Fruit Burst Banana Muffins

As far as baking goes, this is one of my favorite recipes. I recently changed it slightly omitting margarine and using organic virgin olive oil in it's place. Change is soooo good.

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 organic virgin coconut oil (as it comes in the jar, softened not melted)
2 eggs
4 medium bananas (overripe previously frozen, thawed)
1 cup frozen mixed berries (thawed with juice)
1/2 cup buttermilk (I just use milk with a bit of vinegar & let it sit a few minutes)
1 tsp vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour (white or whole wheat)
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottoms & sides of muffin tin(s) with organic virgin coconut oil.

Mix sugar and coconut oil in a large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, thawed mixed berries (with juice), buttermilk and vanilla. Mix together until moistened, add remaining ingredients and again mix together until moistened. Beating til smooth is optional. I like to keep berries whole except strawberries, which I break in a few pieces with a fork. Actually I only use a fork for mixing. An electric hand mixer is faster but you won't get the big juicy pieces of fruit in your muffins.

Bake for about 1/2 hour when tops are golden brown, and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. This recipe makes about 18 regular sized muffins. Enjoy!