State Recap + Crazy Good Banana Bread

Hi everyone!  I'm back, after a weekend of volleyball!  I got up at 5:30 Friday morning and got back at 10:30 Saturday night.  Our State volleyball tournament was worth every minute of missed sleep.

State kicked my tail.  Either I'm crazy out of shape or we just played really hard!  I think we played eight games over the two days and some of them went to three sets (one ended up going 21-19, when it was only supposed to go until 15 ... that was fun and we did win!) Also, I think we all pulled 18-20 hour days ... also fun! :)  Since you don't want to hear the play by play of State and since I really can't talk about State without talking about teams I did or didn't *cough* like, I'll just say I had so much fun (up until the last game) and that we took fourth overall.  
A couple highlights were getting to hang out with another team at the gym and at the hotel and cheer each other on during games.  They were like our buddy team!  Such sweet girls.  Now we know all their names and we know theirs; there is something special about hearing your name specifically being cheered from the stands.  And I got a block - all by myself.  That felt good.  Overall, our team played really well and we finished about where I thought we would.  Can't believe by next week it'll
be over! 

Yes, I did smile in the middle of the game at my mom.  Don't judge me, who wants bad photos of themselves?!  She laughed at me, though:)

Just about to crash from lack of sleep:)  I think we did go to Starbucks after this picture and get some caffeine ... and rest ...

I LOVE this picture.  Hannah, you do have a serious-er face!

Sooo, aside from lots of volleyball, I had to eat, and so in the name of this food blog, I'll talk about the food I liked:)

Greek yogurt and peanut butter.  Hannah, sweet girl, let me have some of her greek yogurt, which was great for the sore throat I had.  Funny story, I thought it was vanilla and was going to mix peanut butter in it, but NO, it was key lime!  So I had my yogurt and then my peanut butter, separate.  It was a great snack before one of our games.

Pumpkin spice latte from Starbucks. It was hot and sweet and tasted really good after all that water and Gatorade. Plus, the atmosphere was relaxing;)

HUMMUS.  Oh my goodness, I love hummus, I really do, and Anna brought some.  It is incredible on turkey sandwiches and with peppers, just saying.  It made my lunch for sure.

Jellybeans!  Who doesn't like jellybeans?  One of my teammates older sisters (Hi Erin!) came and stayed with a couple of us "parentless" girls and we did facial masks and guessed jellybeans and talked for several hours on Friday night at the hotel.  Such good memories!   Erin brought a big bag and we spent a good 30 minutes eating it; guessing flavors, picking favorites, letting our masks dry.  My favorite was tiramisu, although mango was really good, too.   

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread.  Yep, I'm giving you the recipe, too.  This is really good banana bread.  Crazy good, hence the title:) 

 

It's dense and moist and the mini chocolate chips mean there is more melty chocolate spread throughout the bread.  The banana flavor is the strongest, but compliments the chocolate nicely.  It's not overly sweet and was great for in between games, midnight snacking, and then sharing with my siblings (I prefer the midnight snacking to sharing:) 

 

I love using yogurt in baked goods, because it adds moisture and avoids the rubbery feel applesauce can give.  It also adds density, something good quick breads have to have.  Finally, it adds protein!  And getting protein in my banana and chocolate chip bread is always a plus and totally justifies eating more than one slice. 

 

 

 

Breakfast, snack, or dessert, this banana bread is incredible.  I've made it twice in the past four days!

 

Greek Yogurt and Mini Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Recipe Source: The Sweet {Tooth} Life

Yield: 12-16 slices

1-1/2 cup flour

3/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon cinnamon

1 teaspoon vanilla

3/4 cup sugar

3/4 cup plain greek yogurt (I used nonfat)

1/4 cup butter, softened

1 cup mashed ripe banana (I used 3 medium)

2 eggs

1/2 cup mini chocolate chips {plus more for sprinkling on top}. 

Beat softened butter and eggs together.  Stir in yogurt, sugar, vanilla, cinnamon, and mashed banana and beat until smooth.  Add flour, salt, and soda and whisk until just combined.  Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan (I think ours was 10x6 or something like that.)  Bake at 350 for 55 minutes.  Let cool for 10 minutes in pan before removing and letting cool on a wire rack. 

More banana bread recipes:


Nutella Swirled Hot Chocolate Banana Bread

Orange Raspberry Banana Bread

Beernana Bread Muffins

 

What are your favorite banana bread recipes?  Leave links or names!

Hugs,
Mary Frances