I recently took a trip to Costa Rica, and now I'm going through withdrawals from not having my daily fresh juice and pinto gallo. The fruit in Costa Rica is amazing and so fresh and delicious. My host's yard was full of mango trees, papaya trees and various other tropical fruits. Picking and eating a fresh mango in the sun gives you a feeling of complete happiness. Especially when that said-mango is the best mango you've ever eaten in your life.
I couldn't get the buttery banana pancake smell out of my nose, even after getting back home, ten hours later. If only I could have brought back bananas into the United States from Costa Rica. Luckily, there were a few ripe ones on the counter that needed to be used up. I made one giant banana pancake for myself, then I baked a batch of banana chocolate chip pecan muffins for everyone else in the house.
These were perfect; big, bountiful, fluffy banana muffins loaded with dark chocolate chips and toasted pecans. Next on my list of things to make: peach tres leches cake and arroz con leche.
Feel free to follow along with my other Costa Rican eats on my Instagram.
Banana Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins
2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 large ripe banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 6 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper liners.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, brown sugar, banana and vanilla until creamy. Beat in egg yolks until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with milk until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans until just combined. Sprinkle with a dash of raw sugar or coarse sea salt, if desired.
Divide batter into cups. Bake 35-40 minutes or until well risen, golden brown and a toothpick inserted into muffin cups out with moist crumbs attached. Cool on a wire rack.
Makes 6 big muffins
My favorite were the Alphonso mangoes - smaller with more flavor. The papayas were good, too; we made milkshakes with them for dessert one night. Apparently papayas are great for digestion and help keep you regular. The more you know!
My host in Costa Rica was an incredible cook and everything she made was delicious, whether it was arroz con pollo or her peach tres leches cake. One morning she made banana pancakes with a hearty dash of ground cinnamon. I can't describe how good it smelled cooking, with the warm breeze flowing through the open kitchen, sipping on a cup of cafe con leche.
These were perfect; big, bountiful, fluffy banana muffins loaded with dark chocolate chips and toasted pecans. Next on my list of things to make: peach tres leches cake and arroz con leche.
Feel free to follow along with my other Costa Rican eats on my Instagram.
Banana Chocolate Chip Pecan Muffins
2 cup all purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 large ripe banana
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
3 large egg yolks
1/4 cup milk
1/3 cup chocolate chips
1/3 cup chopped toasted pecans
Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray a 6 cup muffin tin with cooking spray or line with paper liners.
In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. In a large mixing bowl, using a mixer on medium speed, beat together butter, brown sugar, banana and vanilla until creamy. Beat in egg yolks until well combined. Reduce mixer speed to low and beat in flour mixture, alternating with milk until just combined. Stir in chocolate chips and pecans until just combined. Sprinkle with a dash of raw sugar or coarse sea salt, if desired.
Divide batter into cups. Bake 35-40 minutes or until well risen, golden brown and a toothpick inserted into muffin cups out with moist crumbs attached. Cool on a wire rack.
Makes 6 big muffins
It sounds like it was an awesome trip. It's funny...really good friends were in Costa Rica at exactly the same time as you were. All of your pictures were great! ������
ReplyDeleteThat is funny! I had a friend that left the same day that we flew in. :)
DeleteNothing compares to fresh fruit right off the tree or bush! What we get in the stores is just a pale imitation. I think the coffee tastes better too but that may just be in my head.
ReplyDeleteIt's too bad there are restrictions on bringing fruit home - I know there's very good reasons for it but imagine coming home with a half dozen mangoes that were on the tree that morning!!
Indeed, Linda! I brought back a bag of coffee and it's out of the world. Some of the best coffee I've ever had. That would be amazing!
DeleteYummmmm
ReplyDelete:) :) :)
DeleteThese look delicious, and your trip to Costa Rica sounds like a dream! It reminds me of my trip to Australia, we had banana pancakes at the surf shop where Jack Johnson apparently wrote that song... they were so yummy!
ReplyDeleteWow that's awesome! I bet they were. I'd love to visit Australia sometime.
DeleteDrooling over the thought of peach tres leches cake!
ReplyDeleteIf only peaches were in season here!
DeleteSoon, hopefully!
DeleteBanana chocolate chip are the best muffins! Costa Rica is also awesome. The food I had there 3 years ago was unbelievable - although I never had any mangoes. I had the best arroz con pollo there. I also loved having the gallo pinto with eggs for breakfast.
ReplyDeleteI agree! I wish I could have eaten more while I was there. Mmm pinto gallo!
Delete