A Southern Grace: the only thing irish about these...

March 17, 2009

the only thing irish about these...

Yum

...is the color of the frosting. Sad. And here's a question--why is green associated with St. Patrick's Day anyway? Anybody? Bueller? Bueller?


[Hey, speaking of Matthew Broderick (aka Ferris Bueller), his father was of Irish descent! So that makes two weak links to Ireland in this post!]

I make no bones about the fact that I'm extremely uncreative, and this is just further proof of that. I wanted to make something for St. Patrick's Day and use my sourdough starter (known fondly as Eb) at the same time, and this is the best I could do.


Meh, whatever. The end result is delicious. And speckled. AND if I happen to forget to wear green today, I can just smear some frosting on my face and avoid getting pinched (and have a snack for later).

Rainbow Banana Bread
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1 cup sugar
1 egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 cup mashed banana
1 cup sourdough starter
1 tsp vanilla
1 1/2 cups mini chocolate chips and M&Ms, dusted with flour

Peanut Butter Frosting (drool) + a drop or two of green food coloring

Preheat oven to 350F. Line muffin tin and/or spray loaf pan(s).
In a large bowl, whisk together the oil, sugar, egg, bananas, sourdough starter, and vanilla. In a smaller bowl, combine the flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and cinnamon. Add the flour mixture to the wet mixture, stirring just until blended. Fold in the chocolate and spoon into muffin cups (or loaf pan). Bake for about 20 minutes (30 minutes for mini loaves) or until a toothpick comes out clean.


Happy St. Patrick's Day!

64 comments:

Anonymous said...

Yes that's right about Matthew Broderick (who will always be Ferris to me). I love that movie! And check out that inside! It so colourful :D

Albany Jane said...

Matthew Broderick is soooo cute. Tee hee. If only he'd bring me one of these cupcakes, what a good St Patty's day it would be!

Anonymous said...

It's gorgeously green! There's not nearly enough excitement in Austin for St. Patrick's Day, and I didn't even make anything green.

Amanda said...

You are so funny! I often use Ferris Bueller references... LOVE that movie!

Pam said...

Bueller, Bueller. I love that movie.

The cupcakes look great - my kids would really dig them.

Paula said...

Ha! We love that movie! Now I'm going to be singing "Twist and Shout" all day! Your green peanut butter frosting doesn't look sad at all! And the colorful insides are so fun! YUM!

Lyndas recipe box said...

Looks yummy to me! Bananas, chocolate and peanut butter; the basiic food groups are here!

Culinary Wannabe said...

Frosting on your face - yes, that sounds like a good idea to me. :) Looks like I'm just going to need to get an Eb of my own.

Marjie said...

I believe my St. Patrick's Day baking will consist of green food coloring in a yellow cake. You gave it more effort than I will, but maybe I'll go for green frosting, too.

♥Rosie♥ said...

Those cupcakes look wonderful Grace a lovely green colour!

Happy St Patrick's day to you too :0)

Ingrid_3Bs said...

LOL, you're a nut. Thanks for the tip. Now I know if I see someone with a bit of green frosting on their face that it's there to keep from being pinched. I got the craziest visual. :-)
~ingrid

Anonymous said...

oooh I once made a peanut butter frosting very similar to this recipe, thanks for posting and reminding me. I love the peanut butter and banana combo!

Habbala said...

I always just figured that green is Ireland because Ireland is SO freaking green!!!

And I know that the green represents the Irish catholics in Ireland, while the orange is the protestants (aka Northern Ireland). Which is why the flag is green, white, and orange. The white is supposed to be peace between the two.

HAPPY ST. PATRICKS DAY!

Lisa said...

Emerald Isle and all that jazz, like in the Pacific Northwest where things just turn green if you leave them outside long enough. I've always been a little green-challenged myself. I think you earned an A just for trying and a + because it tastes good!

Anonymous said...

I want a cupcake.

I think green is associated with St. Patrick's Day because Ireland is the Emerald Isle? Green? I have a cold and I am not really thinking that clearly so maybe just ignore me.

The Blonde Duck said...

You're such a liar. You're totally creative! Who else would have thought of rainbow banana bread cupcakes?

Penny said...

Love the green frosting-especially on your face. Good job with the cupcakes. Wish I had some sourdough starter. Maybe when I get back to Lake Lure I'll get a sponge going - isn't that what you do? Will have to research.

Sandie said...

Just like Ferris Bueller, I need a day off (throw in a fast sports car and I'll be all set!)

Hey, have you been raiding my pantry? Seriously, 'cause I swear, I have those same cupcake papers at home. (It was that darn pattern---it caught my attention and I thought they'd be...fun!)

Maria said...

I love Ferris Bueller, such a great movie! The cupcakes look most delicious!

Anonymous said...

I don't know about the green but the local radio station said originally St. Patrick had the color blue associated with him.

And why leprechauns???

MaryBeth said...

Lets just say I love that movie, and I am actually surprised that for your age you know this movie....The cupcake is simply divine my dear.

pam said...

Where were you with all these recipes BEFORE I killed my sourdough starter??

Bunny said...

Oh thaty Eb! He does such a good job of making everything you put him in look good!

Heather said...

yum! glad eb got some exercise, and that pb frosting sounds tasty :)

Valerie Harrison (bellini) said...

Ireland is the Emerald Isle, they say there are 40 shades of green in its hills.Happy St. Paddy's Day to you. Glad you were able to celebrate!!

Sharon said...

Green peanut butter frosting must be an unexpected treat. Something that Bueller would certainly have approved of.

Anonymous said...

Your post is plenty irish enough for me. Had no idea Matthew Broderick was Irish. Happy St Patrick's Day!

Anonymous said...

"anyone? anyone?"..You're so funny. Happy St Paddy's kiddo!

Sara said...

I love how colorful it is on the inside, what a fun surprise!

Dove420 said...

Yeppers the answer is that Ireland is the Emerald Isle so green is it's national color as their "flower" is the Shamrock which is also green

Anonymous said...

Love the inside of these, very colourful. They would be great for a birthday party

Robin said...

Green enough for me! I have green eys so no one dares to pinch me.

Patricia Scarpin said...

I once read that it was because Ireland is full of green pastures and forests... But not sure, though.

Anonymous said...

Rainbow banana bread? You're a genius! This looks so cute and cheerful :D

vanillasugarblog said...

can you please stop making all these muffins, over and over? Please? Your wonderful muffins are killing me and making me crave them at odd hours of the night and day--even just seeing the empty muffin wrappers are killing me too. thank you!
LOL!!

Anonymous said...

Seriously Grace this is adorable...I love it!

Lori said...

You crack me up.

I am so jealous of your starter. I recently started a starter but is ended up in a dried clump. Ugh. I will try again when it gets a bit warmer. Of course then I wont want to bake.

Deborah said...

I love the color of these!!

La Cuisine d'Helene said...

Love that green. They look delicious.

Gloria Baker said...

I love your posts Grace you always make me laugh!!! An I thinks this recipe is nice and the colour too!!! xxGloria

La Bella Cooks said...

This would be hard to resist, green or not. Your posts are too funny, I love coming here.

Anonymous said...

These sound and look great! You've provided me with yet another delicious recipe using sourdough starter :). Yum!

Elyse said...

This bread looks fabulous! Oh man, I wish I could have a slice right now!

Anonymous said...

With such a healthy sour dough starter, you never need to apologize!

Anonymous said...

I was wondering the same thing, especially after I read somewhere that St. Patrick's favorite color was blue. My husband thinks green is the St. Patty's color because Ireland is called "the emerald island."

Anonymous said...

They're so cute! Perfect for a birthday party...

I love colourful desserts. It seems to make them even more delicious.

Joie de vivre said...

I sadly didn't even get into the St. Patrick's day spirit enough to wear green. At least your tried!

Anonymous said...

From Ask.com: Green is associated with Saint Patrick's Day because it is the color of spring, Ireland, and the shamrock.

Foodie with Little Thyme! said...

I love the addition of the M&Ms. Great Idea!

Emily said...

Mmm rainbow banana bread makes me hungry.

Donna-FFW said...

I almost missed this post!! I would have hated myself. This looks out of this world delicious! MMM, and peanut butter frosting, You are AWESOME!!

giz said...

I'm so surprised that you didn't string them all together, wear them around your neck with a sign on your back that said "bite me I'm Irish"

Anonymous said...

So funny! When I looked at the photo my tastebuds did that wonky thing because I thought I was looking at blueberries and cranberries. M&M's? Hahahahahaha! Sounds yummy. And at least you made something green for St. P's day. I pulled clover out of my flower pots. w00t!

Gigi said...

I love that movie! I love M&M's! This would be a perfect dessert for me!

Anonymous said...

wow, rainbow banana bread?! love it!!

Jessica@Foodmayhem said...

So festive! Happy St. Patrick's Day!

Chef Jeena said...

They look lovely Grace. :-)

test it comm said...

That banana bread sounds really good!

Anonymous said...

Love bananas and chocolate (and m&ms...why not?)--that bread looks fantastic!

kat said...

My question is why make things like bagels green! frosting I get

vandana rajesh said...

It looks delicious and just right for St. Patrick's day. Yummm...

Anonymous said...

gosh, you have high standards for creativity ... i think this is incredibly creative. I love the idea of a non-quick banana bread if that makes sense.

LyB said...

M&Ms in muffins? Oh, yes. :)

Jeanne said...

I recall Central Park in fall...

Oh I love that movie! And I was wondering what the colourful bits in the dough were. All has been revealed :)