Kris's Banana Bread

Who doesn't love the aroma of banana bread baking in the oven, especially on a rainy or snowy day. You can hardly wait for it to come out of the oven and slather a piece with sweet butter. The perfect afternoon treat with a pot of your favourite tea.

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This banana bread recipe has been in my family for decades. When I bake this bread I think of my wonderful and cherished nephew Kris, who adored this treat. The recipe has been modified from time to time to add walnuts, strong coffee, cinnamon, chocolate chips or blueberries. All are great alternatives to the classic. But my favourite is the plain recipe served warm straight out of the oven.

This recipe makes one loaf and it freezes very well, if you can bear to part with it.

Pre-heat oven to 350 degrees F

Grease a loaf pan

Ingredients:

2 Bananas*, mashed

1/2 Cup good quality safflower oil

1 Cup of sugar

2 Large Eggs

1 Teaspoon Vanilla

1 1/4 Cups of unbleached white flour

1 Teaspoon baking soda

pinch of sea salt

Method:

Mix mashed bananas, oil, sugar, eggs and vanilla in a large mixing bowl.

Sift the flour, baking soda and a pinch of salt together.

Add dry to wet ingredients until blended. Do not overmix.

Pour into greased loaf pan.

Bake for about 50 minutes to an hour at 350 degrees. Check near the end with a cake tester or thin knife, and they should come out clean.

Let rest for a bit and then dig in. Or freeze. Banana Bread will freeze well for up to four months.

Optional:

Add 1 cup of dark chocolate chips, or 1 cup of fresh blueberries.

Add 1/3 cup of strong coffee and a teaspoon of cinnamon.

Add 1/2 cup lightly chopped walnuts.

*I often use frozen bananas. Don't waste ripe bananas. Just stick them in your freezer and pull out two at a time for this bread.

Banana Facts and Lore:

• Bananas are actually classified as a berry

• Bananas grown on plants that are herbs, not trees

• They’re in the same family as lilies, orchids, and palms

• Banana plants grow up to 25 feet high and their leaves can grow to be 9 feet long and 2 feet wide

• Bananas may be good for your heart. They contain fiber, potassium, folate, and antioxidants, such as Vitamin C

• Bananas are low in calories and have no fat, no sodium, and no cholesterol

• Bananas grown on a stem are known as a 'hand'. The individual bananas are called 'fingers'

• Bananas are the only fruit that contains the amino acid tryptophan plus vitamin B6. Tryptophan helps us sleep so try a banana before bedtime!

• Bananas help your body produce serotonin

• Place a piece of banana peel over a splinter and the enzymes help the splinter work its way out of your skin