Homemade Banana Bread

When this was done, I had to get one of those happy housewife pictures. So here it is:



First, I must say banana bread with real mashed bananas totally owns one out of a box any day. It is totally delicious and worth your time. Second, make sure your baking powder hasn't expired/or double the amount the recipe asks for if it has. My bread didn't rise as much as I wanted it to. Note to all new cooks out there: because chemical properties of baking soda and baking powder different; one cannot be substituted for another. Baking soda requires an acidic agent to create bubbles that make the product rise.

Anyway, we will enjoy this bread for a couple of days. I'm saving the other loaf for the girls' night on Friday.

Without further adieu, onto the recipe:

Banana Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 ½ tsp baking powder
• ½ tsp baking soda
• ¼ tsp ground cinnamon
• 1/8 tsp ground nutmeg
• ¼ tsp salt
• 2 beaten eggs
• 1 ½ cups mashed bananas (5 medium)
• 1 cup sugar
• ½ cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine
• ¼ cup chopped walnuts (I used almonds instead)
• 1 recipe Streusel topping (optional)

1.Grease bottom and 12 inch up the sides of two 7 ½ x 3 ½ x 2 -inch loaf pans; set aside. Combine first 6 ingredients, and make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.
2.In a medium bowl combine eggs, bananas, sugar and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened; batter should be lumpy. Fold in nuts. Pour batter into prepared pans. If desired, sprinkle Streusel-Nut Topping over batter.
3.Bake in a 350F oven for 40 to 45 minutes. If necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning. Cool in pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on a wire rack. Wrap and store overnight before slicing.

Streusel Topping

• ¼ cup packed brown sugar
• 6 tbsp all purpose flour
• 2 tbsp butter
• 1/3 chopped walnuts (optional)

Blend with a pastry blender (or in our case, a spatula) until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in walnuts if desired.