Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Thanks for your patience while I took a few days to visit my family in Austin. I’m back!

It was such a nice trip. And you would have LOVED the food along the way.

I spent a lot of quality time with my Dad, who took me all over the city so I could really get a feel for it. I’ve been visiting my brothers since I was a kid, but my trips have become less frequent as an adult so it was really nice to be able to spend time there again.

My family knows I’m not a big meat eater, so sorry that I can’t report back on the typical BBQ experience, however, I can report back on the amazing variety Austin offers now. While still a community that prides itself on their BBQ and Tex-Mex, it has a plethora of healthy, alternative vegan/vegetarian, and “California” options. Great salads, delicious fish, modern farm-to-table seasonal cuisine. Everything I ate from pasta, to soup and salads, to pastries, were great.

My sister-in-law is an amazing cook, and loves to channel her passion for travel and design to the food she prepares. While I was there, she grilled salmon and topped it with fresh herbs and it was the best salmon I’d ever tasted in my life! She placed the pieces of salmon simply on a plate and it looked as if a famous Japanese chef had made it himself. It was incredible. And for dessert, a Greek panna cotta with a cinnamon kissed slow cooked mango topping. It was to die for. I’ll have to get the recipe and share it here too. 🙂

I could go on forever all about Austin, but I should really tell you about another great recipe! While more humble in nature, and requiring just one bowl when making, it shouldn’t be ignored for its simplicity. It’s often the simple ingredients, one-bowl concoctions that people ask most about. (Just like I asked my sister-in-law with her salmon that she grilled so easily–it was just good salmon)!

This banana bread is a step up from the classic recipes because: chocolate. Chocolate chips are stirred into the batter and sprinkled on top. Both miniature and regular sized chocolate chips can be used here. The mini’s add a cute, delicate element. The regular’s add a nice textural aspect. It’s so good it doesn’t need the addition of butter, although, I won’t judge you if you add some. 😉

You’ll love the ease of this recipe and the results. For another chocolate banana recipe check this one out: Marbled Banana Bread or a vegan version here: Banana Brownies (Vegan)