I know that everything happening in the world is super serious and scary, but personally, I am thriving. After feeling so isolated it is really nice to have Brandon home with me all day. My friends are all home too, so we are having virtual happy hours and talking on the phone. I love it.

We take the dogs on a walk every day and it is so nice to see the sidewalk chalk messages and families spending time together, it is so wholesome. People are slowing down, and we are remembering what is really important.

But then there are the creepy things too. The grocery store is such a weird place and our neighborhood playground is closed.

And when you’re stuck at home and you have overripe bananas you make something special, Banana Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting and Toasted Pecans!

Banana Pumpkin Bread with Cream Cheese Frosting and Toasted Pecans

Bread

2 ripe bananas, mashed
2 eggs
1/3 c. canola oil
1 1/3 c. pumpkin puree
1/2 c. honey
1/2 c. white sugar
2 1/2 c. flour
1 t. baking powder
1 t. baking soda
1/2 t. salt
2 t. Penzey’s apple pie spice
1/2 t. cinnamon
1/2 t. cardamom
1 c. toasted pecans

Cream Cheese Frosting

4 oz. room temperature cream cheese
1 stick room temperature butter
1-2 c. powder sugar
1 t. vanilla

1. Grease two 8” cake pans

2. Combine banana, eggs, oil, pumpkin, honey, and sugar in a medium bowl. In a smaller bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices. Stir into the wet mixture and fold in 1/2 c. of pecans.

3. Divide batter between the cake pans. Don’t be like me and cram it all into one cake pan. Bake at 350 for 25-30 minutes, until toothpick comes out clean.

4. Remove from cake pan and allow to cool on a wire rack until almost room temperature, then place in the fridge to cool further.

5. While cake cools, beat the cream cheese and butter until light and fluffy. Add powder sugar to taste. I used about 1 cup because we don’t like things overly sweet, but you can adjust to your taste, add vanilla.

6. Once cake is cooled, remove from fridge and level the top of the cake so it is flat (or flatish). If you have 2 cakes, add frosting to the top of the bottom cake, then place second layer on top. Add a dollop to the top layer as a crumb coat, use the rest of the frosting to cover the top of the cake using an offset spatula. Sprinkle the remaining 1/2 c. of toasted pecans on the top and then run upstairs with the cake to show your partner what you made!