The hot cocoa station has taken its place in the kitchen. I think this is one of my daughter’s favorite traditions about the Holidays. She loves coming home after school and making herself a cup of cocoa. My absolute favorite cocoa is Williams Sonoma Peppermint Hot Chocolate. It’s to die for, friends. It takes a little longer to make, so my kids tend to go for the Nestle Quick hot chocolate. I pour that into a cute jar and it’s ready to go for an afternoon warm-me-up.
When you combine the hot cocoa station with some homemade banana bread or some warm pumpkin bread, it makes for some happy kids after school.
I must confess that the pumpkin bread is from a box. I bought the Krusteaz Pumpkin Bread from Costco before my surgery because I didn’t think I’d be in the mood for baking. We’ve all decided that we like this with butter and cinnamon sugar on top.
The banana bread is homemade. I couldn’t resist baking when I saw that we had a few over-ripe bananas. As much as I love making homemade bread with yeast, I also love a good quick and easy quick bread recipe.
Here’s the recipe I use for Banana Bread:
3/4 cup sugar
1/2 cup butter, softened
2 eggs
2 medium ripe bananas (mashed)
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Grease the bottom of a bread pan.
Beat sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
Add bananas, milk, eggs, and vanilla. Mix.
Add the rest of the dry ingredients. Mix.
Add 2 cups of chocolate chips (optional).
Bake at 350 degrees for 50-60 minutes.
Happy Baking!
the hot cocoa station is such a cute idea. Now that you mention it, I have some very ripe bananas here too….I think I'll bake some in the morning. My grandsons will be over and they love it.
Oh this sounds so good. I just made pumpkin bread.
What a sweet Momma you are!! It makes me want to be a child again in my parents house, because my mom was so kind to have seasonal treats for us many times after school. Those fond memories make me try to do special things for my little ones, too.
The coffee station is really darling and I agree with WS hot chocolates being the best, although I haven't had the chance to go to one this year. Enjoy your delicious bread and now I think I just might make some of my own!
Blessings,
Leslie