Banana Bread

When you have bananas that start going bananas, don’t throw them too fast. This is a very easy recipe that doesn’t even require starting a mixer (I can make it in the evening after my kid went to sleep) and it’s a great snack or breakfast, with jam, butter and a cup of tea. What I also like is that you can add whatever nuts or raisins you have, and you can use various spices, so it tastes a little bit different every time. When I made it on Sunday and wanted to pack a couple of slices for school, my son gave me a definite no. Why, I asked. Because I don’t like bananas. Yes, it's true, he didn't like bananas at that exact moment when I asked. But he likes them with every other occasion. In the meantime the banana bread is almost gone, he wanted to eat it for breakfast, lunch and dinner. If I learned something from being a mom, is to not give up too easily when you get a no. Try to bring the message again on a different time, from a different angle and everything can change in a second. This helps me being a better parent and in general a better person.

Ingredients

230 g flour

125 g sugar

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/4 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

1/4 teaspoon cloves (optional)

100 g nuts or dried fruits

2 eggs

3 ripe bananas

115 g butter

1 teaspoon vanilla essence

Orange or lemon zest

Preparation

Step 1

Preheat the oven at 180 degrees. Butter a rectangular bread pan and line the bottom and sides with baking paper.

Step 2

Mash the bananas with a fork or the utensil you use for mashed potatoes. I like to leave some chunkier pieces as well. Melt the butter and let it cool down. Beat the eggs lightly, like you do for an omelette.

Step 3

Add all dry ingredients in a bowl and whisk them together (flour, sugar, baking soda, baking powder, spices, zest, nuts). In another bowl, mix together the wet ingredients (mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter and vanilla essence).

Step 4

Add the wet ingredients over the dry ones and with a spatula, start incorporating them slowly, until you don’t see any traces of white flour. Do not mix it with the mixer, otherwise it will get too rubbery.

Step 5

Bake it for 60 minutes at 180 degrees and you get what you see below.