A series of random letters….
Dear IRS,
I owe you money. And while I won’t be sending you that money on Sunday I do need to get on payment plan. I filled out my taxes but you won’t let me finish them saying that I have more forms to fill out. BUT those forms aren’t available yet. Ummm. This is beyond stupid. Why is it that you can’t bring yourself to have these forms available when you expect me to have my taxes done and filed in just a few days?
Dear Media,
You suck. I mean really, really suck. You have been tearing apart Ashley Judd to no end lately. The minute I saw her face I knew she was on Prednisone. How? Because I have been off and on it since I was 26 years old. It will do that to your face and body. She didn’t have work done and the fact that she gained some weight doesn’t make her a cow. And speaking of what the media calls cows…Jennifer Lawrence. For those who don’t have teens at home, she plays Katniss in the movie The Hunger Games. According to the media she is huge. She is perfect just the way she is yet the media feels they must alter her. Stop sending people/women these messages. You have two perfectly lovely women being called cows/fat when they are anything but.
Dear socks,
Where the heck do you keep going? I have to go and buy socks again. MDP has to as well. Did you run off together and sock elope?
Dear CCS,
Grandma has left the building face the fact. Gone is the woman that sprinkled ham and chicken on your food. You are left with dry food. Learn to love it again as that is all you are getting. Your currently hunger strike is in vain.
Dear 60 Minutes,
Thanks for doing a piece on how sugar is toxic. Now I have a slew of nasty emails about how I am killing myself and my readers. As someone who has taken a ton of statistic classes I am more than aware of how you can basically find/adjust the numbers to make anything support your cause. I will file it with when carbs were bad, then fat was bad, bacon was going to kill me, then certain fats were bad, then only some fats and carbs were bad, then back to carbs being bad, to eating how we did 10,000 years ago.
Dear Readers,
I have two times as many people reading my blog but 1/3 of the comments I used to get, what gives?
Dear Bananas,
I just make this banana cake because I had bananas going bad on the counter. My mom guilted me in to them not going to waste. But then I had no bananas when I wanted one in my smoothie causing me to go out and buy more bananas. It’s a vicious cycle I tell ya.
This is a breakfast cake :)…kind of. The bananas make this much more moist than a typical crumb cake so don’t expect it to taste like crumb cake. But I just couldn’t resist finding an excuse to make a NY style crumb top to the cake…it was a good choice by the way.
Crumb Topped Banana Chocolate Chip Cake
Crumb Topping:
1/3 cup granulated sugar
1/3 cup dark brown sugar
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. salt
8 TBSP unsalted butter (1 stick), melted and still warm
1¾ cups cake flour
Whisk sugars, cinnamon, salt, and butter in medium bowl to combine.
Add flour and stir with spoon until mixture resembles thick, cohesive dough; set aside to cool to room temperature, 10 to 15 minutes.
Cake:
1 ½ cups cake flour
2/3 cup granulated sugar
½ tsp. baking soda
¼ tsp. salt
4 TBSP unsalted butter (1/2 stick), cut into 4 pieces, softened but still cool
1 large egg
1 large egg yolk
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 bananas, super ripe
1/3 cup buttermilk
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
Adjust oven rack to upper-middle position and heat oven to 325 degrees. Spray a 8-inch baking pan with baking spray and set aside.
In bowl of standing mixer fitted with paddle attachment, mix flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt on low speed to combine.
With mixer on low speed, mix until batter resembles moist crumbs, with no visible butter chunks remaining, 1 to 2 minutes. Add banana and beat until fully incorporated.
Add egg, yolk, vanilla, and buttermilk; beat on medium-high speed until light and fluffy, about 1 minute, scraping once if necessary.
Fold in the chocolate chips.
Transfer batter to baking pan.
Spread batter into even layer. Break apart crumb topping into large pea-sized pieces and spread in even layer over batter, beginning with edges and then working toward center.
Bake until crumbs are golden and wooden skewer inserted into center of cake comes out clean, 35 to 40 minutes. Cool on wire rack at least 30 minutes. Remove cake from pan.
Source: Adapted from America’s Test Kitchen “Old Fashion Breakfast Cakes” Episode
Elizabeth says
I’m a guilty non-commenter!! sometimes. 😛 I hope the IRS comes through for you soon Peabody. And I agree with you, Ashley and Jennifer are perfect!!!
Jo and Sue says
LOVE banana and chocolate chip combined…the crumb topping is pure genius. 🙂
Once again, thank you for another amazing recipe and photos that have me wanting to lick my computer screen!
megan says
Looks Scrumptious! I’ll have to make this for the brunch bible study I attend!
Katie says
irs = money stealing bitches, media = anorexic loving bitches, 60 minutes = just plain bitches, socks = dirty whores, us uncommenting readers = quiet bitches, you = aaaaamazing! 😀 lol 🙂 I would love to try all of your recipes again (I used to.. but then I got diagnosed with celiac disease and well.. no more yummies for me). Hope this comment helps brighten your day! I love your blog!
Bobbi says
Long month here. Comments are sporadic. Media is awful. I have a love-hate relationship with IRS since my husband is a CPA so IRS is good for his job. More gibberish = more work for him. Heh.
Jill says
Hi. This post cracked my husband up. But he will not comment. So I will. 🙂
Shonie says
Aww the IRS….they once told me they couldn’t discuss the amount I owed them because I wasn’t the primary person on the jointly filed return. I responded if that was the case then I owed them nothing and couldn’t be held liable for non payment. Gotta love them! The Banana cake looks delish!!
Peabody says
@Shonie- I agree with your thinking! If you can’t tell me what I owe…then I owe you nothing!
Runnergirl says
Guilty! Read ALL the time but don’t comment much – love your blog 🙂
Tiff says
This sounds yummy! Can’t wait to try it out.
Diane says
I admit it… I am a Peabody stalker. Love the blog and know its good for a smile mostly because I can relate. Up and down day here and just might have to go buy bananas!
Victoria says
Thank you for your comments about Ashley Judd and Jennifer Lawrence. They are both beautiful!!! I have a major girl crush on Jennifer Lawrence.
That cake looks wonderful!!
Angela @ The Dancer Bakes says
This looks fabulous! And it drives me INSANE when people go on about sugar being toxic…anything in excess is unhealthy, so leave me my cake in peace, please!
Helen in CA says
Jennifer is beautiful BUT according to the book Katniss would be almost starving if she didn’t hunt. So FOR THE STORY Jennifer is way too healthy looking.
For a person in 2012 she’s Fabulous. For District 12 Xyr? Way too healthy, sorry. Maybe the Mayor’s daughter (who was skipped in the movie) would look like that.
Diana says
I love you 🙂
I honestly don’t comment often, because I’m lazy. I’ve been forcing myself to do it more on my favorite blogs, because it would suck to not get comments but know a ton of people are reading.
It KILLS me that people are tearing apart Jennifer Lawrence. I think she has the PERFECT body! She looks so great, I hope she continues to love how she looks and doesn’t cave to the pressure and scrutiny. They’re also tearing apart Jessica Simpson, which is just ridiculous as well. She’s pregnant! So she’s gained a lot of weight while pregnant, cut her a break.
Becca says
When I clicked the link for Jennifer Lawrence I litterally did a double take when I saw the flasshing image of how she actually looks vs. what digital mutilation the media did to her body. I think Jennifer Lawrence looks very pretty just that way she is. When they made her skinny, they kind of made her look a little dead.
As for your sock delema, I think all socks in the world are starting some kind of group or uproar or something, because I can’t seem to find any socks either. It’s not like I ever wear matching socks anyways…but it would be nice to know where the other one goes, you know?
And I think people are shy, maybe that’s why they don’t comment…or maybe they get distracted by the food? I dunno. Sometimes that happens to me. I get distracted by all the pretty colors. By the way, I made your swirly twirly marbled chocolate chip cookies and they were awesome! I’ve got an entire batch of the cookie dough in my freezer and like everynight I go in an bake some up 🙂
Nicole says
I don’t always have something specific to say, sorry! People really email about the hazards of sugar? Wow! The media stuff is crazy and it’s hard not to fall into the trap.
Jessica J. says
Sorry, I’m a (long time) reader and almost never leave comment love. But I love ya’!
Also, thats sad that people email you about sugar. Moderation people. Not difficult.
JenB says
Sorry, I guess I’ve been a slacker on comments. I’ll work on it… After I bake a yummy banana cake! Thanks for a yummy inspiration. 🙂
Rosa says
A wonderful treat! The amount of comments is not always an indicator that you blog is popular… Strange and annoying, but true. ;-P
Cheers,
Rosa
Carrie says
I used to comment, but then I felt guilty that I have not yet baked anything using your scrumptious recipes. But I am here on the other side of the computer screen, shaking my fist at images of beautiful, healthy girls turned into skeletons via Photoshop.
I just got a whole bunch of new socks, and some of them are already missing … perhaps yours ran off to Hawaii and are letting my socks show them around the island??
Lisa says
Wait a second! You tell us that you can use statistics to manipulate figures, then throw out some stats about your blog readers vs blog commenters. Hmmmm.
:O)
joey says
I share your thoughts on media…they can go jump in a lake for all I care. And they should leave ALL of us alone!
Oooh! A millions times YES to this cake!!
Annette says
Another lazy commenter. Sorry. I think your blog is hilarious. I don’t understand why anti-sugar people would be sending you e-mails. Why are they even reading your blog?
Patti T. says
The combinations of the banana, chocolate chips and the CRUMB TOPPING are genius. I can’t imagine anything making this any better!
Chris says
THANK YOU for throwing another you-have-an-extra-egg-yolk recipe at us! I always seem to need an extra white and am never sure where to use that extra yolk! Same idea with those last two bananas!
I want to tell Katie that she CAN make this cake! Gluten doesn’t like me either but I’ll try an initial substitution of 1/2 cup white rice flour, 1/2 cup tapioca starch/flour, and a slightly overloaded 1/2 cup of sweet sorghum flour and this WILL come out successfully! Just read those other ingredient labels very very carefully. If you like peanut butter, you could use that kind of chip if they’re g-free…if no ‘legal’ chocolate is handy. Or chop up ‘legal’ baking chocolate. If she has it, 3/4-1 tsp. xanthan gum can be added, too. Sometimes I don’t bother but then you have to eat the cake faster. Yeah, you know, since that’s a problem…..!!!
Erika says
What a great post! Perhaps I’ll write some letters of my own and let out some frustration 🙂
Amy says
Can’t believe people write to you and to other fool bloggers I love (like Pioneer Woman) complaining about the unhealthy nature of your recipes! If they’re thrown into such a fit they should just click on something else quietly. Do they really think the only blogs that should be allowed are ones centered around low fat, low carb, low sugar, raw, fresh, gluten free, dairy free, nut free,and vegan dishes? I often search for, find and cook recipes matching some of these labels, but I also enjoy the occasional yummy, not-so-healthful snack so I’m glad you’re here. (and I bet they really are too!)
Sorry I almost never comment, but I’m here reading every post! I’ll try to be better.
Kim says
Your website isn’t killing anyone! Media can bite me. Your recipes and posts make people happy!
Also, you have until Tuesday 4/17 to file your return. It’s emancipation day in DC on Monday.
Rebecca says
Peabody; Jennifer Lawrence is awesome, and could kick my butt, and probably beat up any of those people complaining she’s too “curvy”. Apparently she looked too healthy to be from such a poverty-stricken area as District 12. However, nobody said that about the two main male characters (hmm).
Now I’m going to go print out your super-yummy recipe…
Erin says
Pea, Ashley Judd had a great response to the media scrutiny about her face that is currently making the rounds in social media. Also, the sugar ppl need to simmer down now.
patsy says
This cake is going on my list soon… I have a boy who will eat it without sharing with the rest of us!
Becky says
Long time lurker – love the blog! Made lots of recipes and they turn out great. Check every day to see what new awesome treat you’ve made. Swear I’m more literate than this comment – very late and my husband hates the sound of my typing in bed – he says it’s very aggressive and noisy. Anyways, don’t stop with the sweets!
KG says
I admit to being a lurker around here, but I had to ask…as someone allergic to chocolate, would it be a bad thing to make this for my brothers and just eat the crumb topping?
Melinda says
Dear Peabody, Sometimes I am just a looker and not a commenter. It is nice to missed though.
I have two thoughts for today.
1.)I think someone is stealing your socks.
2.) The IRS will always win.
Love, Melinda x
Donna says
Perhaps the nasty sugar people have lost all their socks and they’re cranky because they have cold feet.
Samantha says
I am so making this this weekend. Looove chocolate chip and banana.
Jennifer definitely looks better un-Photoshopped.
Lim says
As a non-commenting voyeur, I felt it was time to “speak” up. Your post are funny and insightful and I love your recipes.
Because I have an unhealthy relationship with food, I do not make every recipe, but I am able to dream and make choices. It annoys me that someone would send a nasty email because they want to blame instead of accept responsibility.
Good luck with the sock issue!
Gretel says
You are hilarious and your recipes and pictures are 5 star….I believe Pinterest is a current time stealer,,,but it should also lead many to you.I don’t think sugar is in any danger of being boycotted so keep on doing what you do so well and we will be better at giving you feedback!
LeeH says
You are so right about the vicious cycle that is bananas. And as for comments.. this is where the Internet gets weird. Leaving comments on blogs, Twitter, Instagram leaves me feeling like I know someone, like we’re friends when really I’m just someone who said something to you. Yet as humans we like to be responded to, and as an admitted over-sensitive human, my feelings get hurt when I get no response. It leaves me feeling invisible. Now don’t go responding just because I said this. I’m just making a point that surely I’m not the only over-sensitive human on the planet. Just explaining why I rarely comment and perhaps why others just lurk as well
Peabody says
@LeeH- see I hardly respond on here because I feel like unless people ask a question they don’t check back. Not sure why just think that. 🙂
Melinda says
No, Peabody. I check back.
KJ says
I can blame my dog when my socks go missing. There are always at least three balled up behind the couch cushions!
The cake looks amazing! I have a 10 month old with no teeth yet, so we always have bananas to mush. Seems like a great use for those getting a bit too ripe!
SarahK says
i read all the time and rarely write comments. i’m a terrible reader, but i think your blog is great. 🙂
i thought all of my black socks were lost but it turns out my husband has been wearing them…i wear a woman’s size 6 and he wears a man’s size 12. so, now they are his socks. new white socks for me!
the banana cake looks great, even if it has toxic sugar in it!
Courtney says
I too enjoy reading your blog but hardly ever comment. I made this cake and took it to a friends house tonight and got rave reviews. Thanks for another great recipe!(^○^)
Sondra says
Dear Peabody,
I love you and your website and all the recipes and all the commentary.
Angela says
Like so many others, I too must admit that I have fallen off the commenting wagon. These days I’m just plain not good at keeping up with blogs, thank you pharmacy school.
Your blog remains one of my all-time favs after years….every once in a while I just need to read it for the better part of an hour to catch up 😀 AND here I go to Pinterest to spread the gospel of Peabody!! haha!
Jessica A says
I look forward to your blog all the time. I am so excited when I see a new entry but I am not often commenting on them. I’ve tried lots of recipes, and loved them all!
As for your comments about the media tearing folks down about their appearance. I couldn’t agree more. Recently I was diagnosed with a disease that made me go on high doses of prednisone and chemo. I gained a LOT of weight. I’m so down about it that I don’t even want to go out to events. I keep wanting to say – I didn’t just get fat, I’m on medication. That’s how bad people make you feel. I even had a woman, in a meeting, tell me “you know, we just started up our weight watchers meetings again, you might want to think about joining.” Seriously, I almost punched her and then cried. With the amount of steroids I am on, she’s lucky.
So, please keep baking and blogging and we’ll try to be better commenters.
THANKS!
Peabody says
@Jessica A- I am very sorry about that. I know the feeling all too well as I had that feeling years ago when I first started on Prednisone. People would comment that with how much I workout how could I possibly be “that” big. Gee thanks. And if someone has never been on Prednisone they really don’t understand. Hang in there. Love you for you!
Melissa says
Love your blog; am consistently entertained. And I appreciate that when I try a recipe, it consistently turns out. Do you think it’d be overkill to put a glaze on this cake? I’m a sucker for glazes on my coffee/crumb cakes.
Peabody says
@melissa…I almost put chocolate glaze on it…so go for it.
Jenny says
I totally agree with what you said about the media – I am tired of attractive women being called fat or heavy – and when they say is about pregnant women, I see red. I can’t imagine where all the socks go – it drives me crazy. That banana cake sounds yummy and I have bananas going bad on my counter right now…
Megan says
Going to have to make this for a mom’s group tomorrow! Perfect morning pastry.