Banana Cardamom Muffins

In my house we almost always have baked goods around, muffins, cookies, scones...you name it! My kids love them all so I keep the kitchen stocked for both snacking and school lunches.

My kids are always at the ready to take the lead on making anything involving butter and sugar!

Today, I'm going to let you in on one of my secrets! This is my absolute favorite ingredient! AND I am thrilled that my kids are as bonkers for this flavor as My husband and I are! As a matter of fact everyone who has tasted something made with this wants to know just what that "special flavor" is - and many have now have it in their own pantry....some because I gave it to them and some because they ordered it.

It's called Chicago Old Town Premium Spiced Sugar and it's from The Spice House. THIS sugar has the best of the best in it...Madagascar vanilla beans, China cinnamon and wait for it.....Cardamom! It is majestic!

This stuff is so good, I could write a song about it.

Maybe I will!

Anyway, I use it in cookies, muffins, scones, breads, pancakes and candied nuts to name a few - Holy mackerel what this sugar does for candied nuts! It will change your life! A-mazing!!

In August I am going to be doing a fun giveaway representing some of my favorite things. It goes without saying that THIS will be included. Stay tuned!!

While taking a picture of my latest batch of muffins, I had an accident...take a look:

I just stood there in shock...looking at my new, big, beautiful jar of Chicago Sugar all dashed to bits. My 10 year old son said "Mom, why don't you save what's still in the jar?" Love him! I then showed him how the glass went everywhere and no way no how does one take a chance with anything involving broken glass. Then we got to work cleaning it up.

Within 10 minutes, I had marched up to my computer and ordered more...I had it in 3 days...phew!!

I don't think a week goes by that I don't reach once or twice for my jar.

I contacted The Spice House and asked if they had any kind of promo code for me to offer you in case you take me at my word and need to immediately have this in your life...and they kindly provided me with this code for free shipping. Just enter freeshipblog on orders of $40.00 or more. It is valid until 7/31.

I always order the biggest one...and around the holidays double it - you will go back for more...trust me!

I have to say The Spice House is an awesome source for some really nice spices, I also adore their Himalayan Pink Salt and their Cajun Seasonings. I buy multiple varieties of the Cajun in bags, including the salt-free, and mix them together, giving me just the taste I am looking for. Here is a video of another popular spice from there - by "The Spice Boss" making Jamaican Jerk Chicken.

Wait until you see how beautiful this store is (I am jealous of any of you who live nearby it! One day I have to go there.) The catalog is fantastic as well.

This is not a sponsored post or anything...I enjoy sharing things that make me happy and I just wanted to share my love of this sugar along with my respect for The Spice House. Did you know on every order I have received, someone has hand written a "thank you" on my invoice...Love that! I want to open one of these beautiful stores where I live!! I know it would be a hit!


Let me know if you try the sugar and if you do what you used it for!

Banana Cardamom Muffins

1 3/4 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/3 cup milk
1 tsp lemon juice
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup Chicago Old Town Spiced Sugar (and additional for topping)
2 eggs
3 browned bananas

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Mix flour and baking soda in a medium bowl, set aside.
In a small bowl or mug, combine the milk and the lemon juice, set aside.
In a large bowl, cream the butter and the sugars. Add the bananas and using a potato masher, mash them into the butter and sugar mixture. If you don't have a potato masher you can use a big fork or your clean hands - it is quite fun squishing bananas! Add in the milk mixture, stir well. Add in the flour mixture and stir until combined. Spray a muffin pan well with non-stick spray and fill each cup a little over half with the mixture. Top each with a liberal sprinkling of the Chicago Sugar and bake for 15-20 minutes or until a tester comes out clean. FYI The bigger your bananas the denser the muffins and the longer the cooking time. It all works out in the end.

*Sometimes I kick these up a notch by sprinkling a layer of the Chicago Sugar in the middle of each muffin and sometimes I add chocolate chips as well. Nummy, num, num!

The smell while these are baking is ridiculous! If you are trying to sell your home...bake some of these babies just before folks come over for a look-see and they will fall in love! Hey it worked for me!

If I only want 12 muffins, I put the excess batter in a small loaf pan and cook it alongside the muffins until it's done, covering the top with the Chicago Sugar as well.

Enjoy!!