Banana Caramel Cupcakes...

Ingredients:

Cupcakes

4 mashed ripe bananas

1 3/4 cup + 1 tsp flour

2/3 cup sugar

1/2 tsp baking soda

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 cup butter (melted)

2 eggs

1/2 tsp vanilla paste (I used vanilla extract)

Icing

1 1/3 cup = 1 tsp icing sugar

1/2 cup butter (room temperature)

1 tbsp honey (I used maple syrup)

3 tbsp cream cheese

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1 tsp vanilla paste (I used vanilla extract)

Frosting: I over whipped mine but still tastes divine!

Fresh out of the oven...

Plated and ready to go...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. Bananas, caramel, cupcakes, what's not to love! Thank you Peony for the recipe! Adding this one to the recipe box!

Recipe

Peony Lim

Banana Bread Muffins...

Ingredients:

1 1/2 cups All Purpose Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

3 large ripe bananas

3/4 cup sugar

1 egg

1/3 cup of melted butter

Serves 12

I added almonds, chocolate chips and walnuts on top...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. My gf made these recently and they looked so good I wanted some! She sent me the recipe and I tried them the next day. So yum! These will definitely be added to my recipe box. Thanks Peaches!

Recipe

Apple Cinnamon and Sugar Croissants...

Ingredients: 2 apples (I used fuji)

3/4 of a stick of butter (I only had salted)

1 Pillsbury Crescents Roll

I rough chopped my apples or you can use slices

Fresh out of the oven...

Plated and ready to eat...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. The other day I had an apple croissant from Whole Foods and ever since then I've been craving more. This recipe is a cross between a churro and an apple pie! = Yummo

Recipe:

Follow the instructions on the package on how to roll and wrap.

Heat oven at 375 F and bake at 15 minutes.

Readers if you try this recipe I'd love to see your creations! tag #passorpraiseblogbakes gosh thats a long hashtag lol

Here's my IG: kngap

Humpday Happenings...Food Edition 4

In case you missed it...IG

Yogen Fruz

Rogue Kitchen & Wetbar

Scuie

Scuie

Edible Canada

And these Caramel popcorn bags I found at Homesense that I'm obsessed with!

Humpday Happenings...Food Edition 3

Pinkberry with my lil lady

Snacking on these addicting caramel popcorn I found at Winners and cherries from the Okanagan

Birchwood Icecream from Le Marche St George

Salad and Crepe from Truffle House and Cafe

Beta 5...Cream Puffs

Cream Puff deliciousness...

L to R:

S'more

Banana Cream

Vanilla

Milk Chocolate Ganache

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I first heard of Beta 5 through Instagram, previously mentioned here. My initial thoughts were too sweet, but after having a try of the other flavours I'm hooked. So far my top pick is the banana cream, milk chocolate ganache, salted caramel and s'more. I didn't try the coconut and passion myself, so I can't vouch for the taste. However, I did try the vanilla and would pass as it tasted quite bland.

If you want to try an upgrade to Beard Papa's definitely check out Beta 5. I would call ahead and reserve as I've stopped by before to find they were completely sold out. :(

Beta 5

413 Industrial Ave.

Vancouver, BC

604 669 3336

Super eager to return and try the remaining flavours! Readers, have you tried Beta 5? And if so what are your favourites?

Update...Random Happenings

Hope everyone who celebrated Canadian Thanksgiving had a wonderful time!

Sneak peak of our family lunch...

Roast beef at this end and turkey at the far end...

Sides in the middle (mashed potatoes, caesar salad, stuffed potatoes, stuffing, gravy and cranberry sauce)

For dessert we had a fruit cake and Chinese buns (not pictured)

I had a turkey coma after and it didn't ease up until dinner >_<

Side note: Got my hair did before the weekend as well. Went a little lighter and had a trim...

Best hair guy to see: David from A Salon

604 697 5321

Durian Cravings...

If you saw on my Instagram I posted a photo of fresh Durian I devoured weeks ago...

From my Instagram...purchased from Superstore

Lately that's all I can think of, anything Durian! Yes it stinks! But you either love it or hate it and I happen to looooooveeeee it!
My mom was staying with me last week and I took the opportunity to pick up one. Make that 2 and one dessert I found at dim sum...clearly I can't get enough!

The first one we purchased was underripe, so I didn't bother snapping any photos of that one(found at a grocery store on Hastings St). I could only stomach a few and left the rest for mom.
The second one we purchased was from My Tho, this one had a super green body and I was skeptical it wasn't going to be ripe and sweet enough. Unfortunately, miss piggie (moi) and mom attacked it at her place and divided it into a zip lock(does not look pretty for photos lol). Anyway, it did not disappoint. After literally wrestling with it, my mom was able to open it up and fish out 9 pieces. I ate 3 the first day and froze the rest. I finished the last 2 pieces yesterday and was devastated lol. I'll wait till my mom's over again to repurchase. It's alot to eat alone and if its fresh its hard to wrestle open, not to mention expensive!

Durian Pancake with whipped cream found at Tin Tin Seafood Harbour in Richmond

Rookie in the Kitch...Peach and Blueberry Crumbles

Prepping ingredients...

I cut the recipe to make two...

Close up shop, check out the oozing goodness...

My Verdict: Praiseworthy. I made this one night for dessert and thought I'd try something different than the usual boxed cake(love you Betty Crocker!). I was always daunted by making anything from scratch and heavily depended on premade mixed/boxed. This however was fairly easy and it came out perfect! You can substitute the fruit for whatever you like. In this case I love peaches, and "old man" loves blueberries. Best of both worlds:) I will say it's quite filling, I was only able to eat a quarter of it and saved the rest for the next day. This is great for a cozy night in and served with a lighter main course.

Ina Garten recipe - found in Barefoot Contessa at Home pg 197

Readers if you try this would love to see pics :D feel free to leave them as a comment here or @kngap on Instagram!

Happy baking!!!