Banana Nut Bread

Want to make up for a bad day? or make someone's day? bake them a loaf of Banana Nut Bread!!!
Just the other day when I bought some bananas, I saw a full- grown man's eye's light up like a kid because Aswin easily guessed I bought them for the Banana bread.

Initially I used to be quite impatient and used to make the banana bread as soon as I bring the bananas, well they still turned out good.
Then came a day when I bought some bananas and absolutely forgot about them, after 4-5 days I saw the banana ripened, the skin had those tiny brown dots on them and the flesh had become soft. I immediately decided to bake them, and this time the banana bread turned out to be so delicious. It was the best I ever made. So lesson learnt :" The longer the wait the sweeter the results" !!!

Basically let your bananas ripen well, this helps the banana bread to turn out better.  Its a very easy recipe and quick to make. Try this out and I'm sure you'll make it again and again.

PREP TIME	COOK TIME	TOTAL TIME
10  mins	55-60 mins	65 - 70 mins

Serves:-  Makes 1 - 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf.

INGREDIENTS:-

• Walnut/ Pecans/ Almonds- 1 Cup (115 grams), coarsely chopped 
• All-purpose flour/ Maida- 1 and 3/4th cups (230 grams) 
• Granulated white sugar - 3/4th cup (150 grams) 
• Baking powder - 1 tsp 
• Baking soda - 1/4th tsp 
• Teaspoon salt - 1/4th tsp 
• Ground cinnamon - 1 tsp 
• Large eggs - 2, lightly beaten 
• Unsalted butter - 1/2 cup (113 grams), melted and cooled. 
• Large ripe bananas -  3, (approximately 1 pound or 454 grams), mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups) 
• Pure vanilla extract - 1 tsp

METHOD:-

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position. 
• Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch (23 x 13 x 8 cm) loaf pan. Keep it aside. 
• Chop the nuts coarsely and keep it aside. 
• In a large bowl combine the dry ingredients, i.e. flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nuts. Set aside. 
  
  
• In a medium-sized bowl add the eggs and lightly beat them with a wired whisk and then combine the mashed bananas, melted butter, and vanilla.
  
   
   
   Now with a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly fold the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky. (The important thing is not to over mix the batter. You do not want it smooth. Over mixing the batter will make the bread tough and rubbery.)
  
• Scrape the batter into the prepared pan.
  
   Bake this for about 55 to 60 minutes or until the bread turns golden brown and a  toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
• Place on a wire rack to cool and then remove the bread from the pan. Serve warm or at room temperature. This bread can be frozen.