Tuesday, July 2, 2013

banana bread

I understand that baking can be intimidating.

In reality though, baking is really simple. Like most things, there are rules that you have to follow if you want to bake something that is edible. But the rules are basic and it is just a matter of learning them.

If you are a beginning baker, or you have never baked before, but would like to have a go at it, this is the perfect recipe for you.
There is no need to buy a mixer or any fancy equipment. All you need are a large bowl, a hand whisk and measuring spoons or a weighing scale. I mean, it really cannot get any simpler than that.

Don't get me wrong - simple does not mean a dry, tasteless cake. This banana bread is so moist, and so fragrant you will never buy a banana bread from the store again once you have tasted it.

What I also love about this recipe is that my 3.5-year-old boy was able to help me and we had some fun spending some time together in the kitchen.
I started by mashing the bananas and placing them in a mixing bowl together with the egg, melted butter and milk.

Then Aden stirred the mixture to combine the ingredients.
While he was doing that, I sifted the flour, baking powder, bicarbonate of soda, salt and nutmeg, before adding the sugar to the flour mixture.

The flour-sugar mixture was folded into the egg-butter-milk-banana mixture in 3 parts.
If you are adding raisins, sultanas or chocolate chips, do so at this stage and quickly stir them into the batter.

The batter was then poured into a lined and greased baking tin. If you are adding nuts, scatter them on top of the batter.
The bread was place in the middle of a pre-heated oven, and baked.

When it emerges from the oven, be prepared to do a dance of happiness.
It will be a gorgeous looking loaf of bread.

And when it has cooled in the tin for about 15 minutes, transfer it to a cooling rack to cool completely.

Once cool, slice the banana bread, and give yourself a pat on the back for a job well done.
A moist, light and tender banana bread dotted with specks of banana.

Tuck in. You deserve every delicious morsel. After all, it was HARD WORK baking this. ;)

RECIPE
Banana Bread (Serves 8)

Ingredients:
1 egg
3 cups mashed banana
120g butter, melted
¼ cup whole milk, room temperature
1½ cups plain flour
¾ cup caster sugar
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp bicarbonate of soda
½ ground nutmeg
½ tsp salt
1 cup chocolate chips (optional)
½ cup chopped walnuts or almond flakes (optional)
½ cup raisins or sultanas (optional)

Method:
1. Preheat oven to 175C. Prepare an 9-by5 inch loaf pan by greasing it or lining it with baking paper.
2. Whisk egg, milk, mashed banana and melted butter in a large bowl until thoroughly blended.
3. Sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Add sugar to flour mixture.
4. Add the flour mixture to the banana mixture in 3 parts and mix.
5. Gently stir in raisins/ sultanas/chocolate chips, if using. Sprinkle nuts on top, if using.
6. Bake for 55-65 minutes, until toothpick inserted into the center emerges clean.
7. Cool in baking tin for 15 minutes before transferring to a cooling rack to cool completely.


4 comments:

  1. Oh my... now I know! I'm gonna try this out tonight!

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  2. tonight??!? wah, you must really love banana cake!!

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    Replies
    1. Boy asked for more nanana muffins. I'd go one up better and try a loaf instead!

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    2. same thing in the end - on a plate or in a muffin cup!

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