Peanut butter banana cookies and afternoon tea

Searching for gluten free cookies that are easy to make?  We have a recipe for you to try that everyone loves around here.

You all know I love to make new recipes up all of the time.  I get bored with things, but at the same time, I only make small changes to recipes I know I like too, I do not want to be wasteful.  I had several bananas sitting on the counter, you guys, they were BLACK!  I let them set out for too long and I decided I couldn't let them go to waste, so I decided to try another cookie...

You will need:

1. 4 really ripe bananas (that's what I had, they were on the small side)
2. 1 1/4 c gluten free oats
3. 1/4 t sea salt
4. 1/2 c dark chocolate chips
5. 1 heaping T peanut butter

First, I mashed the bananas with my whisk, they really did not need any help being mashed... they basically fell out of the peel when I pulled it back.  I have never let them go that long... but you know what?  The more ripe bananas are, the sweeter they are, which makes them perfect for cookies, breads, and cakes!

Then I added the oats and used my whisk to stir the bananas and oats together.  Then I added the sea salt, and decided I was craving a little peanut butter so I added it to the cookie batter.  Lastly, I added in the dark chocolate chips. Mixed it all together in our medium sized pyrex mixing bowl and then started spooning them onto one of my Wilton pans.

I baked the cookies for 21 minutes since I made them on the larger size.  As much as I like to make my own cookies, I do hate the baking part, the waiting and then removing them from the pan, and spooning more on and then baking, more waiting... I like to be working on other things... it is why I always try to make my recipes super easy.  I am not one to make things that take a lot of prep.  

I thought it would be fun to get my serving tray out that I picked up at a thrift store for $19.99 a few years ago, and my lovely rose tea cups.  You know I love roses, so these were perfect for me.  I have been in LOVE with the Royal Albert pattern for years, but do you know I have never collected any of the pattern for our home?  True... I have not, but I found these Aynsley Bone china tea cups that were made in England and since they were the right price, they came home with us.  There were only two and I thought why not?  I have had the tea strainer for a while, I decided I had to have it when I was going through a tea drinking phase.  And then the precious bunny napkins I added to our serving tray for spring afternoon tea.  

Total side note, oh my goodness!  I found a set of teacups and saucers that got my attention!  Check them out!  Couldn't you just see of few of them sitting on a tray on your coffee table for a display?  Never mind you can use them, the design possibilities... that was enough for me!  LOL. I am such a sucker for the fancy pants things in life... do you find yourself gravitating towards those things too?  If so, we are kindred spirits for sure!    

I was going to call this "high tea", but were you aware that high tea references those working and they had it after a long day of work, but it was also served at the dining room table with high back chairs, and hot food.  I served mine with cookies so we can call it afternoon tea.  Afternoon tea is of course served in the afternoon on a soft, comfortable settee.  A little lesson on tea terms for anyone interested.  I love to learn new things... being like a sponge always absorbing information I can tuck away for later.  Plus I absolutely loved Downton Abbey!  Anyone else a fan of this historical drama series?  Myself and some of the gals I worked with watched every episode... we were enraptured by the time period, the clothing, how they lived, the drama of their lives... if you did not watch it when it was on, I highly recommend it!  

Well, I hope you enjoy this new recipe and know when your bananas no longer resemble the yellow color they usually are, you can still use them!  Enjoy your day darlings... 

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