Banana Protein Muffins

This is my latest flavor in my series of protein muffins.  It joins its siblings, chocolate, apple and pumpkin.  A younger sibling, berry, will hopefully be joining the family shortly.

These muffins freeze really well, so I like to have batches of the different flavors stocked up for quick breakfasts.  As much as I love to cook, sometimes it’s nice to not have to start from scratch for every meal.  And sometimes, it’s nice to get takeout.

One night, we ordered from a favorite neighborhood restaurant.  Tim went to pick it up, but he was gone a really long time.  I assumed they were really busy, but when he finally got home, he explained to me the real reason it took so long.

When he got to the restaurant, there were several people waiting for takeout (this was pre-corona), so he got in line. Finally, it was his turn, but the woman looked past him, as called, “Next!”

“I’m next,” he informed her.

“No.  You’re next!” She pointed to the woman behind Tim.

“He was here before me,” the woman said, gesturing to Tim.

“You are next,” the woman behind the counter insisted.

Shrugging at Tim, the woman got her food, left, and the woman behind the counter looked to the man behind Tim and shouted, “Next!”

“I am next!” Tim insisted.  “What is your problem?”

“Next!” the woman insisted gesturing the man behind Tim to move forward.

But Tim was done. “No, I am next, and you are going to give me my food.  I can see the bag right there on the counter behind you.”

“No, he is next.”  The woman still refused to wait on Tim, trying to hand the guy behind him his bag.

“I want to see the manager,” Tim demanded.

Finally, the manager came out, and Tim explained how the woman had refused to give him his food, taking care of people who had come in after him.

“What’s her problem?” Tim demanded.

“She doesn’t like your face,” the manager admitted.

“Excuse me?”

“She doesn’t like your face, so she is refusing to serve you.”

“And you let her deal with customers?” Tim asked, flabbergasted.

The manager shrugged and handed Tim his food, “She’s my mother-in-law.  What can I do?”

Ingredients:

• 2 cups of oat flour
• 1 cup rolled oats (not quick cooking)
•  3/4 cup of vanilla protein powder * If the brand you use has a greenish tint, the muffins will too
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 3 teaspoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon sea salt
• 1 cup mashed bananas
• 1   1/2 cups almond milk
• 1  1/2 Tablespoons apple cider vinegar
• 1/2 cup maple syrup
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

**Optional:  Can add nuts, chocolate chips, cinnamon or nutmeg to batter

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350
2. Whisk all dry ingredients together in a large bowl.  Whisk all wet ingredients together in a small bowl.  Add the wet to the dry and stir well to combine.  Let the batter rest for 5-10 minutes, where it will rise.
3. While the batter is resting, line 16 muffin tins with paper cups.  Using an ice cream scoop, put one scoop of batter in each cup.
4. Bake for 15 minutes.  Remove from oven and allow to cool (or cool enough to not burn your mouth when you eat them). Finish cooling on a rack.

Enjoy!