Sunday, June 23, 2013

mom's awesome banana bread {the sloppy chef series}

My family has torn through this bread like a plague of locusts for as long as I can remember.  Probably since they wrote about locusts in the Bible.  It's the best banana bread I've ever had.  It's better than unleavened bread or even communion hosts.  I don't think it's my favorite because it's my mom's recipe, but I guess it's possible that I'm a little biased.

Perhaps it's a pretty standard recipe...I don't know because I've never gone in search of another.  If it ain't broke, don't fix it.

Makes 3 Loaves (no fishes)
Mix in order:

3 cups sugar (I used 50/50 white and brown sugar)
1 cup oil (I use canola)
4 eggs (I use the chicken kind)
1 cup buttermilk (I use 2 T. vinegar and add milk to = one cup)

Sift the following into sugar mixture...then...mix!
5 cups flour
2 t. baking soda
1 t. salt

Then stir in:
2 cups (4-5) mashed rotten bananas
1 cup nuts (walnuts or pecans--I usually use walnuts)
2 cups chocolate chips. (In my opinion NOT optional, but whatever)

Pour into 3 greased/floured bread pans and bake at 350 for about an hour.

Now...PICTURES!  Because pictures make things fun:

I never have real buttermilk, so I always start off the recipe by "making" buttermilk.  I pour 2 T vinegar into a 1-cup measure and add milk to equal one cup.  It can bubble and ferment while you're doing everything else:





Throw your sugar, brown sugar, oil, and eggs into a giant bowl.  Making goofy faces with your ingredients isn't required, but I've found it is quite helpful:


Once that's all mixed together, mix in your buttermilk (I'm always so sad to say goodbye to my food faces)...


Then sift the dry ingredients into the bowl:



And mix (disregard the spoon...I used a hand mixer):



Now it's time for the rotten bananas.  Okay, I guess they're not really rotten...just very, VERY ripe.  If they're not ripe, they're harder to mash, and you don't end up with a very banana-y flavor.  And what's the point then?



 Add to your mixture and stir (don't ignore the spoon at this point...use it):



Lastly, you add your nuts and chocolate chips.  I used walnuts today, and I chopped them very coarsely.  I like my nuts chunky.  I don't like nut dust in my bread.






Pour into 3 greased and floured bread pans.  I have found I really like Pam baking spray.  It seems to work really well and it's way less work than using actual Crisco and trying to spread flour around to stick to the Crisco.

If you're cool enough to have matching bread pans, more power to ya...these are all hand-me-downs from my Mom. They work just fine.



Bake at 350 for about an hour.  Oven temps will vary, so get to know yours...mine takes exactly one hour.  Stab with toothpicks and make sure they're not gooey in the center.

Gooey brownies rock.

Gooey banana bread...not so much.


Don't overbake them either...oh, the pressure...




Crap.  Now I've got to wash all those dishes.  C'est la vie!

I'm sharing with:
Nifty Thrifty Things
Get Social Sunday
Mop it up Monday
On the Menu Monday  
Project Inspired
Elizabeth & Co. 
Memories by the Mile
Brag About It
Tuesday's Treasures  
House of Hepworths

15 comments:

  1. LOL love the faces! I never thought of doing that, my daughter is 4 and it'd be fun to surprise her with that next time she wants to bake!

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  2. Okay Andi, you even make a recipe fun!! Love the face! I'm going to make this bread, and I'm with you. Chocolate chips are not an option, they are a must add!
    Thanks for sharing, I'm out to buy some over ripe bananas!

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  3. My bananas are currently maturing, and here is what I'm gonna do....
    One loaf no nuts for the daughter down on nuts
    One with the works
    One with nuts no chocolate chips for me so I can see how it is next to my moms recipe, then I will report back because I don't know either.

    Bliss

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  4. Now I want banana bread...............I love banana bread

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  5. mmmm....banana bread....my favorite!

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  6. Looks delicious!
    I make banana loaf often - but have never put chocolate in it - sounds like a plan to me Andi !!!
    XOX

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  7. Yum, I want banana bread, just send some over!

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  8. My banana bread recipe is different from yours. It's called Best Ever Banana Bread, and it's darn good. I never add nuts. Can't eat 'em, so I don't join 'em.

    Love,
    Janie

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  9. Sounds yummy...I'm pinning! Thanks for sharing.

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  10. Looks fabulous! I agree, chocolate chips are a requirement for banana bread! ;)Thanks so much for sharing on Project Inspire{d}! Pinned!!
    Nancy

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  11. I love a recipe post that makes me laugh. I think the dishes were well worth this delicious banana bread, even if they were made in unmatching pans :)

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  12. Mmmmmmmm!! My family would go...bananas...over this bread. :) Sorry, couldn't resist.

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  13. Uhhh, YUM! Dallas is the baker in our house. Don't think I won't be forcing him to make me this. Don't even think it.

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  14. Look pretty good to me! Who would make it without the chocolate chips? Want some!

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