Grandma’s Banana Muffins

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A little bit about my history

I was born in 1944 in the little town of Sutton, Quebec to immigrant parents – my mom was from Germany and my dad from Switzerland. There is so much to tell you but let me just paint the picture of my beginnings.

My Dad, Paul Schweizer, bought the most picturesque farm imaginable on the mountains of Sutton – 150 acres of forest and fields, and the best sunsets known to man.

The only problem was that the farm he purchased was both rocky and hilly, neither of which is conducive to farming, and he knew absolutely nothing about farming because he was a watch maker by trade.

From left: My sister Rita and me (Pauline)
My husband Walter, Me holding baby Cathy, Walter Jr., Christine and Susan

He bought the $3000 property on a whim because it reminded him of his beloved Switzerland. We were dirt poor, but we had each other – my parents, two brothers, three sisters and me, and we lived in a natural paradise on the mountain.

“It’s not a matter of growing old, it’s getting old if you don’t grow.”

Author Unknown

What to do With Ripe Bananas

What do you do with your ripe bananas? One of my favorite things to do is to turn them into delicious, easily freezable muffins. These muffins are so good, they taste more like cupcakes and are great to keep in your freezer for when you have company or for when someone you love needs some comfort food.

Grandma’s Banana Muffins

Ingredients

  • 1/3 cup melted butter
  • 2/3 cup sugar (brown or white)
  • 1 egg
  • ½ teaspoon vanilla
  • 3 ripe mashed bananas
    (you can mash them with a fork)
  • 1 ½ cups flour
  • 1 ½ teaspoons baking powder
  • ½ teaspoon baking soda
  • A pinch of salt
  • ½ cup chocolate chips

Instructions

Makes 12 muffins.

Mix together the melted butter, sugar, and egg. Mix the dry ingredients together, then gently mix together the bananas, wet ingredients and dry ingredients together. Add the chocolate chips (or your add-in of choice).

I like to put a little topping on the muffins before they bake. A great way to do this is to mix some sugar with cinnamon and sprinkle over the top of the muffins. It looks pretty and adds another layer of flavour.

Lightly grease a muffin pan and add paper liners. Bake until golden brown or until you can press lightly on top and the muffin top bounces back, at at 350 degrees for 20-25 minutes.

Get Creative!

Use one cup of blueberries instead of chocolate chips.

Add ½ cup chopped fresh cranberries with the zest of half a lemon

You can also use this recipe with a loaf pan instead of muffin tins, but you will need to increase baking time to 30-40 minutes.

What else can you do with ripe bananas? Get Crazy!

Cut into thick slices, freeze and enjoy as a frozen treat – if you want to go really crazy, you can dip the frozen pieces into chocolate sauce

Add the frozen bananas to a smoothie or make a milk shake


Comments

19 responses to “Grandma’s Banana Muffins”

  1. Hey Pauline
    i have found your Blog with the Banana-Muffins. I will try it soon. We hope, you and the hole Canzani-Family is well…
    Greetings from Rapperswil Switzerland
    Walter and Rita Israng with Kids and Grandchilds

  2. Julie Kahn Schaye Avatar
    Julie Kahn Schaye

    Hi Pauline! My mom just shared this blog with me. I am loving it so far and especially love the photos and snippets of your early years.

  3. Markus Israng Avatar
    Markus Israng

    Certainly something to keep in mind. Banana’s go off really quick here in hot/sunny Western Australia.
    Love the history of your upbringing and the farm sure has the best views in Sutton!

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      I am so happy to hear from you Markus!!!!!

  4. Just found your blog! This is great, Pauline! Another way to touch base with you. Miss all our happy times at the Auberge. Thanks for the recipe!

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      How nice to be in touch with you!!!!!

  5. Thanks for the recipe ! Looking forward to trying it!

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      Thank you! Have a nice evening!

  6. Amanda Loh Avatar

    Such an interesting post! I especially enjoyed reading the history & seeing the pictures.

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      Hello Amanda! Thank you so much for reading my blog! Have a great evening with your beautiful family!

  7. Thank you so much, dear aunt Pauline!
    Full of interest I read your posts!!!
    Love the two of you❤️

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      I so nice to hear from you!!! We wish you and your family a blessed holiday season!!!!!!

  8. I have some ripe bananas in the freezer just waiting for this recipe! You’ve definitely seen a lot of water under your bridge since coming to Canada! What year was that?

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      Thank you so much for reading my blog! I was born in Sutton!!!!

    2. Wow… I didn’t know that!

  9. Christine C Avatar
    Christine C

    I loved the history section of this post! These photos are so precious.

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      Have a wonderful day!

  10. Hannah Jost Avatar
    Hannah Jost

    We love your banana muffins Grandma!!! 🥰

    1. Pauline Canzani Avatar
      Pauline Canzani

      Thank you, Hannah!

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