Generally speaking, I am a very lucky girl. Granted, I've never won the lottery, or even a raffle for that matter, but I have a great family and awesome friends, which is totally better than hitting the Mega Millions jackpot. I have a good job, I live in an amazing city, and I've traveled to far-away places. I've eaten French Fries in Nice, Pad Thai in Bangkok, and more New York pizza in Manhattan than I care to remember. All in all, I'm as lucky as can be. Except when I'm not. I don't know about you, but when my luck runs out, boy does it ever run out. I once fell down in public and threw my watch down my building's trash chute in the same morning. And then locked myself out of my apartment while trying to get it back (which involved sorting through other people's garbage). Those are my kind of unlucky days.
Last weekend, I was in the thick of it. First my ceiling started to leak. Next, some important jewelry disappeared into thin air. Add on some work stress, and I was about to go over the edge. Thankfully, Saturday was Joy the Baker's book signing at The Brooklyn Kitchen. I decided to take a leisurely walk there, get Joy to sign some books (one for me and one for you!), and maybe even treat myself to a new cookbook or kitchen gadget. Sadly, things didn't go exactly as planned. Halfway over the Williamsburg Bridge, it started to rain. No big deal-I had an umbrella. Forty minutes later, it was totally a big deal. I was cold, wet, tired, and couldn't feel my toes. Thankfully, I'd arrived at The Brooklyn Kitchen and was ready for some books and some baked goods.
Only I didn't know you had to sign up for Joy's book signing in advance. Do I need to mention that it was full? The place was packed with people waiting to see Joy. (Yay Joy!) Sadly, the nice people at Brooklyn Kitchen told me that based on my arrival time, I'd have to wait nearly three hours for Joy to sign my books. I love Joy (who, bless her heart, stayed all day in order to meet everyone) and I love all of you, and I really wanted to get you a signed copy of Joy's book. But after waiting for an hour or so, I decided it was time to cut my losses and head home. It had been a long week (see leaky ceiling and missing jewelry) and I just wanted to take the subway back to Manhattan and crawl into my bed. But not before buying myself a pick-me-up or two. I got in line to check out, and...realized I had forgotten my wallet at home. Not only was I not going to be buying myself any presents, I was sans subway card and thus would have to walk back over the bridge. In the rain.
Needless to say, by the time I lugged my (unsigned) cookbooks back into my apartment, there was only one thing to do, and that was to get into the bathtub with a mug of bourbon. Can I tell you a secret? Bourbon makes everything better. Especially this bourbon spiked chocolate chip banana bread from Joy's cookbook. When life gives you lemons, throw some bourbon in your banana bread. Is that a saying? Can we make it one? Because it's true. Leaky ceiling, missing jewelry, work stress, numb toes, forgotten wallet--don't worry, bourbon spiked banana bread has got you covered. I hope that none of you have an unlucky day anytime soon, but in case you do, now you have this recipe to cure whatever might ail you. Besides, I think the terrible, horrible, no good, very bad days are a tradeoff for being oh so lucky the rest of the time. I'm going to win the lottery one of these days, I just know it.
A giveaway! I'm giving away an (unsigned...sorry) copy of the Joy the Baker cookbook. Joy's book is amazing--it's beautiful, it's unpretentious and it makes you want to put it down and run into your kitchen to start baking. I pretty much want to make everything in it (especially the avocado pound cake--can someone make that one stat and report back?) To enter to win Joy's book, just leave a comment on this post. For two additional entries, you can like the sweet tarte page on Facebook or follow me on Twitter. Just leave a comment here telling me you did so (or if you already follow me on Facebook or Twitter you can leave a comment telling me that too). I will randomly pick a winner next Wednesday April 18th at midnight.
Chocolate Bourbon-Spiked Banana Bread
Ever so slightly adapted from the Joy the Baker Cookbook
2 cups all purpose flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (about 3)
1 teaspoon lemon juice
3 tablespoons bourbon
1 1/2 cups semi sweet chocolate mini chips
Preheat the oven to 350. Butter and flour an 8x4 or 9x5 loaf pan. Sift the flour, baking powder and salt into a medium bowl. In the bowl of an electric mixer fitted with the paddle attachment, beat the butter and sugar for about five minutes, until light and fluffy. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well between each addition. Stop the mixer, scrape down the sides of the bowl, and add the banana, lemon juice and bourbon. Beat until incorporated. With the mixer on low speed, add the flour mixture all at once. Beat until almost incorporated. Stop the mixer, remove the bowl, add the chocolate chips, and stir until the rest of the ingredients are incorporated. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake in the center of the oven for 45-60 minutes, or until a tester inserted into the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Allow the bread to cool in the pan for 20 minutes, then invert onto a wire rack to cool completely. Banana bread will keep for 5 days well wrapped at room temperature.
66 comments:
I adore your banana bread!! I actually love any kind of banana bread, but that extra zing in yours makes is ever so special :)
What a day you had! At least the bourbon (and banana bread) was there to make it better ... I'm a scotch kind of girl myself, but I can definitely see where you're coming from!
Thanks for this giveaway!
Gail.shimokawa at. Unco.edu
Oooh girl, I want that!
I follow the tweets!
And I like the FB!
rachel! i had no idea you had a facebook page, so i just liked it and can't wait to see delish baked goods in my feed. hope all's well! -- molly t-j
aw man rachel, what a bum day! i applaud you for being able to recap this day in blog format without sounding very cranky at all... 'cause i'd still be complaining. would LOVE a copy of this book! and i already like ya on facebook and follow you on twitter. i'm on top of it :)
I love banana bread. This looks so so good. I have bananas that I need to do something with and I think this might just be it.
Love the post and am in some desperate need of some bourbon-spiked bread today!
Mmm, nothing like a good slice of banana bread.
Following you on Twitter.
That banana bread looks soooooo good! Followed you on twitter - thanks for the giveaway!
This looks delicious! I've been meaning to make some for me and my Kentucky-born boyfriend
Following you on twitter @GrlAnachronism2
You are funny. I will follow you on Twitter now.
Love the recipe! And following you on twitter @GrlAnachronism2
Thanks for the chuckle and here's to luckier days. Following you on Twitter now.
I'd LOVE this cookbook! Fingers crossed. :-)
Please enter me in your cookbook giveaway. I also entered on your Facebook page and on Twitter! Hoping I win your book!
I follow you on Twitter via @MichaelaRae. :-)
I "like" you on FB.
I'd love to win a copy--delicious!
Oh I've made the avocado pound cake - delish!!!
I liked Sweet Tarte on FB! :)
Aaaaaand followed you on Twitter :)
I once was not a fan of bourbon and then I graduated college and got some smarts and love it now! This def will be made soon!
sorry about your jtb bad luck! hopefully you will meet her soon. i met her in portland, and was so starstruck that i might as well not have met her. not that that's any consolation. i enjoy your writing and look forward to following your blog!
That banana bread looks amazing!
I'd love a chance to win the cookbook if Canadians may enter.
bananas, chocolate, and bourbon ... you just can't go wrong!
Mmmmm, that bread looks so yummy!
And I've been wanting to get a copy of this cookbook!
Saladgoddess now following you on Twitter.
Didn't know your blog before Joy the Baker retweeted this contest, but I've poked around a little and will definitely be back. Lovely and hunger-inducing! Thanks for the giveaway.
I love Joy the Baker's stuff and Your blog looks great Adding you on Twitter to remind myself to check it out more often! :-)
I would LOVE to win the cookbook! Signed or not signed!
I also follow you on twitter & have liked your page on FB! :)
I made that bread about 2 nights ago. SO GOOD!
Liked on FB
Followed on twitter
I just followed you on Twitter :)
Your photos look great and that bread looks amazing!
just found your blog and im so excited! :) banana-flavored treats are my fave! :)
i like you on fbook!
I love Joy and would love to bake my way through her book!
karenreichmann@hotmail.com
I really like Joy the Baker, so glad she has a book now!
Would love to win the book!
Banana bread looks pretty tasty. On a giveaway note I would love to win the book! (also followed on twitter my handle is BloggingSparrow).
The bread looks really good.
melodyj(at)gmail(dot)com
I'm usually a stickler for just my family's banana bread recipe, but this looks delicious! I would love to try some of Joy's recipes.
I am going right now to make the Banana Bread. I'll let you know how it turns out! Sorry about the crumby day. I'm liking you. (Found you on Food Gawker.)
I LOVE bananas ... just give me super-ripe, mushy bananas and nothing will stop me from baking a variation of banana bread/muffins/cupcakes.
P.S. Thanks for the giveaway. :)
yummmm thanks for the giveaway!
Oh isn't it weird how so many horrid things happen all at the same time, but it's so very true. So sorry you had such a rotten day, but as you say one bad day and many good ones - lets hope so anyway.
Great photographs.
Would love to win this book, but as I live in the UK, don't know if I'm eligible or not.
I'm following you on Twitter
Looks delicious!
Made this today. It's great!
I made this a couple days ago- it is SO yummy. The bourbon is subtle, but adds so much. I also am following you on Twitter @Megawatt0413 and I liked your Facebook page. I am looking forward to more great recipes!
I made this a couple days ago- it is SO yummy. The bourbon is subtle, but adds so much. I also am following you on Twitter @Megawatt0413 and I liked your Facebook page. I am looking forward to more great recipes!
I'd LOVE this cookbook! Thanks, great giveaway!
I also like the FB!
That banana bread looks all kinds of wonderful! I have bourbon waiting to be used. Would LOVE to win the book. Following you on twitter too; vintagesugarcb. :)
That girl is positively charming. The chapter names alone deserve my attention!
(bourbonandbananas@gmail.com)
I follow you on twitter!
(bourbonandbananas@gmail.com)
Rachel I love this post!
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