We love banana bread around here, seriously dig the stuff. I have perfected what I think is the yummiest whole wheat banana bread and it happens to be low fat too! So if you love banana bread but want a healthy version that is moist, sweet, yummy and very bananaeee (new word, like it?) then hold onto your peels this recipe is for you!
Ingredient list:
- 1/3 Cup Veggie Oil
- 1/3 Cup Applesauce (I use unsweetened)
- 1/3 to 1/2 Cup Sugar (depending on your taste)
- 3 eggs
- 3 1/4 - 3 1/2 Cups Whole Wheat Flour (this kinda varies depending on the size of your eggs and how runny your applesauce is)
- 2 tsp baking powder
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1 tsp salt
- 6 large mashed bananas (smashed, smooshed and otherwise mutilated bananas if you are cooking with a kid!)
- Nuts are optional...I would suggest walnuts...if you don't live with any nut-haters that is.
First you start out with a good old friend...lets all give a warm welcome to 'the New Cook Book' by Better Homes and Gardens...although it isn't even close to new as it was a wedding present that was given to me by my grandma 25 years ago (again let me reiterate that I was a child bride) . Banana Nut Bread from page 51 is the starting point for this recipe.
One...ok me...must also wonder why someone would name a book 'The New...' anything considering that it will soon not be new and therefore it will then be a big fat liar, just a thought
Sorry Grandma I laid your nice book on a hot burner...now this would have surprised my Grandma but since the rest of you visit here once in a while I betcha it doesn't surprise you. My hubby always keeps 2 fire extinguishers in our kitchen...just in case!!!!!!
Start with the oil poured by my lovely assistant Sweet Girl
Next is the applesauce
Stir, stir
Next comes the sugar, yummy
Add eggs...
Scoop up an egg...
Touch the egg, plop it down a couple of times, poke it, smell it, play with it till mama sees what you're doing and makes you stop
Measure out baking powder, talk to mama about leavening and such...science is so cool! Don't forget the baking soda and salt.
Add half of the whole wheat flour...mix but don't over do, quick breads like to be treated tenderly, they are the princesses of the bread world. Unlike yeast breads that like to be slapped around a little...ok I'm stopping before this discussion evolves into something sorted!
Have fun smashing the bananas! Note, if you lick the bananas off your fingers make sure no one's watching!
Pour in the bananas...WAITwhat is that I see a tiki hut?
Oh my goodness its a couple of Hawaiian girls and a palm tree, you discovered my secret to super duper bread...shhhhh don't tell!
Stir and then add the rest of the flour, stir some more, remember gently, gently ...it tastes better when you stir it wearing a groovy headband!
Put into pans and then into oven,
no,...pour into pans and then place into the oven, pouring it into the oven is a bad idea. Bake at 350 degrees F for 45 to 50 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.
Fresh out of the oven...oh so pretty! Can you smell it? No? Sorry just trying to torture you a little!
Most and delicious...very, very good
Moist and delicious with applesauce...even better!
This really is a great recipe and it can be enjoyed with little guilt (well unless you smother it with butter which I hear is good, I would never do that myself, not ever...really I wouldn't!) This particular bread should never be enjoyed alone though...go grab someone you love (or are wildly attracted to) and give 'em a big kiss and share some homemade goodness with them...the bread silly...what did you think I was talking about?
BTW...if you don't have a groovy Hawaiian plate to use you could put on a bikini and a grass skirt and I think it would work just as well. Aloha!
