Banana bread recipes are like chocolate chip recipes, everyone has one and everyone thinks theirs is the best. Banana bread is also a feel good food, to be made on a rainy or cold night, when you want something cozy and homemade to nibble on. Since I have been a little girl I have used the same recipe for Banana bread. My recipe comes from a little kids ABC Cookbook called "Alpha-Bakery" published by Gold Medal Flour. The copyright is 1987 so it 20 years old. We inherited the cookbook from friends who were moving when we lived in Paris, France. It is a simple but very tasty recipe and therefore I want to share my favorite banana bread recipe, which I think is the best with ya'll.
ABC Banana Bread
3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 large)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk (my addition to give the bread more moisture)
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup chopped nuts (I use pecans or walnuts)
1 teaspoon baking soda
2 teaspoons cinnamon (my addition, I love cinnamon)
2 teaspoons vanilla
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Heat oven to 325 and grease a loaf pan with shortening, set aside. Mix sugar, bananas, oil, milk and eggs in a large bowl or I use my kitchen aid and put it on the medium setting. Mix well, scraping down the sides occasionally. Stir in the remaining ingredients. Once well blended pour into the already greased loaf pan. Place the loaf pan in the center of the oven and let cook for 60-70 minutes. I start checking the bread around 55 minutes and I usually use a butter knife and if it comes out clean then I know it is ready. You can also use a toothpick for this purpose.
Once out of the oven, I take a butter knife and sweep all the sides of the loaf pan to loosen the sides and make for a clean and easy release. I then turn over the loaf pan, emptying the bread onto a cooling wrack, then letting it cool right side up. Once out of the oven you can let it cool completely and then serve or Thad likes his fresh out of the oven, with some butter smeared on top and a small glass of milk. Just a suggestion. Enjoy!
