Tuesday, February 24, 2009

Banana Nut Bread and a little Quality Time...

Kane and I cooked up some yummy banana nut bread the other day. I love to bake, but more than baking I love spending special time with my little man.

I got the recipe from Food Network. It is super yummy!!!


Ingredients

* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
* 1/2 teaspoon salt
* 4 overripe bananas
* 1 cup sugar
* 3/4 cup (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
* 2 large eggs
* 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
* 1/2 cup pecans, finely chopped
* Confectioners' sugar, for dusting

Directions

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F and lightly grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork (or the little man's hands) in a small bowl so they still have a bit of texture...


...and just know: it's a messy job, but somebody has to do it...


Next...

With an electric mixer fitted with a wire whisk, whip the remaining bananas and sugar together for a good 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down the sides of the bowl...



Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated; no need to overly blend. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas with a rubber spatula...

(these nuts went all over the counter...what a mess!)

Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan. Give the pan a good rap on the counter to get any air bubbles out.

Bake for about 1 hour and 15 minutes, until golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Don't get nervous if the banana bread develops a crack down the center of the loaf; that's no mistake, it's typical. Rotate the pan periodically to ensure even browning.

Cool the bread in the pan for 10 minutes or so, and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing. Toast the slices of banana bread, dust with confectioners' sugar, and serve.

I actually made muffins instead of bread...I cooked them for about 15 minutes or until a toothpick through the center of them comes out clean...



Enjoying the fruits of his labor...


Photobucket

17 comments:

Jen @ tatertotsandjello.com said...

What a cutie!!! I will try that recipe out! It sounds delicious.

XOXOXO
Jen

Just what are those Woods up to? said...

Kane's so cute. What a good helper. Owen loves helping me cook, but I don't think I could ever talk him into mashing bananas with his hands (he wouldn't want to get his hands all gooey. I tried to get him to scoop out a pumpkin last halloween and he refused). In fact, I don't think I'd ever want him to (no amount of soap could convince me that his hands were clean enough! haha).

True, I don't like empty frames (I can't remember saying that, but I must have!). I still like the room, but I think it would be better if there were pretty pictures or paintings in the frames.

Nope, I'm not running and P90X-ing, so I'm not your hero today (-;

Christie in Dallas, TX said...

Ah, that looks like so much fun! I think cooking with kids is great because they learn about measuring and counting and fractions! Plus, there's nothing better than sitting in the middle of the kitchen with a little friend, licking batter off the mixing bowl!

AndreaLeigh said...

that looks yummy! i was thinking today that I needed to make some banana nut bread. glad you have a little helper. i don't think my dogs count, although they are good at clean up.

Miller Racing Family said...

Recipe sounds great and I love how you put it in muffin pans. I want to invite you to come over to my blog, I am having a bath and body works giveaway! Have a blessed day!

Amber Filkins said...

Mmmm, I think I made that exact recipe a couple months ago. I got it off of the Food Network, I think mine was a Tyler Florence recipe. I also made muffins. They were SO good, and now you have me craving them!!

I'll have to make those soon!!

Lacy said...

Great turn out yesterday on Friend makin day and by the way thanks so much for doing that!!!! I met so many new friends yesterday. I am going to try this recipe...love me some banana nut bread. Still working on get to post my award...Thank you so very much again. Your precious!!!

Marci @All Things Wonderful said...

Hi! Cute pics. That's funny~you and I both posted about baking, today.

Brittany said...

Mmmm! Looks delicious!

Laurie in Ca. said...

Oh Yummy!!:) Don't you just love a little man who enjoys baking?? My grandson loves to help out too and of course eat the results. I have to ask you where you got Kane's smiley face shirt? My grandson is a smiley face addict (thanks to me) and I would love to get him one of those shirts. I just love Kanes cute fingers smashing those bananas.:) He is so cute Kasey and we just have to love little boys. They are all God has with which to make a man.:)

Love and Hugs, Laurie

E said...

How fun!

Shawn said...

I am a banana bread junkie.

I'll take mine warm with a pat of butter please!

I'm leaving for a long weekend and these cupcakes make travel quit nicely!

How much does your "Little Man" look like his Daddy?

Rhonda said...

What a cutie pie! Or, should I say cutie muffin. :D

Yumm! I have bananas in my freezer right now that I need to use...I got my recipe I've used off of Food Network...don't you just love FN? Anyhoo, I'm not sure from which great chef, so I'll have to try yours out. That would be perfect today!

Thanks!

The FMM seems to be growing in numbers...what a great thing you started! Thanks for your inspiration!

Laurel @ Ducks in a Row said...

yum yum - my kids could eat a whole loaf of banana bread in one sitting!

Rhonda said...

I saw somewhere you haven't seen fireproof yet! You should! It's is great one for you and the hubby to see. I am fixing to start The Love Dare myself!

Anonymous said...

Yumalicious!
Robin Rane'
All Things Heart and Home

Heidi Boos said...

I'm thinking my daughter would definitely volunteer for the banana mashing!! Looks like some fun mommy-son time!