine Vinaigrette, it is my new favorite salad dressing!  It is best to use a really good extra-virgin olive oil, not the cheap stuff.  I usually have at least 2 different olive oils; a cheaper one for cooking and a good one for salad dressings or dips.  That is a little tip for a great salad dressing in case you were wondering.  Not only is this red wine vinaigrette super easy to make, you don't even have to stir it.  I put all the ingredients in a glass jar and shake it up to mix - don't forget the lid before shaking haha!  I love this dressing with my other new favorite salad, a Mediterranean chicken salad (pictured below and recipe to be posted soon too).  Enjoy!

Red Wine Vinaigrette

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

¼ cup red wine vinegar

1 teaspoon Dijon mustard

1 garlic clove, minced

2/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil

¼ teaspoon salt

¼ teaspoon ground black pepper

Directions

In a small bowl, whisk together all ingredients.

You may also place all ingredients in a glass jar with a screw-on lid.  Tighten lid and shake it up before serving.

Store in refrigerator for up to 3 days if not serving immediately. 

Baked Avocado Eggs

 

I have seen eggs baked in avocados featured in so many food blogs and I finally tried it.  I made these Baked Avocado Eggs just last month for St. Patrick's Day breakfast so I am way behind on this post.  It is super easy and definitely better than I expected.  The avocado is creamy and the egg is silky, but the melted cheese on top is crispy, giving a slight bite.  I used a shredded swiss cheese but you can use whatever you have at home.  Top with a few dashes of your favorite hot sauce and these Baked Avocado Eggs were perfectly delicious.  So overall a great, simple dish and you can serve this at a brunch and pretend to be fancy haha.  Sorry I'm way behind on blog posts these days, but I'm trying to keep up, enjoy!

Baked Avocado Eggs

Printable Recipe

Ingredients

1 avocado

1 egg

shredded cheese

salt and pepper

Directions

Preheat oven to 425 degrees F.  (I used my toaster oven.)

Crack egg in a small bowl and whisk.

Slice avocado in half and take out the pit.

Place avocado halves on baking pan.   Pour eggs in each avocado half.

Top with shredded cheese.  Season with salt and pepper.

Bake for about 15 minutes.

Note:  You can place an egg in each avocado half if you scoop out some of the flesh of the avocado so the egg won’t overflow.  I just split an egg instead.

Birthday Eats!

It was my birthday on Friday and I've been celebrating all weekend!  It has been great.  I feel so lucky to have such great family and friends, thank you for making my birthday feel so special.  Here is a recap of my weekend - I had so much fun!  If you have been following me on my instagram or facebook page, you might see repeat foodie pictures, but doesn't it all look delicious? 

My work BFF planned lunch with my coworkers at Buffalo Wild Wings (BWW) - http://www.buffalowildwings.com

I had the boneless wings with mild sauce, fries and blue cheese dressing.  I'm not a fan of anything super spicy so the mild sauce was perfect for me.  Also I am particular about my french fries and I was surprised at how good they were at BWW -  I love thin cut french fries so these were good!  I also got a free slice of chocolate cake for my birthday :)

  

Monuments by Moonlight Cruise in Georgetown by DC Cruises - http://www.dc-cruises.com/index.php

My BFF Cindy planned the night and we went on a fun cruise departing from the Georgetown waterfront and it was beautiful.  We missed out on the cherry blossoms since they were originally going to be at the peak during my birthday but was pushed back.  The DC weather has been crazy lately and March was cooler than usual this year.   We went at a great time thought and saw the sunset and the lighted monuments.  It was absolutely beautiful!

We had dinner at Sequoia - http://www.arkrestaurants.com/sequoia_dc.html

I got the Seafood Cioppino – scallops, mussels, shrimp, clams, fin fish & lobster, potato & corn on the cob, cassava, tomato, fennel & orange broth.  It was absolutely delicious! 

The waiter brought me a birthday dessert - chocolate cake and chocolate ice cream!  My second of the day haha!

On Saturday, my brother and sister-in-law took me to lunch at Al Dente - http://aldentedc.com

We are foodies as a family and we like to share, and wait till you check out everything we ordered!  Of course we shared everything, lucky me :)

Cold Antipasti - Imported Burrata Cheese with Prosciutto di Parma and Chestnut Honey.  This may have been one of my favorites!  It was delicious with the house bread they offered us.

Pappardelle with Braised Oxtail Ragu - this was my dish.  I am a fan of house made pasta at Italian restaurants and I will usually pick pappardelle or tagliatelle if available.

Squid Ink Fettuccine with Fresh Water Head-on Peeled Shrimp and Tomato Sauce - this was my sister-in-law's entree and the shrimp was so fresh!

Roasted Loin of Monkfish with Pancetta over Black Ink Farro and Braised Creamed Onions - this was my brother's pick and it was overall a great dish.  I really enjoyed the black ink farro too.

  

Pizza - Margherita D.O.C.  Sorry I didn't get a picture of this but it was really good - Al Dente has a beautiful wood burning pizza oven right in the middle of the restaurant.  I am regretting not taking a picture of the pizza and the oven :( 

Ready for the desserts?

Hemisphere Tiramisu Hot Chocolate Sauce and Caramelized Hazelnuts - you can't go wrong with tiramisu.

Salame di Cioccolato Thin Slices of Chocolate - Terrine Style, served with Cold Zabalione Sauce. This was the dessert recommended by our waiter and it was surprisingly good.  My brother actually thought we were going to get chocolate covered salami meat!  LOL  That was not the case because it was chocolate with cookie pieces.  The Zabalione sauce, an alcohol infused custard, was delicious!

House Made Gelati – Pistachio, it was very much pistachio flavored, not too sweet either.

Espresso (reminds me of Italy)

I had a birthday dinner with my mom at Muay Thai Sports Eatery (formerly known as Amina Thai).  This is a local favorite restaurant near my parents which recently changed names and the entire style of the restaurant became even more informal.  I don't know if I like the change, I prefer the old Amina Thai.  We started off with thai iced teas and got the following to share:

Pad Thai - chicken with thin rice noodles, stir fried with fresh bean sprouts, red bean curd, scallions, eggs, topped with crushed peanuts and fresh bean sprouts.  I used to always get the shrimp pad thai but they didn't offer it on the menu since the restaurant has changed.

Pad See Ew - chicken stir-fried with fresh wide rice noodles, eggs, and broccoli in Thai sweet soy sauce.

Fried Banana - banana wrapped in rice paper, deep-fried, topped with honey or chocolate syrup.   It reminds me of a spring roll but with bananas haha.  They served us this dessert on the house too :)

I went out to a birthday brunch on Sunday with my other BFF Sarah and her family and another friend.   We went to Chef Geoff’s - http://www.chefgeoff.com/menu/chef-geoffs

Eggs Chesapeake - three poached eggs, jumbo lump crabcakes, buttermilk biscuit, country ham hash, and hollandaise.  I have no complaints with this meal at all, absolutely delicious! 

I had my last belated birthday work lunch on Monday with my boss since she was out of the office on my actual birthday. 

 

We went to Restaurant Mez – http://www.allmenus.com/va/arlington/267512-restaurant-mez---marriott-crystal-gateway/menu/lunch/

Mediterranean Chicken Salad - organic grown vegetables, greens, whole wheat croutons, fresh mozzarella cheese, with red wine vinaigrette.  This is the only thing I've ever had at Restaurant Mez ever since a coworker recommended it.  My goal is to recreate this salad soon; I already wrote down everything I ate that was in the salad so look out for the recipe soon!  The waitress also brought out a 7-layer chocolate cake for dessert with a candle but I forgot to take a picture.

 

I can finally say my birthday is officially over until next year...back to healthy eating and no more desserts...for awhile haha!  Thank you to all the wonderful people in my life!