Peanut Butter Banana Muffins

When my mom and I go to doctors appointments, we often sit in the waiting room and read their piles of magazines looking for tasty recipes to try. If we happen to find something appealing that catches our eyes, we quickly flick them around the room and quietly peel the recipe out to slip in our pockets. Not the best method but an effective one I have perfected over the years.

Today's blog features a recipe I found this shady way: peanut butter banana muffins. Now, if you are not a fan of peanut butter OR bananas, then you are out of luck today, my friend. However, I happen to enjoy both greatly, as does almost everyone in my family--especially my dad. I made them with him in mind and brought them to him this past weekend. I am waiting for his opinion on them. But this recipe was especially appealing to me because I had bananas that skipped the "firm" stage and went straight to "gross."

Nasty, right?

Banana and Peanut Butter Muffins

2 1/3 cups all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

¼ tsp salt

1/3 cup Country Crock spread

¼ cup peanut butter

½ cup sugar

2 large eggs

1 cup milk

2 ripe bananas, mashed

1.     Preheat oven to 400. Grease two 12 cup muffin tins or line.

2.     Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in medium bowl; set aside.

• Beat Country Crock spread with peanut butter in large bowl with mixer until smooth. Add sugar and beat until light and fluffy, about 3 minutes. Beat in eggs. Alternatively beat in flour mixture and milk combined with bananas with mixer on low speed until blended.

Spoon into prepared pan to make 18 muffins.

5.     Bake 20 minutes. Cool 10 minutes.

    As you can see, I actually got 24 muffins instead of 18. I prefer my muffins a little smaller so I can eat more of them. :D Here's the final product:

I know--my camera takes awful photos. Sorry! Not a photography major. Anyways, these muffins came out very light inside and fluffy too.

However. . .

I forgot the salt. 

I know, I know. This is the first time I have EVER forgotten an ingredient, but I'm not sure if missing the 1/4 of a teaspoon really mattered too much. It might have helped a little bit, but these muffins were just really bland. REALLY bland, and to have some salt in there would have been beneficial. However, I think part of my problem too was that I kept expecting them to taste like my banana bread recipe, which they definitely do not. 

If you are craving muffins, I'm not sure I would recommend this recipe to you. Now, my dad really likes foods that are more "bland" than most people (he would disagree). If you fall into this category, they might be for you. All I know is that I ate half of one, and I was a disappointed in the results.

On the other hand--these make great dog treats! Apollo was having bathroom problems outside, but refuses to eat rice or even regular banana anymore. He is just too spoiled for his own good. Instead, I have him pieces of these to eat, and he gobbled them right up--he's definitely my boy because he loves his carbs. After he had a whole one, he would not leave me alone for more. I have broken up pieces to freeze and keep around as treats for him when his tummy gets upset. It is not enough peanut butter to hurt him, and he loves it anyways. Plus, it has banana, which will help his tummy. 

If any of you are inspired by peanut butter banana recipes and find a great one that you love, please share it with me! I need something to replace this one! Thanks!

I guess this is karma for stealing the recipe out of a magazine, huh?