A Recipe: Banana Bread

First, I just want to say "thank you" to everyone who emailed, texted and left comments on the blog about my infertility post. I greatly appreciate the feedback and pray that my story continues to offer hope to others out there.

So, with that being said, here is the post I wrote several days ago about banana bread. Weird transition? Yes... But y'all know my posts aren't always streamlined. So, here we go...

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I think I finally figured out why my bananas are ripening WAY too fast.

I hang them on a banana hanger, but it's located right next to my toaster oven (which gets used a least 2 times a day if not more). I think the heat emanating off the toaster is causing the bananas to ripen faster. Does this sound plausible??

Anyhow, I've had a lot of ripe bananas lately, and I hate to throw out perfectly good food, so I made banana bread.

I've made a lot of different banana bread recipes in my days. And I think by combining a few of my favs, I've come up with the best no-fail recipe that is sure to please even the pickiest eater (even Payton loves it and he hates bananas!).


Ingredients:

• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 1 stick unsalted butter - ROOM temperature (very important!)
• 2 eggs
• 3 ripe bananas
• 1 tablespoon milk
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 1 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking powder
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate (chips or broken up chocolate bar)

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 9x5x2 loaf pan with Pam BAKING spray. (If you do not have Pam Baking Spray, butter and flour the pan).

2. In a large mixing bowl, using an electric mixer, cream together the sugar and room-temperature butter until light and fluffy. Then add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

3. In a small bowl, mash the bananas with a fork. Mix in the milk, cinnamon and vanilla extract.

4. In another bowl, combine the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

5. Add the banana mixture to the creamed butter mixture and stir by hand until combined. Add dry ingredients, beating together until flour disappears.

 

6. Fold in chocolate until well dispersed throughout.

(If you happen to have 1 piece of chocolate left over, by all means, enjoy it yourself!)

7. Pour batter into pan and bake 1 hour. Set aside to cool for at least 15 minutes.

Confession... when it's still warm from being right out of the oven, I spread a little butter on it. It's SOOOOO good!!!

Enjoy!