I had the pleasure of participating in Ford Canada’s ‘Focus on My City’ promotion, where Ford was gracious enough to provide me with a brand new Ford Focus to test drive all over the city. Of course, I had to use this to my advantage. So I decided to do a bakery tour of Winnipeg! The bakery scene in the city is incredible. We have so many insanely talented bakers and chefs in Winnipeg that I felt I needed to draw some attention to them…by eating all their food. Life is tough sometimes.
Before I get into the bakery tour and the awesome car I had the pleasure of driving, I wanted to tell you a bit about these Banana Chocolate Chip Muffins that we are featuring today. They are delicious. They are the best banana chocolate chip muffins you will eat. And, they are super easy to make. I brought these into work a couple weeks ago and all my coworkers deemed them the best banana chocolate chip muffins they have ever had (hence the second statement above). If I owned a bakery, they would be on the menu every day. Nice segway into the tour, hey? 🙂
Oh hey, you guys! Look at my ride – a 2015 Ford Focus 1.0L SE. It’s pretty sweet.
Not only was I able to relive my youth with memories of my first car (1997 to be exact) as this baby had a manual transmission which was SO fun to drive, I was also able to save an insane amount of money in fuel during this trek across the city. I drove all over the city (as you will see below!) and also 45 minutes outside of the city to Beausejour and back, and I still have 1/2 tank of gas. My SUV is pretty embarrassed at that fuel efficiency!
I was also able to parallel park it like a boss downtown at our Cake-ology stop with the help of the rear view camera and reverse sensing system. My husband was pretty impressed with me. He was actually scared for his life, but I was in control and confident. Also, I have to say that I’m pretty proud I didn’t stall the car once. That’s how easy it was to drive.
First stop on the Ford Focus Bakery Tour: High Tea Bakery!
This bakery is known for their imperial cookies (pictured above with the star cutouts). They actually provide these delicious cookies for Hollywood celebrities backstage at the Oscars every year.
I mean, what’s good enough for Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie is good enough for me, I suppose!
Second stop on the tour was Lilac Bakery. I love their cupcakes. Honestly, they are probably the best in the city.
That salted caramel one at the top is to die for! And they make dog treats too! Had to pick some up for my friend’s new pup.
Stop three was for lunch across the street from Lilac Bakery at The Grove Pub & Restaurant.
Their burgers are by far the best in the city. Hands down.
It was Burger Week, so we tried their entry – the Poutine Burger. A hamburger patty stuffed with cheese curds? You got my vote!
Stop four was to a bakery celebrating 25 years: Tall Grass Prairie Bread Company.
They are known in the city for their cinnamon buns. They were actually giving them away on the day we did the tour, as it was their actually anniversary. Lucky us!
They are incredible.
Next stop was for ice cream downtown at Cake-ology.
Pictured on the left is a salted caramel snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich. Beside it is the french toast snickerdoodle ice cream sandwich. On top is their blueberry swirl ice cream.
All three were to die for. My friend said her life was forever changed because of this ice cream.
I agree. It’s the best I’ve had in a very long time.
Our final stop on the tour was the Italian staple, Goodies Bake Shop. I always need my cannoli fix when I am there.
The chocolate sin cake above the cannoli’s is also rich and decadent.
And who can go wrong with carrot cake? We can’t. So good.
I mean, look at this trunk space!
If you owned a bakery and had to make deliveries all day, this vehicle is basically made for you.
I was pretty disappointed that I needed to give it back.
Not to mention, cherry red is totally my colour.
I really want this car back in the winter so I can try out its heated steering wheel. It’s the little things that bring joy to my life.
Now let’s get to these delicious muffins, shall we?
In a medium bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
In another small bowl, combine mashed banana, milk, and cinnamon.
Mix in vanilla
In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter, brown and white sugar.
Beat until light and fluffy.
Add eggs in one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Mix in banana mixture.
Add your dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
Fold in chocolate chips with a spatula or wooden spoon.
Fill well-greased muffin tins 3/4 of the way full with batter.
Bake in a 325 degree fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
These muffins are so dense and soft.
Enjoy!
- 2 cups all purpose flour
- 1 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 3 ripe bananas, mashed
- 1 tbsp milk
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/2 cup butter, softened
- 1/2 cup white sugar
- 1/2 cup brown sugar
- 2 tsp vanilla
- 2 eggs
- 1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
- In a medum bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt.
- In another small bowl, combine mashed banana, milk, and cinnamon. Mix in vanilla.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, combine butter, brown and white sugar. Beat until light and fluffy.
- Add eggs in one at a time, beating well after each addition.
- Mix in banana mixture.
- Add your dry ingredients and mix until just combined.
- Fold in chocolate chips with a spatula or wooden spoon.
- Fill well-greased muffin tins 3/4 of the way full with batter.
- Bake in a 325 degree fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the centre comes out clean.
- Cool in the pans for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire racks to cool completely.
- Enjoy!