Friday, August 23, 2013

Banana-nut Loaf

What to do with over-ripe bananas?

Bananas are not one of my favorite fruits.  I really don't like banana pudding, or banana splits, or bananas in sandwiches.  My daughters like banana-peanut butter-honey sandwiches, but over-ripe bananas just don't work in those.

So what to do with them? I turned to my trusty 1956 Betty Crocker recipe book.  I love this book.  It's actually falling apart and I don't know how to hold it together.  I've covered it with newspaper, like we used for our school books back in the 70s, but that doesn't seem to be helping.  The recipes are still amazing though.

The banana-nut loaf has always been a family favorite.  I can't stand it though.  Like I said, I only like mostly green bananas, and only as just plain bananas.  So I don't even taste the banana nut bread batter!  This recipe makes a lovely loaf, with the characteristic crack down the center, all golden brown and moist deliciousness.  Guaranteed a hit!

Mom's Banana Nut Bread
1 cup sugar
2 Tblsp soft shortening
1 egg

Mix thoroughly.  Stir in:

3/4 cup milk
1 cup mashed banana

Sift together and stir in:
3 cups sifted all-purpose flour
3 1/2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp salt

Blend in 3/4 cup chopped nuts (we're in Texas, so I tend to use pecans, but walnuts work equally well)

Pour into a well greased 9x5x3" loaf pan.  Let stand 20 minutes before baking.  Bake until toothpick stuck into center comes out clean. 

Temperature: 350 degrees
Time: Bake about 70 minutes

Cool for a little while in the pan, then turn out onto rack to cool completely.  Slice with a thin, sharp knife.

Betty Crocker has several varieties on the key recipe - orange-nut, apricot-nut, fig or date-nut, and maple nut.  There's even a prune-nut loaf, but I won't toy with your sensibilities by suggesting you try that one!  Enjoy!

1 comment:

Carol said...

Oh Lisa Beth, I've only just seen this post. How can you not like bananas!!!!!! Oh my goodness, I love bananas. Banana splits being up there as one of my favourite desserts!! :-) Banana muffins. Banana toasted sandwiches. Heck, I used to have banana in my salad sandwiches from the health food shop. Oh and the piece de resistence, which Wes taught me. Get a banana, open the skin by splitting it down the middle, pop some choc buds in there and the seal it back up and put foil around it, then put it in the embers of the fire. The banana becomes all melty and chocolatey, I'm actually drooling whilst writing this!!!!! Now I will go to bed and dream of bananas you realise.