Simple Banana Bread

 

Banana bread is one of those things that I really love but rarely make for myself. I remember to buy bananas like 3 times a year, and when I do remember to buy bananas I usually end up eating them all during the week instead of waiting for that perfect overripe state. But not this time! No! I was super prepared and I bought enough bananas to cover both breakfasts and bread making for the upcoming week. I purchased a slightly under-ripe bunch of bananas on Sunday and on Wednesday I had bananas that were just starting to speckle with brown. And so begins my tale of how to make banana bread.

Makes one 9x5" loaf

Ingredients:

• 3 medium ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup melted butter
• 1 c. sugar
• 1 large egg, beaten
• 2 teaspoons vanilla
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 c. all purpose flour
• Optional: 1 cup chopped pecans or 1 1/2 c. large chocolate chips (you can use regular ones, but I swear by the jumbo babies because I like the size better in a loaf -- regular chips tend to melt away and lose their shape). Heck if you really want you can add 3/4 c. pecans and 3/4 c. chocolate chips. It's your world.

Directions:

1.  Preheat the oven to 350 F and position the rack into the middle of the oven.
2. In a large mixing bowl mash your bananas. You can use a fork, a pastry cutter, a potato masher... Really anything. Just mash those nanners up until there are no pieces bigger than a big pea. Or a bean. Or a Junior Mint. You see, this is clearly an exact science. You may proceed.
3. Mix in the melted butter, then add the sugar, egg, and vanilla until thoroughly combined.
4. Next add the baking soda and salt, mix again to combine. Then add the flour and mix.
5. If you decided to add nuggets of goodness (aka pecans or chocolate chips), now is the time to fold them in.
6. Pour the batter into a greased 9x5" loaf pan. Bake for 55-65 minutes, or until a toothpick entered in the middle of the loaf comes out clean. Let it rest in the pan uncovered for at least 15 minutes before turning out onto a rack to cool completely, another 45 minutes.
7. Store in an airtight container or covered in foil for 3-5 days. 

 

Fried Bananas and Whipped Cream

When I was 6, my family took off to Central America for six months. At the time, I was under the impression that months and years were the same thing so I was a bit nervous at the prospect of leaving home for 6 years.... but after learning the difference between months and years and experiencing the pure joy of travel, let's just say I love my parents for deciding it was a good idea to quit their jobs, rent out their house, and move to a place we'd never been before. Not to mention the whole Spanish language thing.

Anyway, I can remember eating fried plantains with whipped cream, and later that week someone in the house was a genius and decided to use bananas to recreate that dish... I have never been a fan of plantains unless they are smothered in green chili and beans, so putting them into a sweet dessert didn't hit the spot. Bananas fried in butter, however, are pure magic.

This is probably the simplest dessert you can imagine, and if you buy a can of whipped cream rather make your own it is even easier to whip up. Ha. Ha. Whip up. 

Ingredients:

• 1 banana - you want this more on the green/yellow side than deep yellow
• 1 tablespoon butter
• Whipping cream - pint
• 1 tablespoon sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:

1. Pour the whipping cream into a large bowl.  Blend on high until it becomes fluffly but peaks do not form. Add the sugar and vanilla, then continue to whip until soft peaks form. Be careful not to over-beat because you will make butter if you go to far :)
2. Heat a skillet over medium heat. Slice the banana lengthwise into 1/2 inch thick strips. Add the butter to the pan, and coat the bottom. Add the banana slices and cook until browned, then carefully flip over and brown the other side. 
3. Serve hot with a plop of whipped cream on top.

Enjoy!