Well, friends, today is National Banana Bread Day so I'd like to share my favorite quick bread recipe with you. Are you a fan of banana bread?
To be perfectly honest, I could take it or leave it, but my family just loves it. It's lucky this recipe makes two loaves because one is always gone just as soon as it's cooled!
The other nice thing about this recipe is its versatility; you can truly "mix and match" all kinds of fruits and flavors. Recently I tried blending chopped strawberries into my banana bread mix which was quite a hit ... and I think peanut butter would be a tasty addition, maybe even with a handful of chocolate chips. (In fact, here's a recipe I saw the other day for just that thing.) I'd also like to try making a "tropical" blend, folding crushed pineapple into the banana batter and topping the finished bread with a light glaze and a sprinkle of toasted coconut ...
I actually bought extra bananas last weekend in hopes they'd be ready for baking today, but alas, they are not. I am planning to bake some pan cookies however, as we are expecting friends here later today. "Pan cookies" are simply chocolate chip cookie dough baked in a 9x13 pan and then cut into squares. We've always called them "pan cookies," but I think they might also be known as "blondies."
Do you have a baking day in your household? I like to assign "chores" to certain days, but very often things get done when, and as, they can. Ideally, I'd bake on Fridays and Saturdays, in preparation for Sunday and a busy week ahead. I'm trying to get better at sticking to my routines - in fact, I've made it one of my Lenten goals. I've also assigned myself a Spring cleaning schedule that I really hope to accomplish ... it feels good to think about these things at this time of year! But now I'm getting off-topic so I'll save those thoughts for another post ... :)
Before I go though, let me wish you all a nice day ... enjoy your Thursday, my friends, and I'll see you here again very soon!
Thank you for all these sweet comments! :)
Tracy, you are very kind ... and I will surely do another post on my routines. I'll try to get it up sometime this week.
Blessings to you all!
~ Dawn
Posted by: Dawn | February 25, 2012 at 05:16 PM
I adore banana bread but I am very allergic to raw bananas so I cannot bake it. Somehow in the cooking process, the heat of the oven kills whatever it is I am allergic to. So at least I can EAT it when other people bake it! I would certainly contribute to devouring that first out of the oven loaf if I were at your house, Dawn!
Posted by: Helene | February 23, 2012 at 09:43 PM
LOVE banana bread but I am a better cook than baker so I usually go with a quick bread mix-lol!
I know you have shared your daily, weekly and year round routines before Dawn but I would love it if you shared again. Of course we all have different things going on in our lives and no one could really uae someone else's schedule, but it's nice to get ideas on how others manage their time and households---and you're just SO darn GOOD at it!!
Posted by: Tracy | February 23, 2012 at 02:54 PM
Banana Bread is a take it or leave it for me too but my boys love it...esp w/ the addition of chocolate chips! I have extra bananas right now as we are trying smoothies in the morning for my two "not morning" people. It's easier to drink a smoothie than eat something, apparently!
I'm trying to incorporate a baking day but have a hard time slotting it in to a particular day. (and I have a little 3 yo helper which means it takes longer than just me...though it is soooo worth it!!)
I like that sticking to your routines is one of your Lenten goals...you are so organized Dawn that it gives me hope that someone who isn't particularly organized (aka ME!) can hope to become so to some extent. I`ve been working on getting more in sync with my week and one of my Lenten goals is to lessen the grumbling and complaining that comes out of my mouth. It helps when Mama is cheerful and I think the Lord would also have me be so as well.
Well..I`ve written a novel so I'll be off. Enjoy your Thursday!
Posted by: Tanya W | February 23, 2012 at 02:19 PM
We made banana bread today… Someone must have told the bananas in the fruit bowl to be ready today!!!
Posted by: se7en | February 23, 2012 at 09:07 AM
I agree with you Dawn...Banana Bread is not one of my favorites! But it is a good way to use up yucky bananas! Loved your Lenten post too...you inspire me!
Posted by: Arlene Grimm | February 23, 2012 at 08:29 AM