Phew…..Ohio State skated by. I was a little worried at halftime today. We really didn’t sit and watch the game start to finish, but it was on when I was eating out for lunch and we saw the halftime score before heading home. So, I started my baking and watching the game. My baking must have been the magic ticket, as the Bucks started to come back. 😉 Just kidding. I have been wanting to try this recipe from Cooking Light for Walnut Cake with Praline Frosting for a while, so that is on the list to bake today. Also, I have a couple of very ripe bananas, so I made a banana bread for Jon to eat for breakfast this week. I tweaked it a little for fall and added some pumpkin to it….YUM! Speaking of fall, I am getting super excited for pie baking (especially thanks to Whole Foods Bakehouse GF Frozen Pie Crusts; I passed these puppies off to very picky relatives last year with rave reviews), cookie baking and fudge making. Oh, the fudge, can’t wait for the fudge. Not only is there chocolate fudge, but peanut butter too. I can’t decide which I love more. These are recipes that my Grandmother (Dad’s Mom) used to make and when I eat them, I am reminded of her. It makes me smile. 🙂 I am seriously going to have to step up the cardio at the gym come the end of October through my birthday (Jan. 9th for those who are curious), as it will be a 3-month long eating fest.

On to the goods. First I made the banana bread. This recipe was one I found on the forums at Celiac.com and was posted by Sue. Her SIL gave her the recipe and she converted it to a GF recipe and it was a hit! I have made some changes to it. I used Pamela’s baking mix for most of my quick breads & cakes and I didn’t have 1 1/2 cups of bananas, so I used half bananas, half pumpkin. I also used shaved semi-sweet chocolate on top instead of choc olate chips because the last time I put chocolate chips on top, they made my bread sink in those areas. The shaved semi-sweet chocolate seemed to work much better. Jon almost fell out of his chair he loved this so much. The combination of the pumpkin & banana makes this so moist. A lot of times I will add butter to my plain banana nut bread when I eat it, there is no need for anything at all on this bread. Here are some pics and the recipe for the bread:

Banana/Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, pre-baking, pre-chocolate shavings

Banana/Pumpkin Chocolate Chip Bread, pre-baking, after chocolate shavings

Banana/Pumpkin/Chocolate Chip Bread after baking:

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 3/4 cups rice flour (Or Pamela’s Baking Mix)
1 tsp. baking soda ( only add 3/4 tsp if using Pamela’s)
1/2 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. baking powder (don’t add any if using Pamela’s)
5 TBSP butter (softened)
1/2 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup light brown sugar
1 large egg
2 egg whites
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 medium) **I did 3/4 cup bananas, 3/4 cup canned pumpkin
1 tsp. vanilla extract
1/2 cup heavy cream **I used whole milk b/c like a dumb a$$ I bought buttermilk, not heavy cream
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips, divided **I used about 2/3 cup and did the Baker’s Semi-Sweet Chocolate bar shaved on top
1/2 tsp. xantham gum (omit if using Pamela’s)

1. Preheat oven to 350 F. Coat 9×5 inch loaf pan with crisco, set aside

2. Combine flour, baking soda, salt, and baking powder in medium bowl; stir to mix well.

3. Place butter in large bowl; beat at medium speed until fluffy. Gradually beat in sugars; beat in egg
and egg whites. Reduce speed to low; beat in bananas. Beat in vanilla. Beat in flour mixture in 2
additions alternately with heavy cream. Stir in 3/4 cup of the chocolate chips.

4. Spoon batter into prepared pan; sprinkle with remaining 1/4 chocolate chips (**or chocolate shavings). Bake 55 to 60 minutes
or until wooden toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool 10 minutes on wire rack; remove
from pan and cool completely on wire rack.

Now, onto the Walnut Cake with Praline Frosting. OMG…this cake was truly TDF (to die for). I can’t believe I found the recipe in Cooking Light, of all places. The kids loved it. I can’t say that I blame them. So moist, so sweet, so yummy!! The only thing that I would change next time is to put it in a smaller pan (they call for a 13 x 9 pan, I would almost use and 8 x 11 if you have one), the cake is thinner than the pictures in Cooking Light show, but still super yummy. This is perfect for fall, perfect for company, or just for yourself if you feel like having a treat.

Walnut Cake with Praline Frosting

9 ounces all-purpose flour (about 2 cups) **I used Pamela’s Baking Mix
2 tsp Xanthan Gum (I didn’t use this b/c I used Pamela’s and it has guar gum in it)
½ tsp baking soda
½ tsp salt
7 TBSP butter, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
¼ cup packed brown sugar
2 large eggs
1 large egg white
1 tsp vanilla extract
1 cup 1% low-fat buttermilk
6 TBSP chopped walnuts, toasted
Cooking Spray

Frosting:
½ cup packed brown sugar
6 TBSP 1% low-fat milk, divided
2 TBSP butter
1 TBSP light corn syrup
Dash of salt
2 cups powdered sugar
½ tsp vanilla extract
2 TBSP chopped walnuts, toasted

1. Preheat oven to 350.
2. To prepare cake, weigh or lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups; level with a knife. Combine flour, baking soda and ½ tsp salt, stirring well with a whisk.
3. Place 7 TBSP butter, 1 cup sugar and ¼ cup brown sugar in a mixing bowl; beat at a med-high speed with a mixer until light & fluffy (about 3 minutes). Add eggs, 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in egg white. Beat in 1 tsp vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning & ending with flour mixture. Fold in 6TBSP walnuts. Scrape batter in a 13 x 9 inch pan coated with cooking spray.
4. Bake at 350 for 28 minutes or until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on a wire rack.
5. To prepare frosting, place ½ cup brown sugar, ¼ cup milk, 2 TBSP butter, corn syrup and dash of salt in a saucepan over med-high heat; bring to a boil, stirring occasionally. Cook 2 minutes. Scrape brown sugar mixture into a bowl. Add remaining 2 TBSP milk and powdered sugar; beat with a mixer at high speed 2 minutes or until slightly cooled and thick. Beat in ½ tsp vanilla. Spread frosting in an even layer over cooled cake; sprinkle with 2 TBSP chopped walnuts. Let the cake stand until the frosting sets; cut into squares. Yield: 16 servings. Calories: 306; Fat 9 g; Protein 4 g; Carb 52 g.

Walnut Cake Pre-baking

Walnut Cake After baking, pre-frosting

Walnut Cake Frosted (still in pan)

Walnut Cake & Chocolate Chip Banana Pumpkin Bread on my plate:

I am going to post another post with our main course in it. It was a pretty quick go-to meal for Chicken Fettucine Alfredo. YUM! We finished off that meal with the cake & bread.