Cozying Up with Maple as Winter Closes In

The days are getting shorter and the nights are getting longer and it is getting quite chilly outside. So why not come in and cozy up with a cup of maple hot chocolate and a slice of homemade maple banana bread.

Here are the recipes:

Maple Hot Chocolate

1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa
1/4 cup Indian Sugar (granulated maple sugar)
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon powdered espresso
1 vanilla bean

Mix first four ingredients well in a container with a lid.  Add vanilla bean and close lid.  The vanilla bean imparts its flavor to the other ingredients as time goes by.

Heat milk in a pan or microwave until hot, but not boiling.  Add about a teaspoon, or more to taste, to the milk and allow to dissolve a few seconds before stirring.  I often heat a few more seconds in the microwave after I have added the mix.

Enjoy with a slice of homemade Maple Banana Bread!

3 large, ripe bananas
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 – 1/3 cup Indian Sugar (Granulated maple sugar)
2 eggs, well beaten
1/4 cup melted butter
1 1/2 cups sifted cake or all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon ground cardamom

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Beat the bananas and baking soda with an electric mixer until well blended.  Add sugar and beaten eggs.  Mix thoroughly.  Then add butter, flour and baking powder. Bake in a greased 9 1/2″ x 5″ x 3″ loaf pan for 45 minutes to 1 hour, until done.  Test with toothpick or cake tester; if tester comes out clean, bread is ready.