There are similar versions of this drink around. Similar, but not nearly as good. You may have heard them called a Bahama Mama, Rum Runner or The Bucket. It’s famous in my family as “that thing Lizzy makes that’s sooooo good and totally full of alcohol”. Lizzy is my baby sister Elizabeth. She’s a bartender and she made up this drink. She loves pirates, mostly the Johnny Depp variety. Especially when he says “Elizabeth”. So, she named it Pirate’s Punch. It’ll make you walk and talk just like Depp’s “Jack Sparrow“. Ahem. Sorry. Captain Jack Sparrow.
Hot Monkey
Holy strong drink Batman. I gave this baby a whirl the other night and the next thing I knew I was in a banana tinged daze. No idea where the name comes from aside from the obvious fact that you will act like a monkey after drinking one. And I do mean one. Good luck to you my friend!
Hot Monkey
2 oz. 99 Bananas Schnapps
1 oz. Cointreau
1 oz. Vodka
Instructions
Banana Cream Cupcakes
Sometimes I feel like my house is swimming in bananas. They are always around for my kids and every year I forget how quickly they get ripe for baking (aka dark brown freckly) once the weather turns a smidge warmer. I had some to use up this week and decided to mash-up a couple in these delightful cupcakes.
These cupcakes have all the flavor of a good banana bread with a light airy texture. The vanilla mousse “frosting” is perfect on these, totally reminiscent of banana cream pie. It is rich and delicious. A perfect topper. It is very versatile as well. You could swap out any flavor of instant pudding and use it for fillings in cakes. It’s amazing.
I ziploc baggie frosted these. It was early – I didn’t feel like busting out the pastry bag and frosting tip. Then topped mine with a little dried banana chip. Aren’t they cute?
Banana Cream Cupcakes
adapted from Taste of Home
1/2 cup shortening
1-1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup buttermilk
Vanilla Mousse Frosting
2 cups of heavy whipping cream
1 large package of jello instant vanilla pudding
Directions
1. In a large bowl, cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in
bananas and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda, baking powder
and salt; add to creamed mixture alternately with buttermilk,
beating well after each addition.
3. Fill paper-lined muffin cups two-thirds full. Bake at 375° for
18-22 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes
out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack to cool completely.
For mousse frosting: Combine ingredients and mix well until fluffy and light. Thin with a little milk if necessary.
Banana Cupcakes
Do not confuse this recipe with banana bread. They are not the same. These cupcakes are light and sweet with major banana flavor. Banana bread (delicious too) is much more dense and not nearly the sweet factor of these. I love the vanilla buttercream on these cupcakes because you get the flecks of dark in the cupcake from the banana and then the flecks of vanilla bean in the frosting. Delightful! [Read more…]
Banana Bites
Banana bread is delicious. Most of the time I can polish off half a loaf by myself easily. However, on rare occasions, I just want a little nibble of it. These mini banana bites are perfect for satisfying my hankerin’ for just a smackerel of something. They are packed with big banana flavor in a sweet perfect mouthful. These make a great take along snack too since no utensils are needed!