On the subject of cooking with my kids… P is home “sick” today. He woke up achy and bedraggled.  Personally I think he’s just having trouble dragging his little butt to school, but he does feel a bit warm  so, what the heck, he’s home.  So this post is written by my 9-year old son…

I was bored so I asked my mom if we could make banana bread and she said sure. I like making banana bread because I get to taste it after we add each ingredient and it always tastes good.  And I like to use the mixer.  I get to open eggs which is fun.  I also get to lick the bowl and the mixer tools.  I like to cook.  When I added the sweet potato to the batter is was a bit hard because it was a bit frozen but I put it in and it smelled good.

In kindergarten I got to learn how to make toast for a snack with cranberry sauce and it was really good.  I can also make Nutella sandwiches and pb & j sandwiches. One time I made macaroni and cheese. 

I want to make meter-long bread loafs at home because they are cool and I could have breadstick fights.  I also want to learn to make crab cakes because I’ve had them before and they are really good.

Whenever I cook with my sister I always do things better than her because I am a better cook than her because I cook more because she is always on the computer.  I like to help slice cucumbers.  I like to plant tomatoes and strawberries in our garden.  I also plant blueberries and lettuce.

Here is P’s recipe (a variation on Martha’s basic recipe):

Paradise Banana Bread

• 1/2 stick butter, at room temperature
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 ripe banana
• 1/2 – 3/4 cup sweet potato puree
• 1/4 plain yogurt
• 1 tsp vanilla

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter a loaf pan.
2. In an electric mixer cream butter, sugar and eggs until fluffy.
3. In a measuring cup stir flour, baking soda and salt.  Add to butter mixture, making sure to scrape the bottom of the mixer to incorporate. 
4. Stir in bananas, sweet potato, yogurt and vanilla, pour into prepared pan.
5. Bake until a skewer inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.  This varies but is at least 90-minutes.  If your loaf is getting too brown, cover with foil.

You can add anything to this really, chocolate chips, nuts, flaxseed, or flavored yogurt (Greek-style honey yogurt for example, mmmm).