Banana bread

I am very enthusiastic when it comes to trying out different recipes, especially if it involves baking. Most of my days are spent wrestling with a toddler at home and doing just enough cooking to get by. Occasionally, a day comes along when I cant seem to sit still and have enough energy to try out some of the tempting dishes from the Internet. One of the easiest and healthy recipes that I've tried is for banana bread. The recipe is from joyofbaking.com. The golden- brown bread with chopped nuts and moist bananas make the bread so tempting, you just have to take a bite..Mm Mmmm... Happy baking !!

Recipe (Makes one 9" by 5" loaf bread):

All-purpose flour - 1 and 3/4 cup
Large ripe bananas - approx 1 lb or 1 and 1/2 cups mashed or 3 nos
Granulated white sugar - 3/4 cup
Eggs - 2 lightly beaten
Walnuts or pecans - toasted and chopped - 1 cup (optional)
Baking powder - 1 tsp
Baking soda - 1/4 tsp
Ground cinnamon - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/4 tsp
Vanilla extract - 1 tsp
Melted unsalted butter - 1/2 cup

Method:

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Grease a 9" by 5" loaf pan and keep aside.

Toast the nuts by placing them on a baking sheet and baking for 8-10 minutes. Coarsely chop.

In a bowl, combine flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, salt and nuts.

In a separate bowl combine mashed bananas, melted butter, lightly beaten eggs and vanilla.

Lightly fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients, until just combined and the mixture is thick and chunky.

Transfer the mixture into the loaf pan and garnish with banana slices or untoasted nuts.

Bake until the bread is golden brown and a tooth-pick inserted into the centre comes out clean (approx 55-60 minutes).

Cool on wire rack and remove from the pan.

Slice and serve! Bread-elicious!!

Tips:

1. The pictured bread was done in about 45 minutes. It is advisable to check for the done-ness before the given baking time (55-60 min).
2. Chopped nuts in the recipe is optional. The picture shows a few almond slivers on top, added before baking.
3. The batter should not be over-mixed or made smooth. Over-mixing results in tough, rubbery bread.