Sunday, February 7, 2010

Banana Bread

Here's our famous Banana Bread. We've been making this quite more often now than before. Guess, people are tired and bored of eating bananas, so we always end up with a basketful of over riped ones, which is not bad at all. For a whole sheet pan, we would triple the recipe plus extra batter for small loaf pans to take home. Usually, Elvia (an aspiring Baker, depending on her mood) prepares the Mise En Place and whenever she can't finish, I would continue, as soon as, i'm done with my task. Just like a relay race, so if anything goes wrong, we're both to be blamed. So far, we haven't failed making this bread. It's very consistent, but even better if using very ripe or almost bad bananas coz the texture is more moist and sweeter. I don't normally mix the chopped walnuts into the batter, I would just sprinkle them on top right before baking. The walnuts add an extra crunch to the bread which is essential especially if the bread comes out very moist and soft or a little mushy. Besides, it really compliments the flavor of the bananas.

BANANA BREAD

1 1/4 Cup Vegetable oil
1 Cup Brown sugar
1 Cup Granulated sugar
4 Eggs, room temperature
2 Cups All Purpose flour
1 tsp Salt
2 tsp Baking soda
2 tsp Baking powder
1/2 tsp Cinnamon
3 Cups Bananas, mashed
1/2 Cup Raisins (optional)
1 Cup Walnuts, chopped (optional)

1. Cream together the oil and sugars on high speed with a paddle attachment until it has a creamy consistency.
2. Turn to low speed, add eggs one at a time, allowing to fully incorporate before each addition.
3. Add bananas into the batter, mix at a low speed.
4. Mix dry ingredients together and sift them.
5. Add the dry ingredients in thirds, allowing each addition to incorporate but do not over mix.
6. Fold in raisins, if using. Make sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl.
7. Grease a 13 X 9 pan. Pour batter and tap the pan against the counter to remove bubbles trapped underneath.
8. Bake at 350 deg. for the first 10 -15 mins. then turned heat down to 325 deg. and continue baking for another 25 mins. or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean.