Recipe #80: Banana Bread

Every year I look forward to someone in my family, whether it be my Mom or my sister, Molly, making Banana Bread. I've never taken the time to watch them make this recipe but I always enjoy eating what they share. Ian and I have never been huge on eating bananas by themselves yet we never seem to have any issue partaking in recipes that glorify the fruit like Banana Creme Pie, Banana Splits, Banana Ice Cream, etc. Since the summer is almost over and no one has made it yet I began to worry that I may not eat any at all if I did not learn to make this myself. (What a tough lesson, huh?)

Well I'm not sure if this recipe: http://www.simplyrecipes.com/recipes/banana_bread/ is similar to my Mom or Molly's version. For the first try it turned out okay, I'd say. Granted, I had to place the banana bread back in the oven since it was not cooked through - although, I'm confused because I thought the toothpick trick was supposed to work? I pulled the bread out of the oven after an hour and pierced the bread with the toothpick. When it was pulled out the toothpick was clean however the cake was still a little raw on the inside. It's so typical I would be the exception to this universal trick! Well, once the bread was finally cooked it smelled and tasted very yummy especially after I added cream cheese over the top. I'd give myself an 8 out of 10 for this first time but let's just hope this round was not considered beginner's luck!

Ingredients:

* 3 large Ripe Bananas
* 1/3 cup of Butter (Melted)
* 1 cup of Sugar
* 1 egg
* 1 tsp of Vanilla Flavor
* 1 tsp of Baking Soda
* Pinch of Salt
* 1 1/2 cup of Flour


Cooking Directions:

First preheat your oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit.

In a medium size mixing bowl peel and add the bananas and then mash with a spoon.

In a separate small microwaveable bowl add the butter. Place in the microwave and melt the butter.

Pour the melted butter over the top of the mashed bananas.

Then add the sugar, egg, and vanilla flavor, baking soda, and salt and mix well.

Then add the flour 1/2 cup at a time making sure it is getting well blended.

Spray a 9x9 inch baking pan (if you do not own a bread pan, like me) with Non-Stick Cooking Spray.

Pour the batter into the baking pan and cook for an hour in a half.

Use a toothpick to pierce into the middle of the bread and if it comes out clean than the bread is done!