I've figured it out. It's banana cookies.
I don't have very much motherhood experience yet, but it wasn't very long ago that I was a teenager myself. I was a pretty good kid. I cared a lot about making my parents proud. And I only snuck out once.
(Since my parents are going to read this... Mom and Dad, that thing about sneaking out once was just a joke. Nicole and I never snuck out of her house and we absolutely did not let Robyn's car roll down the hill before we started it so their parents wouldn't hear.)
During my later high school years I ran with a pretty tame crowd. The boys did rent an R-rated movie once (and I made them take me home, thank you very much), but that was about as edgy as we got. We had a lot of crazy, goofy fun (taking any opportunity imaginable to dress up in our tackiest thrift store ensembles, etc.), but we were a pretty well-behaved bunch.
And I think it's because of the banana cookies.
Jodi's mom made these delicious frosted chocolate chip banana cookies, and they were always available. Sister Traveller would make several batches at a time and keep them in the fridge in a big plastic container, stacked with wax paper. There was never a day without banana cookies at that house, and it was one of the reasons we spent so much time there.
Jodi's house was usually the main gathering location for our group of friends. And it's not because her parents let us get away with anything. It's because of the banana cookies. We watched movies, we planned out our student government campaigns, we did algebra homework and we ate banana cookies. And when the boys weren't there, we talked about boys. And Jodi's mom was audience to all of it. She deserved to be a part of everything because she kept us all full of banana cookies.
So if you want to keep your kids and their friends on the straight and narrow, follow these simple instructions:
Ingredients:
2.5 cups flour
1.5 tsp. bk.pwd.
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/4 tsp. bk.soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/4 tsp. ground cloves
Mix and set aside
1/2 cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup mashed banana (aprox. 2.5 bananas)
1 pkg. choc. chips
Mix butter and sugar 'til fluffy. Add eggs and vanilla, beat well. Alternate dry ingredients and mashed banana. Stir in choc. chips. 350, 10 mins. (I had to bake mine longer.)
Frosting:
2 tb. butter
1/4 cup mashed banana (aprox. 1/2 banana)
2 cups pwd. sugar
1/2 tsp. vanilla
Whip until smooth. Frost cooled cookies.
13 comments:
I will have to try these! I don't know if I've ever had any kind of banana cookies. Joel and I really want to have the "hang out house" for our kids friends, and I am always looking for good ideas to make that happen. So...good food around all the time....check.
You've said it before, I'm sayin' it now. Two peas in a pod, you and I. This is SO me as a teenager. And we had chocolate chip cookies that we made every Sunday.
I will FORCE my children to eat homemade cookies when they are teenagers.
The infamous banana cookies...Jodi/Sister Traveller was kind enough to send Nate homes with plates full at a time...I think Jodi may have gifted our home with a plate or two at times as well...and yes they are delicious...I have never come across them any place else! It was probably Nate's idea to rent the rated R movie huh!;)
I'm proud to say that I had the awesome opportunity to taste those delicious cookies too (through Aaron, of course). I'm SO glad you have the recipe. Definitely going to have to try them out. One question, do the bananas have to be super ripe...like they are when you make banana bread?
Thanks for the tip on keeping teens out of troubes. Hope my boys like banana cookies!
Amy- The bananas I used today were overripe. But I'm no expert at baked banana products. But I would say, yes. Very ripe bananas.
Laura- It definitely could have been Nate.
wow, that sounds good. I love that idea to keep kids on the straight and narrow. I'll have to remember that for when I have teenagers.
Oh yes! I was always a little sad that I hate bananas & NEVER tasted one. I watched you all though! I hope I have a home my kids & their friends want to be in. I will make them just like half the meals (with meat in them) I don't eat but Jason loves! Haha!
I guess I have never thought about it this way before. Having been a part of this WONDERFUL group of friends and having tasted these marvelous cookies more times than I can count, I think I took advantage of this great home we were forutnate enough to be invited into. I too would love for my kids' friends to feel comfortable enough to "hang out" at our house and I think you are right about the good food bit....that and an atmosphere of love. Thanks for the great example Traveller family!
I have made these cookies many times and they work with anything from just ripe to VERY ripe to frozen.
I'm hungry now!
Hey Emily.
I made the cookies over the weekend. SO good...just like I remember. Thanks again for the recipe. One li'l question...why do you store them in the fridge?
Amy- According to Jodi, she stored them in the freezer, and as far as I know it was just because she made so many at a time.
mmm - my new craving! I won't be able to rest without making these now! :)
Okay Em, your mom just told me you had another blog...I had no idea where have I been. This is good because I use my gmail reader and always forget to check all my private blogs.
As far as my running post...I am possitive you could be ready to do a 5K this spring if you want to. I will totally help you! If you are up for it let me know.
Hmmm...I'm gonna have to try this. Maurina will be 13 this year, it's all up hill from here!!
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