Cake Makes the World Go Round

Being a mother of three kids age four and under makes for a very marginal amount of "me time."  Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't have it any other way, it's just a fact.  The "me time" that I do I have I love to read and most importantly bake.  Baking seems to be so trendy right now but I have been baking since I was a just a wee little lady, just ask my Mom.  I would spend hours in the kitchen decorating elaborate cakes and making breads from scratch.  I have always dreamed of opening a bakery but given my current amount of time and money, I think I'd rather share some of my recipes here and get the people of the world eating delicious treats.  Do I think the trendy treats are not delicious?  You bet.  I don't mind that cupcakes are all the rage and that cakes look more like art these days but I do mind that taste is being sacrificed for looks.  Who cares what it looks like if it tastes great, right?  So, I am on a cake/cupcake revolution.  I will post a delicious recipe once a week that is extra tasty with no fancy decoration. 

With this thought process I give you a 100+ year old recipe from the kitchen of my Great-Grandmother, Alma Dodson:

Banana Muffins (Is it still a muffin if it has frosting?  I think so.)
Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Mix and set aside:
4 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon soda
1 teaspoon baking powder

Cream:
1 cup shortening
3 cups sugar
2 teaspoons pure vanilla extract
4 eggs

Gradually add dry ingredients and mix.  Batter will be thick. 
Then add:
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 cups bananas
Mix until just blended.
Fill muffin tins 2/3 full and bake at 350 degrees for approx 25 minutes or until tops bounce back to touch.

Frosting:
3 oz cream cheese (room temp)
3 oz butter (room temp)
1 1/2 - 2 cups powdered sugar
approx 1 tsp mapleleen (to taste)
Beat on high until fluffy.

I use a Kitchen-Aid Artisan mixer for any recipes that require a mixer.  If I had to go to a desert island, my mixer would be one item I would take.  I am sure I could make island treats of some sort.