I could never get tired of showing you The Grit's Black Bean Chili, because it is the one food I think I could never, ever get tired of eating. Whether you stick it in a burrito, on top of a tofu scramble, or serve it with baked blue corn tortilla chips (and maybe a dollop of vegan sour cream), it is a healthy, filling bowl of tastiness every time. The only modification to the recipe that I suggest is using quinoa in place of bulgur... but really, either way it's fantastic.
Now, we keep a lot of bananas on hand during the summer, because each of us probably consumes about five smoothies per week. But when the weather cools off and the icy cold smoothie is not on the top of our list of culinary desires, those bananas sit around longer and longer, getting riper and riper, until you have to use them or lose them. That's what this cake sprung out of--shopping in summer mode but eating in fall mode. I froze about ten bananas yesterday and still had six left--so flipping through Kris's book I spied a recipe for banana cake, and got to work.
Per Kris's suggestion, I made a batch of her Peanut Butter Frosting to finish. Frosting and sliced bananas make up the middle layer. Also per Kris's suggestion, I made a batch of chocolate sauce to serve alongside this already rich confection.
Bob's slice. He was so impatient for this because he could smell it baking, and could hardly stand to wait for it to cool before diving in. Several delightful grunts and one clean plate later, he thanked me profusely for getting it in my head to bake this cake. The cake is sweet and moist, and the peanut butter with the (better than) cream cheese make for a rich, heavy frosting. I cut back significantly on the sugar in the frosting because the cake was sweet enough. And the cake with the icing is certainly rich enough without adding the chocolate sauce... but if you can handle a rich dessert, then go ahead and add the chocolate--it complements the cake so well!
With that, I wish you a fabulous end of the week! And I appreciate all of your comments, as always. Peace!
19 comments:
Laura, this cake looks so fantastic! Thinking of the banana, pb, & choc combo makes my mouth literally water. and, you know what? I can handle a rich dessert! :)
whoa!
that cake looks like serious business!!!
YUM
:)
oh my goodness that banana cake with the pb frosting??? divine!! and I LOVE the black bean chili that you made as well :0)
That cake sounds YUMMY! And I have to admit that the Grit's black bean chili was one of my favorites too!
im drooling i must do that cake soon!
oh boy....i seriously need to move out of the country so that i can crack open Kris' book more often and not have to worry about devouring the yumminess alone! ;)
your cake looks divine!
Oh my goodnes, that cake looks divine, I have been reading your blog for sometime now and this is the first time I have posted all because of that cake, I have to go buy bananas now and ripen them so I can make it.
Thanks!
You found a great way to use up the bananas, Laura - that cake looks and sounds fantastic! I have Kris' book, and now I'm pretty sure I need The Grit cookbook too.
The Grit is just so faithful to you. And blue chips pair with it perfectly.
Wow that cake looks divine!
That cake looks right up my alley--but you know I have a sweet tooth ;)
That cake looks beyond decadent!! I would have grunted happily if you'd served that to me, too! Like you, I always have ripe bananas needing to be used up- why have I never noticed this recipe in the book before?
Uhm.. so it's looking like I should get both of these books then? I've been thinking of making chili lately but I just never got around to it.
That chocolate-peanut-butter-covered slice of banana cake.. looks.. amazing. I am jealous.
What a cake! It looks so yum!
That cake looks so good! Really rich and decandent.
I just pulled my copy of the Grit cookbook off the shelf. I'm helping my sister-in-law with a function this weekend and I'm going to use one of the recipes from the cookbook. So far, everything I've made from it has been fantastic. I also love Kris' book == it's great too!
Have a great week.
i haven't had chili in years! i'd love to try that out now that it's getting chilly here... (70F)
I'm a lover of chili as well. It's so versatile. That cake looks killer. Of course you should add the chocolate sauce, silly girl! :o)
That cake looks so good! And the chili too...mmm!
Thanks for posting your pics, I'm glad that you liked the cake! It's one of my all time favs.
The sugar in the icing is more to make it stiffer for icing, but you are right, it doesn't need it to be tasty and rich. I haven't made this one in awhile, but I think I'll have to soon...
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