Weekends and Banana Bread

 

 

I love weekends! Husband get's to be home and we get some much needed time together. Some weekends we have big plans of errands or work, and sometimes we get tot just hang out. This weekend was suppose to have some errands, however we just decided to stay home. We got some much needed work done around the house and we spent time napping and playing. It was lovely. I wish weekends would last longer. I guess that we have our busy weeks so that we can really appreciate our blessed weekends. I decided to make some banana bread (because I had some very over ripened bananas). It is scrumptious. I use just my mom's recipe, however I have learned a trick that makes it just amazing.

 

 

 Put your bananas in a microwave safe bowl, cover with platic and cut a few vents.  Microwave for 7-10 mins until they get super soft and give off a lot of liquid.

 In the meantime mix your dry ingredients

 When the bananas are done strain them into a sauce pan.  I know they don't look good now, but just wait.

 

Cook the banana liquid on high until it reduces and becomes thick and syrup like.  I didn't take a great picture, but it is slighly golden in color, and smells amazing.

Smash up the bananas, add the syrup and the rest of the wet ingredients and mix until really well combined.

Add the wet to the dry and carefully fold together.  To much mixing will make tough bread so mix just until combined.  A few streaks of flour is just fine.

 Divide into two greased loaf pans and sprinkle each loaf with a little sugar.  This makes a great candied top.

Bake and enjoy!

 

Banana Bread

(makes 2 loaves)

 

3 1/2 cups flour

2 tsp. baking soda

1 tsp. salt

8-10 bananas (very ripe)

2 sticks butter, melted and cooled slightly

4 large eggs

1 1/2 cups packed light brown sugar

2 tsp. vanilla

4 tsp. granulated sugar (for topping)

 

Preheat oven to 350.  Microwave bananas 7-10 minutes or until extremely soft and liquid.  Meanwhile, mix dry ingredients in a bowl.  When bananas are done strain liquid into a sauce pan and place banana solids in a seperate bowl.  Cook liquid on high until reduced an sryup like, about 5 or 6 minutes.  Pour banana syrup over banana solids and mash until smooth.  Add rest of liquid ingredients to bananas and stir until combined, and sugar begins to disolve.  Pour wet ingredients over dry and carefully fold together.  Divide into 2 greased loaf pans and sprinkle each loaf with 2 tsp. granulated sugar.  Bake for 50-60 mins. rotating pans half way.  Let cool in pans for 15 mins. and then remove and let cool on racks.