Going Bananas

Once a month, I celebrate friendship with sweet friends that I don't get to see as often as I used to.  We get together to share what's happening in our lives, we laugh a lot, and we calendar the next date for a get-together.  One fun afternoon, we gathered at my house and I taught them how to play Bananagrams.  We had a blast!

At the end of the game, my friends were surprised to find their very own Bananagrams game underneath their chair.  (Just like they do on the Oprah Show.)

I'm kind of a "themey" person (I wonder if I could use that word in Bananagrams?) so I made fresh banana cakes for a delightfully yummy accompaniment to coffee.  This is one of my favorite recipes of all time so I'll include it for you.  Good desserts are a party in themselves.  I love to jazz up the plate and make them look extra special for my extra special guests.  A pretty plate, a little chocolate sauce squirted in a zig-zag pattern, whip cream, and a strawberry on top!
Thanks to my amazing daughter-in-law, Sarah for introducing me to Bananagrams.  (We call her the "gamer" in our family!)
Thanks to the Sandhill Crane Bed and Breakfast for the fabulous banana cake recipe.

                                                            MINI BANANA CAKES:
3 T. butter                         3 T. flaked coconut, toasted          3 T. chopped almonds, toasted
2 T. brown sugar             1 large banana, sliced                   1/4 c. cake flour
1/4 t. baking powder       pinch of salt                                     1 egg
3 T. granulated sugar      1 t. rum extract  

Divide butter, coconut, almonds, brown sugar and banana among three (3/4 cup) souffle dishes.  (I use ramekins.)  Combine flour, baking powder, and salt.  Beat egg and white sugar until thick and pale.  Beat in rum extract.  Fold in flour mixture.  Pour batter evenly into greased or buttered dishes.  Bake at 350 for 15-20 minutes.  Cool slightly, then invert onto serving plates.  Serves 3
This recipes just serves 3.  I double it when I need more.  Also...the flour must be cake flour.  I tried to get by once with regular flour and it wasn't nice.

Invite some friends over for a simple celebration...the celebration of friendship!

I'm a Stampin Up "Hobbyist."  This means that I can play around for hours, making cute little cards, baskets, and bags and call it a hobby-- as opposed to calling it a goofing-around day!  :)     So for my Bananagram Party, we had little baskets full of banana-split saltwater taffy.  (Had to go all the way to Carmel to get that taffy!)