Weird Recipe Wednesday: Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Basil Mini Muffins

Weird Recipe Wednesday: Because some recipes are so weird I just HAVE to try them.  My curiosity always gets the better of me.


Just hear me out on this one.  Peanut butter and banana are good friends.  Peanut butter and chocolate were made for each other.  Chocolate and banana also get along nicely.  So far, so good.

A while back we introduced peanut butter to basil.  Not long afterwords basil met chocolate.  Since they all seem to like each other, I decided they needed to hang out.  At the same time.  In muffins.  Mini muffins, to be exact.  Oh, did I mention I like to bake weird things?

So, how did our new friends get along?  Well, they had a good time, but nothing too weird or exciting happened.  Everyone's a little shy the first time around.  Unfortunately, I held back a little too much and the flavors didn't shine through.  While the muffins were soft and moist, they could use some improvements in the flavor department.

Next time I would use homemade peanut butter for that extra nutty profile.  I'd have the patience to wait for a black banana, not just a spotted one.  I'd double or triple the basil instead of being afraid I'd kill my basil plant (again).  A little extra chocolate is always a good idea too.

Peanut butter, banana, chocolate and basil will get together again soon.  They played it safe in muffins and got past the weird mingling stage.  They're next get-together will push them a bit further from their comfort zone.

Peanut Butter Banana Chocolate Chip Basil Muffins

Ingredients:
1 large ripe banana, mashed
1/4 cup creamy peanut butter
2 Tbsp honey
1/3 cup fat-free plain yogurt
1/2 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 cup whole wheat flour
2 Tbsp sugar
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp baking powder
1/8 tsp salt
1/4 cup loosely packed fresh basil, chopped
2 Tbsp mini chocolate chips

Instructions:
* Preheat oven to 375 degrees F. Lightly coat mini muffin tins with non-stick baking spray.
* In a small bowl whisk together banana, peanut butter, honey, yogurt and vanilla. Set aside.
* In a large bowl combine all-purpose flour, whole wheat flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder and salt.  Stir in chopped basil.
* Make a well in the center of dry ingredients and pour in wet ingredients.  Stir just until moistened; fold in chocolate chips.
* Scoop batter into prepared muffin tins and bake 10 minutes or until toothpick inserted in centers comes out clean.

Food for Thought: "Cooking is like love; it should be entered into with abandon or not at all." -Julia Child