Banana Bread

Oh banana bread. Otherwise known as the best way to use those blackening bananas that no one wants to eat. So, when you make this recipe, not only is it super easy with very basic ingredients, you're saving yourself some wasted food. It's a win-win really.

original recipe via the Good Housekeeping Cookbook 

This is the recipe my mom taught me to make when I was a kid. It takes a little while to bake, but very little effort to whip up. Just try not to eat the whole loaf at once.

Grocery list items 

bananas (if you don't have some old ones hanging around, you can buy them and let them sit) 

Banana Bread 

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour 

2/3 cup sugar 

1 tsp double acting baking powder 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp baking soda 

1/2 cup butter (room temperature) 

2 very ripe bananas
2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 eggs

Start by preheating your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Then take a 9-by-12 bread pan and grease the inside. Sprinkle it with flour to prevent sticking and set it aside. This is an important step because otherwise your loaf of banana bread will stick or break in half. 

Mix your dry ingredients together well. 

Then, using a pastry cutter, two knives, two forks, a whisk (any tool you like really) cut in the butter and mix it until there are coarse crumbs. This is where having room temperature butter really helps. You can microwave the butter for a few seconds if it's not soft enough, but don't completely melt it. 

Mash the bananas with a fork, leaving some chunks. It should be wet and squishy, but not completely liquified. Add vanilla. Mix in your two eggs, stirring well.

Fold the wet ingredients into the dry, and do not over mix. 

Pour the batter into the prepared pan. You can sprinkle the top with a tsp of sugar, if desired.

Bake the loaf for 1 hr 5 min, or until a sharp knife/cake tester comes out with a few moist crumbs. Place it on a wire rack to cool for about 10 minutes. Then remove and allow to completely cool. 

Enjoy your delicious banana bread! Makes a great breakfast, snack, or gift. 

Banana Bread

1 3/4 cups all purpose flour 

2/3 cup sugar 

1 tsp double acting baking powder 

1/2 tsp salt 

1/4 tsp baking soda 

1/2 cup butter (room temperature) 

2 very ripe bananas 

2 tsp vanilla extract 

2 eggs

Directions:
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit. Butter and flour a 9-by-12 bread pan.
2. Mix together dry ingredients in a large bowl.

3.  Cut in butter until coarse crumbs form.

4. Mash banana in a separate bowl, then mix in eggs and vanilla.

5. Fold wet ingredients into dry, but do not over mix.
6. Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1:05, or until an inserted knife or cake tester comes out with a few moist crumbs. 
7. Allow banana bread to cool for about 10 minutes in the pan, then remove and cool completely on a wire rack.