AfroVeganChick Turns Two! Vegan Anniversary And Banana Walnut Star Shaped Bread

Start 2014 off right with banana walnut yum yums! Also called banana walnut bread.

Yippee! Happy New Year's Day! Every January 1, is a celebration for me, my vegan friends, and the animals of the world. I believe that 2014 will be one of great milestones. I feel it deep inside. It's a good good intuitive feeling. Two years have flown completely by. As always veganism has been an incredible learning experience.Not just in cooking. Not in clothing choices and environmental decisions. Life has been all about being more grounded. This year, I hope to be less materialistic and more organic. I am a blessed being. I get to breathe every single day. I want it to mean something. Not just to me. To others. To other people. To the animals. To the outside world. We take so much for granted. I personally have taken existence for granted. I'm ready to change. Put my good hands and feet forward.
As far as the afro part of the journey, Ma braided my hair yesterday in classic straight backs. I have had a hat obsession for years. Can't lie. I will hurdle over this mindset. Maybe this year?

The straight back.

Discovered that I'm not near the 140 pounds believed. Actually 119 pounds. However, I would love to get back to 136. Just really enjoyed that. But I'm monstrously toning for my spring break Florida vacation. Does this make sense?

Enough resolution talk. Let's get to the banana walnut muffins! They're star shaped!!!!
A few weeks ago, I purchased pretty red, white, and green miniature baking dishes from Michael's. They should be on clearance about now.  Though I can't knock getting them at 50 cents a piece. The recipe comes from wanting to do a banana walnut bread for ages and not having the "right" flour. Whole wheat flour isn't sold in smaller packaging like bleached white varieties. I was only going to be in Ohio for a short period of time. So when I Google'd my dilemma, Ambitious Kitchen popped up. She had a recipe for chocolate chip banana bread using the oat flour method- which I used partly in my first scones. I felt saved! I used her as a guide to creating these moist delicious breads. Perfect to wrap up and package to someone forgotten over the holidays. I enjoyed one with a hot enticing mug of hot chai tea.

Banana Walnut Star Shaped Bread

3 cup oats
1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon ginger
1/4 teaspoon nutmeg
3 ripened bananas
1/3 cup brown sugar
2 tablespoon molasses
1 teaspoon vanilla
1/4 cup almond milk
1/3 cup unsweetened applesauce
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and prepare baking dishes with oil.
Grind the oats into a flour.
Sift the flour with baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg. Set aside.
In a blender or food processor, puree bananas, molasses, vanilla, almond milk, and applesauce together.
Combine wet mixture into dry. Stir eventually and add walnuts.
Pour batter into the baking dishes.
Bake for 35-40 minutes or until fork is dry.
Let cool.

Cute bakeware right?

Eat with vegan butter, fruit jams, or peanut butter.

Or naked is just fine....