a new flavor (including two new recipes)

Yesterday I did a little baking, loaves of zucchini bread and a batch of banana muffins were on the menu. BUT!  I used a new ingredient.  Just a teaspoon or two made all the delicious difference that you can possibly imagine!  In fact, it is a new favorite flavor, that I’m going to use whenever I can!    What is it you might ask?

vanilla butter nut extract.

I never thought something so seemingly insignificant, something that  disappears into the batter or dough, something that you can’t really see,  would change my baked goods so much.  But, I can promise you this!  I’ll be using this new little secret ingredient in my baking as often as I can.

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This morning I’ve been thinking about my relationship with Christ, the Holy Spirit in me.  He is not insignificant, by any means.  While I can’t physically see Him,  He should be the essence of who I am!  Those who come in contact with me, should sense His presence in tangible ways.  Who He is should sweeten my thoughts, words and actions with love and grace.

From 2 Corinthians 2 :

14 But thanks be to God, who in Christ always leads us in triumphal procession, and through us spreads the fragrance of the knowledge of him everywhere. 15 For we are the aroma of Christ to God among those who are being saved and among those who are perishing, 16 to one a fragrance from death to death, to the other a fragrance from life to life. Who is sufficient for these things? 17 For we are not, like so many, peddlers of God’s word, but as men of sincerity, as commissioned by God, in the sight of God we speak in Christ.

Oh Lord, let me be a lovely fragrance to those around me, so that they might know who You are!  I’m know that I’m not sweet on my own, so You must do this work in me!  amen.

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I know you’re wanting these yummy recipes I made yesterday.  They are taken from a very special cookbook! The ladies of Crestwicke Christian Academy in Guelph, Ontario put these recipes together – and I’m so glad my Aunt Jean gave us this book long ago!  (Or it is possible she gave it to my mum and I stole it from her.)

Zucchini Bread

3 cups flour
3 eggs
2 cups sugar
1 cup oil (I used 1/2 cup oil, 1/2 cup mashed banana)
1/4 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp vanilla butter nut extract
2 heaping cups grated zucchini
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)
handful of shredded coconut
1 tsp cinnamon
1 tsp salt
11/2 cup sour cream (I used plain yogurt)

Instructions – Preheat oven to 350. Grease two 9×5 loaf pans. Combine flour with dry ingredients. Beat eggs, combine with wet ingredients. Then, add wet to dry ingredients. mix well. pour into pans and bake for about 1 hour, be sure the middle is well done. Cool in pans.

Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins

3 large mashed bananas
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg
1/3 cup melted butter
1 tsp baking soa
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup shredded coconut
2 tsp vanilla butter nut flavoring
Instructions – Mash bananas and mix with sugar, egg and melted butter.  Add remaining dry ingredients to the wet.  stir in chocolate chips.  Fill muffin tins and bake at 375 for 20 minutes.  Try not to eat them all in one sitting.  🙂

So,  these photos of my zucchini bread and banana muffin are lame.  Yes, I know it is true, but, do not be deceived – they are DE-LISH!!!