SPVAQ22021 - 17

BILLY FELLIN

▷	 1 CUP BANANAS (RIPE OR
OVERRIPE, MASHED, ABOUT 2 TO
3 MEDIUM BANANAS)
▷	 ¼ CUP MILK
▷	 1 TEASPOON VANILLA EXTRACT
▷	 2 CUPS ALL-PURPOSE FLOUR
▷	 ¼ CUP UNSWEETENED COCOA
POWDER
▷	 1 TEASPOON BAKING SODA
▷	 1 TEASPOON SALT
▷	 OPTIONAL: ¼ CUP MINI
CHOCOLATE CHIPS
Gather the ingredients. Preheat the
oven to 350 F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf
pan with non-stick baking spray and
set aside. In a large bowl, cream the
butter and sugar together until light
and fluffy. Add the eggs, mashed
bananas, milk, and vanilla extract.
In another bowl, combine the flour,
cocoa powder, baking soda, and
salt. Add the flour mixture to the
banana mixture and mix just until
combined. Do not overmix. Transfer
to the prepared loaf pan. Sprinkle the
top with chocolate chips, if desired.
Bake for 60 to 65 minutes or until
a toothpick inserted in the center
comes out clean. (Careful not to insert
near a chocolate chip.) Cool in the

pan for 10 minutes before removing
to a wire rack. Cool completely before
slicing and serving.

DELICIOUS DRINKS TO
COMPLEMENT YOUR BRUNCH
Say " brunch cocktail, " and most
fans of the late-morning nosh will
immediately envision a Mimosa or
Bloody Mary, and maybe a Spritz,
Irish Coffee or simple flute of
Champagne.
But if you'd like to elevate your
brunch, consider these variations
and new cocktails. You'll spot a
few European spirits among the
recipes, to help you celebrate the
meal's European roots.
If you're mixing for a crowd,
cocktails made with sparkling
wine, ginger beer, or wheat beer
are not ideal for making in batches
as the bubbles fade, but other
recipes may be multiplied. Or go
straight for the Bloody Mary Bar
and Peach Sweet Tea Punch to
easily batch your brunch beverage!

BLOODY MARY BAR
Basically, a Bloody Mary is little more
than a glass of seasoned tomato juice
and a splash of vodka. Seasonings
and the garnishes provide endless
variations. Add spicy flavorings and
horseradish for heat, ginger for extra
punch, ginger beer for bubbly tang.
Use clamato juice instead of tomato
juice for a Bloody Caesar. Top with
garnishes such as celery, olives,
fresh dill, pickles, bacon, shrimp,
pepperoncini, cheese, lemons, limes ...
and more!
You can also mix it up with different
liquors for entirely different taste
sensations, such as gin, bourbon,
mezcal or tequila (aka, a Bloody
Maria), dark rum, Jägermeister and
cognac.
Whether you're fixing up the
brunch cocktail for yourself or setting
up a Bloody Mary fix-it-yourself bar
for guests, consider starting with a
basic Bloody (pre-made mix or your
own creation) and then providing
extras for custom-made perfection!

SPIRITED VIRGINIA | APRIL | MAY | JUNE 2021 17
SPVAQ22021

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