My Italian side loves olive oil and pasta, my Trinidadian side loves bananas and rum. So this was perfect for me. I will have to find a dish that combines olive oil, tomatoes, rum, and bananas.
Or maybe not. That sounds gross.
This week was Black and White Marble Loaf, brought to us by Ashlee of A Year in the Kitchen. I was very excited for this one, as I've never made a banana loaf. Can you tell? Yes, you can, don't lie.
Sure, my banana bread looks like poop, but it tastes damn good!
I'll have to work on this marbling technique. Oddly enough, however, the bottom half of my cupcakes were marbled (if you close your left eye and squint with your right eye you can see it, yet the top half was not).
I added some cinnamon struesel on the top of the banana bread to give it some oomph. Too bad my "oomph" sunk into the loaf. It still tasted absolutely delicious and the cinnamon added a great flavor and complimented the hints of nutmeg well. My intentions were to have a coffee cake like crumbling on top, but I'm thinking the slow cooking time was the culprit? Or maybe I was just impatient and did something wrong. I think it was the latter.
My cupcake was fun. One, lonely little cupcake, covered in banana frosting and walnuts. So delicious. One is the lonliest number, but not when it's in my tummy. Then it's just right.
Banana Frosting
Wow, never made a banana loaf?!? I think you did a great job on your first attempt. I like your struesel idea, I wonder why it sunk...hmmm. Your cupcake looks marvelous, I've loving the flowing banana frosting and walnuts, yum!
Posted by: Andrea | August 05, 2008 at 07:45 AM
These look so cute and so good. I love all the little variations you shared with us...the topping, the cupcake size, etc., all very nice and something I will definitely try. Great post...I look forward to yours each week!
Posted by: Kayte | August 05, 2008 at 08:05 AM
my marbling effect wasn't present too. not without a bit of squinting too of course. But great effort on yours and i'm so glad u enjoyed them.
Posted by: Sihan | August 05, 2008 at 08:31 AM
I love the little frosted cupcake! I can see the marbling in your cupcake... its like little chocolate whisps of tastiness in there!
Posted by: katrina | August 05, 2008 at 09:36 AM
Nice job--frosting is an addition that you just gotta love!
Posted by: Bumblebutton | August 05, 2008 at 10:03 AM
Your banana frostening looks fantastic! Good thinking! Also i think that cinnamon struesel sounds very good.....
Posted by: Hannah | August 05, 2008 at 12:18 PM
Ooohhhh I am not a fan of banana bread but make it into a cupcake and now I want it! LOL. PS. I can totally see the marbling, no squinting needed ;)
Clara @ iheartfood4thought
Posted by: CB | August 05, 2008 at 12:47 PM
Love your experiments! Maybe if you added the streusel halfway through the baking time it would have stayed on top. Some of my recipes call for streusel to be added later.
Posted by: Nancy | August 05, 2008 at 03:20 PM
Your cupcake looks so cute with it's frosting...I love cupcakes of course..!! Looks great, fab job.
Posted by: Mara | August 05, 2008 at 03:33 PM
Oh...that frosting on the cupcake! It looks so darned good!
Posted by: Pamela | August 05, 2008 at 09:28 PM
That cupcake looks delicious! Love the streusel idea too.
Posted by: Caitlin | August 05, 2008 at 10:20 PM
LOVE that banana frosting blanketing that cupcake...great job!!!!
Linda
http://www.tendercrumb.blogspot.com/
Posted by: Linda | August 05, 2008 at 11:06 PM
Love the frosting and the streusel ideas! Wish I'd thought of them. ;)
Posted by: Susan at Sticky,Gooey,Creamy,Chewy | August 05, 2008 at 11:41 PM
You're making my mouthwater with that banana frosting. Oh YUM!
Posted by: Erin | August 06, 2008 at 12:52 AM
Your post is so cute, I love how you write! The little frosted cupcake is adorable!
Posted by: HoneyB | August 06, 2008 at 06:33 AM
Cupcakes! What a good idea. I will have to try that next time I make this recipe.
Posted by: Sarah | August 06, 2008 at 09:52 AM
oh yum on the cupcake. banana frosting sounds SO Great!!
Posted by: Susan | August 06, 2008 at 11:46 AM
The cinnamon streusel looks delicious. Great idea making a cupcake - yum!
Posted by: Melissa | August 06, 2008 at 01:24 PM
OMGosh..your pictures are absolutely scrumptious looking. Can you send me a slice of that delectable loaf with banana frosting..yum!!
Posted by: Michelle | August 06, 2008 at 03:12 PM
Banana frosting! Yum! I have to try that next time. I think you did fine with the marbling. I love that you made one cupcake - perfect portion control! I have no ability to be so careful, myself.
Posted by: kittymama | August 06, 2008 at 07:36 PM