Banana Bread

As requested from a friend I will post my Banana Bread/Muffin recipe.   It is based on one from Better Homes and Gardens...

Oven 350    

1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour  

(**If you want a slightly healthy version I have been doing 3/4 cups all purpose flour, 1/2 cup whole wheat flour, 1/2 cup oats-- very yummy Muffin flavor)

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

3/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/4 tsp pumpkin pie spice (this is optional or you can use cloves or more cinnamon)

1 egg

1 cup mashed bananas (3 medium-- the secret here is the sugar banana goo from the defrosted banana)

3/4 cup sugar

1/4 cup cooking oil (veggie or canola)

1/2 cup chopped walnuts (I usually leave out due to the baby but Papa LOVES them so think of your company)

You can cook in a loaf-- 8x4 50-60min  9x5 1hr+  mini loaf 40min

Muffin tin (makes 12)--15-20 min

Mini Muffins (makes 24)-- 10+min

** So that is what you NEED to make the bread.  Here are the direction and the secret that I touched on in the recipe about the 'goo'.  

What do you do with your bananas when they ripen too the point where nobody will eat them? Let them go one more day till they are very brown, but not attracting flies and put them in the freezer.  I will even put 1/2 bananas in the freezer (sometimes the girls will only eat 1/2 a banana and I hate to waste it).  When you have a total of 3 bananas and your ready to make some bread put them in a large/medium mixing bowl and set them out on the counter or frig (I like to put out of the way in the microwave) till defrosted.  Once defrosted squeeze out all the flesh, juice (sugar goo).  Its ok to have some of the inside peel fiber in the mix don't worry about that, but do try to keep the outer peel out of the juice.  Toss the peels and what is left in the bowl is the base of your 'wet' mix.  To this you add the egg, sugar and oil.  Once that is all mixed add it to the mixed dry mixture (flour, powder, soda, spice) and mix till 'just moist'--if your going to add nuts now is the time to stir those in.  The more you mix it the tougher the dough.  And yes this is a quick bread so the dough is very wet.  When doing a loaf sometimes the top will brown before the middle is cooked, if this happens cover with foil till cooking is complete.

Grease your pan of choice, fill and cook till a toothpick comes out clean.

If you are serving this to company make it the night before because when quick bread sits the flavors really get a chance to blend.