BANANA (bread)

I make the best banana bread in the world.
Proven fact.
Books have been written about supporting this.
Holy books.
Delicious holy books.
full of bananas

BANANA (bread)
- 5 whole overripe bananas
- 1 ripe banana, sliced
- 1 c white flour
- 3/4 c whole wheat flour
- 1 tsp baking soda
- 1/4 tsp salt
- 1 tsp cinnamon
- 1/4 tsp nutmeg
- 1 stick butter, melted and cooled
- 3/4 c brown sugar
- 2 eggs
- 1 tsp vanilla extract
- toasted walnuts
Preheat oven to 350. Put 5 overripe bananas in a microwaveable bowl, cover with plastic wrap, and microwave on high for 5 minutes. There will be liquid in the bowl - pour liquid into a saucepan and strain bananas over saucepan for about 10 minutes, then transfer to a bowl. Bring liquid to a boil, then reduce heat and simmer until reduced to about a 1/4 c of liquid. Add liquid to bananas and mash until smooth, and then stir in your melted butter, sugar, eggs and vanilla. In a large bowl whisk together flours, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg and then add in the wet mixture, stirring until well combined. Gently fold in walnuts (and any other add-ins) and pour batter into a greased loaf pan. Arrange the sliced banana in two strips down the center of the loaf, sprinkle the top with a tablespoon of sugar, and then bake for 40 - 50 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Run a knife around the edges and let cool for 15 minutes before removing from loaf pan and slicing.variations; add in raisins or chocolate chips, swap out walnuts for pecans, and also feel free to substitute sour cream or applesauce for half the butter, and even maple syrup for the sugar...go wild, make it yours.

* I also make a vegan version of this for two friends of mine who absolutely love it; simply use soy margarine instead of butter, omit the eggs entirely; there are enough bananas to act as a binder so the missing eggs don't make any difference. If the batter seems too dry, add a splash of almond or soy milk.