Banana Pancake and Banana Bread

As you all know, I like to experiment and try new stuff. But I'm not claiming that my new experiment was my own idea. I actually saw a video of Erwan Heusaff making banana pancake on his Intagram feeds. I didn't catch the ingredients and I actually prefer it that way because I want to create my own recipe and try not to copy someone else's. So whatever similarities in our recipes are purely coincidence. Hehehe...

I bought some banana more than a week ago thinking my daughter would eat it. She prefers it on top of her cereal. But an 11 year old cannot finish a dozen banana in a week. And they are starting to brown and have spots. Before, I would end up throwing them. I thought of making banana bread, but I'm not too crazy about it, and banana isn't really my favorite fruit. But this weekend, I wasn't doing anything really and I miss baking and trying new recipes. I made banana bread first, it was so yummy that I actually enjoyed eating it. Banana pancake was my daughter's breakfast and she devoured the whole plate. So here is the recipe for both banana pancake and bread.

Banana Pancake

2       pcs        over-ripe banana
1/2   cup        all purpose flour 
1      pc          egg
1      tbsp       cinnamon powder
butter

Procedure

In a bowl, mash the banana, add egg, flour and cinnamon powder. Mix well.

In a pan, melt butter, scoop the banana pancake batter. cook for 3 minutes or until golden brown, flip and cook the other side.

Serve with syrup or powdered sugar.

The recipe makes 4 pancakes.


Banana Bread

5      pcs       over-ripe banana
2      cups     all purpose flour
1      tsp       baking soda
1/4   tsp       salt
1/2   cup     soft butter
1      cup      brown sugar
2      pcs       eggs

Procedure

Pre heat over at 350 F

Combine flour, baking soda and flour. Set aside.

Combine butter and sugar. Add to the dry ingredients

Mashed the banana, beat the eggs then add all ingredients.

Pour the mixture in a baking pan. Bake for 50 minutes or until top is golden brown.

I thought making banana bread was complicated. It is not. It is so easy. In fact, I will bake another batch later on because my first baked banana bread is almost gone!!! As for the banana pancake, it reminded me of a mashed "maruya". It is a little tricky to cook it, unlike a regular pancake.

How I planned my daughter's birthday party

So my daughter turned 11 a few days ago, time flies so fast!! This year, she wanted it a little bit different. She doesn't want a party at home, with pizza, ice cream cone, Filipino food etc. She wants to go and do something fun somewhere. So I started searching on what kind of party suitable for an 11 year old.  Because the usual party places like Chuck-E-Cheese, princess themed parties at the local park districts are too "babyish" according to her. I also want to plan a party that doesn't cost me a fortune. So I set up a budget for it, I should be spending only $200 or less for this party.

So I started googling and was surprised at what I have found. There are so many places you can have parties suitable for 11 years olds. Here as some of the places that can cater to birthday parties.

1.  We all know that Home Depot holds kids workshop every first Saturday morning of the month. But what we didn't know is that some braches allow birthday parties. You just have to talk the the branch manager if they will allow it.

2.  California Pizza Kitchen. This restaurant allows birthday parties before they open at 11 am. Kids are going to have fun making their own pizza and a tour around the restaurant. The downside, your party has to start at 10 am. Cost is $10/kid. The birthday child will have a chef's coat. 20 kids maximum.

3.  Whole Foods Market.  Some WholeFoods branches allows a cooking birthday parties, just call your nearest branch if they do that. Average cost of $200-225 for 10 kids, $12.50 additional kid. 6 adults are only allowed inside the room though.

4. Kids Science Labs.  If your child likes slime and other science experiments, then this is the best place to have his/her science party. Not cheap though. They charge $575 for the first 15 kids, and $20 additional kids.

5. Some art studios allows painting parties. Call your nearest art studio if the allow birthday parties for kids.

6.  Some salon allows spa parties for kids. They get to have mani and pedi, along with hair do and make up. Mind you, its not cheap. Average of $30/child.

7. Joann's Store.  This art and craft store holds classes for both adults and kids. And they also offer birthday packages for kids. $120 for the first 8 kids, $10 additional kids.

8.  Cooking school.  This is the one that I like for my daughter's 11th birthday party. But its so expensive. Not within my budget. My Chefs Station has many party packages. Minimum cost is $250 for 10 kids and 2 adults.

9.  YMCA offers party packages for some of their amenities. Your child can have a swimming party or basketball party. Call you local YMCA for costs.

10. Skyzone. We all know about this trampoline park. This is one of my daughter's happy place. Birthday packages start at $299 and up for 12 jumpers. 

11. Movie party. Contact your local theater for their party packages. Cost can range from $300 to $500. But you can make it cheaper by just meeting up at the theater with the guests, pay for the tickets and buy food at the concession area.

12. Wonder Works Children's Museum offers birthday parties for kids 1-8 years old. I know its not for my daughter, but I just want to include it on my list. It is located in Oak Park, IL. $100 to reserve a room for party  plus the cost of admission to the museum. Maximum of 20 kids with no adult sitting.

So I discussed it all with my daughter, and since its her party, she gets to decide where it is going to be. After going to the place and tried their craft, she decided she wants to have a craft party at Michaels Art and Craft Store. And the best part is that it is actually affordable!!

So while my daughter was in an art class, I talked to the person in charge of the birthday parties, her name is Amanda, she showed some of the packages, none if which my daughter likes. They have t-shirt making, slime making, princess themed party etc. All for $120 for 8 kids, same with Jo-Anns', additional kid is also $10 each. But they have this other option where you pay $50 for reserve the classroom for 2 hours, then buy the art supplies that you want for your party. My daughter wanted to have a painting class, where she and her guests gets to paint some birdhouses and chests. We bought the art supplies before her party to avail of the 20% off entire purchase and I end up paying only $36!!

I wanted her give away to be a little different. And since I'm into bento box making, I decided to create a bento box for the kids. I went to Dollar Tree to get some cool containers for my bento box.  I got some of my supplies there too, like the serving trays, disposable plates, forks, spoons, table covers etc. The bento box include a baked mac and cheese in a cupcake paper, some pretzels, candies and Green goddess in an ice cream cone.

Sophie didn't want to serve pizza again. And to be honest, I want to serve something different. I served tuna salad pinwheels, penne pasta in marinara sauce, eggrolls( that I made and freeze a few weeks ago), fruit kebabs, hotdogs in a stick, some chips and sauce and crackers and green goddess that everybody loved.

For the cake, I went to Jewel to have a customized cake that only cost me $14. I plan to give cupcakes for the kids instead of cutting the cake and serve them. I thought of putting some gymnastics cupcake toppers, I looked online and found some free printable cupcake toppers images, I had it printed at Walgreens for $0.29/picture. I cut the images in the picture, and attached toothpick at the back.

The usual party will cost you around $500. And guess what, I spent a total of $201.51 for everything!!😀👍👍. I'm just $1.51 over my budget.

There are still a lot of birthday party ideas that are not included in my list. Who knows what I will be able to come up with next year..