Lovin' From the Oven

Banana Bars with Cream Cheese Frosting & a Giveaway

by 91 Comments

DSC_2366

DSC_2350

DSC_2357

DSC_2358

Festive plate, don’t you think? I was actually busily snapping away when my mom came up to me, very excitedly may I add, going on about plates. Huh? I had no idea what she was talking about. She went to cupboard and pulled out these rooster plates. Apparently, she bought them just for me for the sole reason of taking blog pictures. Hahaha– My mom’s the best! And apparently a rooster lover? Who knew?

DSC_2376

DSC_2362

Thank you so much for your kind comments and support about my previous post! It’s overwhelming— in a “I can’t believe it, I love you guys!” kind of way. Not only that, but we’ve also just hit 1,000 fans on the Lovin’ From the Oven Facebook page! wahooo!

One of my wonderful followers, Ashley, suggested on the FB page that we celebrate by giving everyone free baked goods by yours truly. As much as I would LOVE to do that if I could, there’s just no way I could do that physically or financially.
Then I got to thinking… well, although I can’t bake for everyone, why not three lucky winners, instead? Perfect!
So here it is, another giveaway to celebrate all the goodness that’s been going on. Just leave a comment on this post with your favorite baby name (boy or girl) and an email for me to reach you by 11:59 PM Pacific Time, Friday, October 15th, 2010. This giveaway is only for US residents since mailing cookies overseas isn’t the greatest idea. The winners will be picked via random.org.
You might be wondering why a baby name? Well, my DB’s sister just had her first boy earlier this week (after having two girls), so I’m in a baby mood! They’re just the sweetest little things.
IMG_0679

These bars are unbelievably moist and a hit at work. To me, they were a bit on the sweet side so I’d adjust the sugar next time I make them. The bars would have tasted fine without the frosting, but cream cheese frosting is my weakness. These bars are adapted from Betty Crocker.

  • 4 mashed very ripe bananas
  • 1 cup sugar
  • 1/3 cup vegetable oil
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 cup all purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1 teaspoon cinnamon
  • pinch of salt
  1. Preheat oven to 350 and lightly grease a 9″ x 13″ pan.
  2. Mash the bananas and then mix in the sugar, oil, and eggs.
  3. Stir in the flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt.
  4. Pour into the pan and bake, uncovered, about 25 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
  5. While the bars are cooling, make the frosting.
  • 5 oz cream cheese, at room temp
  • 1/4 cup butter, softened
  • 1/2 tsp of vanilla
  • 2 3/4 cups powdered sugar
  1. Cream the cream cheese and butter together.
  2. Mix in the vanilla and powdered sugar (slowly).
  3. Spread on cooled bars.

I’ve been published! Foodies of the World!

by 21 Comments

DSC_2475

Does this book look familiar? Probably not. It was just released on October 1st, 2010 in Australia, so I doubt anyone’s even heard of it in the states. So what’s the big deal? Well, this book has just turned me into a published baker!

DSC_2493

I can’t even begin to tell you how excited I was to receive this in the mail! I was like a little kid ripping wrapping off of a Christmas present. I held the book it my hand, just staring at it for a couple minutes before I flipped vigorously through the pages. And there it was.. There I am! I can’t believe it.

DSC_2481

Yes, I did choose my picture. And yes, I did choose a churro picture because, hey, I think that best describes me— a little wacky & a little too in love with a fried dessert. Besides, what’s the fun in having a normal picture? But wait! That’s not all…
DSC_2488

I have two pages in this book (well, technically 4)! 🙂 So don’t get your hopes up thinking that the whole book is mine. It’s actually a compilation of about 50 bloggers around the world who each contributed two magnificent recipes of their own.
DSC_2496

But it truly is a beautiful thing. I want to thank each and every one of my readers and followers for being so supportive for the past three years! You guys really do bring so much joy into my life, whether you know it or not. I get so excited reading every comment, every email, every critique. This is, hopefully, just a stepping stone into my future.
If you want to purchase the book for yourself, you can do so by clicking here! Thanks again! Eeeeeekkk!

Banana Bread with Walnut Streusel

by 10 Comments






I just got back from Vegas, yet again, from a girls’ trip! This time, there was a lot more relaxing and plenty of shopping. We had no set schedule and rented a car so we didn’t have to walk five miles a day. The whole trip was a lot of fun, being able to hang out with my mom, her favorite sister, and my favorite cousin! My cousin and I were basically looking into a time capsule as we watched our moms interact. It was going to be us thirty years later.. and we couldn’t love it any more! I would be thrilled to even be half the woman my mom is.

Oh, this is my 200th post! HOORAY! Thank you to everyone for following along and pushing me through everything. I wouldn’t be here without you guys! I have a story to share with you all for my 200th post:

I went to Vegas with hopes of buying the Speedy 30 with strap monogram idylle limited edition in fusain (since I saw it two weeks ago) as a birthday present to myself, only to find out that it was sold out in ALL of Vegas! I was SO disappointed. I told my dearest boyfriend my story and asked him to make my day better. What did he do? He sent me this picture:


With the caption “It’s Bo!” (Bo is our dog, for reference). Of course, on my little phone screen, I had to squint to see what was next to Bo. I just about had a heart attack.. “Is that a Louis Vuitton bag I see?! He couldn’t have.. could he? He did?! What the heck is in the bag?! When did he get this?!” I had to show my mom to see if she saw the same thing I did. Yup, it was confirmed.. there’s a definitely a Louis bag in the picture. The more I asked him about it, the more he kept saying how I was crazy and how he had no idea what I was talking about.

I was seriously dying for the next 24 hours, waiting for my plane ride home. When I finally did come home, I had an hour left of my birthday and spent it with my boyfriend. That’s when he gave me this not so little brown bag. I sat myself down on his stairs and just held it. You guys might call be crazy, but I may or may not have cried a little bit from happiness. I untied the ribbon, pulled off the tape, and opened the box. What did I find? This!

The Monogram Speedy 30!!! I still cannot believe this just happened. This. Just. Happened. Apparently he went shopping by himself to the Louis store on Rodeo, only to see that they were sold out of all their Speedys. If you know him, you’d know that this was well out of his comfort zone. Since they didn’t have it at the store on Rodeo, he went to another store and picked up the last Speedy 30 they had there. He wanted to get me the Damier Azur Canvas one (He knew that that was the print I sold my old Speedy to buy), but since they were sold out, he took this one so he had something to give me in time for my bday. My bf told me I could exchange it for the Damier one if I wanted, it’d just take two weeks for me to get it. But of course, how could I give up something that my boyfriend picked up himself for me? I don’t have the heart to exchange it— I love it SO much.
So basically, I’ve just been dying in heaven ever since and in shock of how lucky I am to have such an amazing boyfriend. Seriously. Oh, and apparently there’s a Speedy shortage on all of the West coast, if you were curious. They sold all of their winter supply already and won’t be getting more til Christmas.
Well, that’s my little story. Sorry if I bored you, I just had to share! This beautiful bread is adapted from My Man’s Belly. Haha I just laughed out loud reading that sentence. Nothing comes from my man’s belly, everything just goes in it. So maybe it’s a little too late and I’m cracking myself up; it happens sometimes. Somehow, I have a list of three banana breads I turn to, and this one is one of them! Simplicity at its finest. No chocolate, no add-ins, just bread. I even made it three times in one week once; it’s that good!

Banana Bread Recipe

  • 2 2/3 Cups All Purpose Flour
  • 1 Teaspoon Salt
  • 1 Teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1/2 Teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 12 Tablespoons (1 and a half sticks) Unsalted Butter
  • 2/3 Cup Sugar
  • 2/3 Cup Honey
  • 3 Teaspoons Vanilla Extract
  • 4 Large Eggs
  • 2 Cup Bananas – Mashed (6 bananas)

Streusel Recipe

  • 1/2 Cup All purpose Flour
  • 1/2 Cup Chopped Walnuts
  • 1/2 Cup Brown Sugar (packed)
  • 3 Tablespoons Unsalted Butter

Banana Bread Recipe

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Farenheit.
  2. Butter and flour two 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 loaf pans.
  3. In a medium bowl, blend together the first four ingredients.
  4. In a large bowl, beat on high speed, the butter; sugar; vanilla; and honey. Beat for 2 – 3 minutes or until light yellow in color and lighter in texture.
  5. Add the dry ingredients to the wet ingredients. Add the dry ingredients in thirds. Blend until combined (the texture will be grainy, like sand).
  6. Slowly add in the eggs and beat to combine.
  7. Fold in the bananas.
  8. Once thoroughly combined, pour into the buttered and floured loaf pans. Spread the batter evenly.

Streusel Recipe

  1. In a small bowl, add all ingredients.
  2. Blend with the back of a fork until a coarse crumb forms.
  3. Sprinkle the streusel topping on top of the banana bread.
  4. Bake for 50 – 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.
  5. Let cool for 10 – 15 minutes before removing from the pan to further cool.

Ask me anything on Formspring

Categories