Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars with Cream Cheese Glaze

Bananas are among our favorite fruits so we always have them at our house. I usually buy a dozen per week and most of the time, we are out of it in just 3 days. But there are times when we end up with a bunch of brown spotted bananas. Not wanting them to go to waste, I usually turn those overripe bananas into banana bread, banana cream pie shake and sometimes into banana chocolate cake, banana trifle or banana bars like these... 

They look pretty, don't they? Well, these Banana Caramel Chocolate Chip Bars aren't just pretty...they're also delicious and very easy to make! It's a cross between a chocolate chip cookie and banana bread with the added goodness of caramel. I'm sure you'll love them! And with the added Cream Cheese Glaze the banana bars will even be more wonderful!

The next time you have a bunch of overripe bananas in your fruit bowl, don't throw them and try this recipe instead! Overripe bananas may not be the best for eating out of hand, but when it comes to these baked treats, they couldn't be better! 

Sugar Crusted Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins

It was my eldest daughter's 11th birthday last April 9, and she requested that I make these Sugar Crusted Buttermilk Chocolate Chip Muffins which she really loves! Of course, I granted her request...

I baked a dozen thinking that it would be enough 'coz she only invited four of her close friends. But just a few minutes after I took them out of the oven, the hubs ate a piece, and then another. And when Clarise and Cherlin got home from school, both of them ate two pieces each for snack...and then Ryan ate another one. So, there were only 5 pieces left and the party hasn't even started yet. I didn't have time to make another batch so Clarise suggested that we just keep the remaining ones instead of serving them to her friends. Please, don't think that my daughter was being selfish...she just loves them so much! You know, these muffins are really good...so you just can't help coming back for more. I found the recipe for this over a year ago at Simply Scratch and I've been making it often since then. The sugary, crispy crust and the soft chocolatey  texture inside made my whole family fall in love with these muffins! Too bad, Clarise's friends didn't get the chance to try them! Oh well, I also baked a chocolate chip cookie cake and regular size cookies per Clarise's request, so I guess that's more than enough chocolate chip treats for her friends! Besides, I noticed they weren't really concerned about the food. I think being able to spend time with each other chatting, playing and singing was all they really cared about. 

Chocolate Chip Cookie Cake for My Princess Cherlin

Today is my youngest daughter's 7th birthday...a day she has been anticipating since the start of 2012. Just like any other typical girl her age, she has been very excited and busy planning about it for months now --- from the food she wants to eat for breakfast, lunch and dinner and the treats she wants to bring to school for her classmates, down to how she wants her birthday party to be. As her mom, it's (of course) my job to make it all happen. :) Oh well, I'm glad that her wishes aren't out of this world! They are actually simple and attainable. She said all she wants is a Nintendo 3DS or an mp3 player...a cookie cake, and a princess themed party where she can invite her friends. She also requested that I prepare fried rice with sausage and egg for breakfast and pancit canton and egg rolls for dinner. For lunch, she asked that her dad and I bring her McDonald's Chicken Nuggets and french fries in school. 

Well, Mommy Tina got everything covered! :) Yesterday, while she was in school, I made her a chocolate chip cookie cake. This morning, she was so thrilled to see it and her birthday gift when she woke up. The breakfast I prepared for her also gave her so much delight. Can you see her big smile??? I know she seems more happier with the DS, but she told me she loved everything and I believe her. :)

During lunch, Ryan and I went to school to eat with Cherlin. She was really happy to have both of us there. It's usually just me so it's a big deal to have daddy this time. For dinner, we'll be having her requested pancit canton and egg rolls. That's pretty much her birthday celebration today...but on Saturday, she'll have her princess party, which she's really looking forward to! I made the personalized invitations and I was able to send them out last week...