First Post, Again. :)

Hey Everyone...
Sorry for this being my first post, again. 

Blogger went down the day after I first posted... and as frustrated as I was it took me this long to sit down and start this thing all over.

Better late than never, right?

Or was it, Better late than never, but never late is better? ;)

 It's 8:22p.m. right now here in Kona, and I'm eating a piece of my banana bread (stay tuned for details.) with an already filled to the brim stomach.

I really shouldn't be eating this, but what the hell... It's quite delicious.

Tonight for dinner I went downtown and had dinner with a friend... 

Besides the man standing in the worst place possible, the sunset was a very nice view to have while eating chicken pad thai and yellow curry chicken. :)

Life sure is rough, you know? hahaha. 

I created this recipe by using this as my guide lines.. 

It's the Food Network Magazine, May 2011.

This is such a cool article.. These are probably my most favorite part each month. :)

You need to buy it, and keep it on hand.. So quick and easy...

I recommend getting all of your ingredients measured out before you start mixing things together. 

This is called "mise en place" French for "everything in it's place".

For many reasons...

1. To be sure you have all of the ingredients.
2. If something is still on the counter, you know you forgot it.

I'm known for forgetting eggs, I don't know why... I just always forget to put them in. My bad.

This was my baking partner, Jackson. :)

Ashley's LOADED Banana Bread

Preheat oven to 375*F

2 ripe bananas, mashed

2 eggs

1/2 cup vegetable oil

1 container yogurt (I used Yoplait Boston Cream Pie Since that was all I had)

(If you haven't had this flavor, you should buy it. IT'S SO DARN GOOD!!!)

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 cup all-purpose flour

1/2 cup sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon clove

1/8 teaspoon ground ginger 

1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup peanut butter chips

1/3 cup sweetened shredded coconut

1/3 cup chopped nuts, toasted (I used hazelnuts)

1/3 cup dried mango, chopped

1. Mix together banana,  eggs, vegetable oil, and yogurt. Set aside.
2.  In a medium sized bowl mix together flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, baking soda, and spices.
3. Add chocolate/peanut butter chips, coconut, nuts, and dried mango.
4. Add banana mixture to dry ingredients, and mix until just combined.

Grease your loaf pan.

(I got my glass ANCHOR brand at Ross for $3.99! What a deal, right?)

Pour batter into pan.

Bake in preheated oven for 55 - 1 hour 10 minutes 

Or until middle springs back lightly to the touch...

I added a vanilla bean glaze on mine, but I would have preferred it without...

It was a waste of a good vanilla bean. :(

 This bad boy is sooooo good. It's so moist... 

YOU NEED TO MAKE THIS.

Enjoy folks, my alarm will be ringing at 3 am... and it's just around the corner.

SWEET DREAMS..

Ashley:)