Nana’s Famous Banana Bread

Nana’s Famous Banana Bread

One day when my husband and I were still just dating, he picked me up from my water polo practice and handed me a chunk of freshly baked banana bread that his mom made. Now I was starving after my workout and that banana bread was bursting with flavour… I made it disappear in about 30 seconds. The moment I scrunched up the plastic wrap, my then boyfriend turns to me and says “That was for my Aunt! I just gave it to you to hold!!”.

Well…I was horrified for about 2 seconds before I realized he was just joking. I must be a glutton for punishment, because I did go on to marry him… Or was I just a glutton for his mother’s delicious banana bread?

It makes a great pre or post-workout snack for an energy boost, and the potassium from the banana helps prevent muscle cramps.

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup sugar (can substitute brown sugar or coconut sugar)
• 1/2 cup butter at room temperature
• 2 eggs
• 4 mashed ripe bananas
• 2 cups all purpose flour (can substitute gluten free flour blend)
• 1 tablespoon baking powder
• Pinch of salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon almond essence
• 1 teaspoon vanilla essence
• Orange rind grated from 1 orange

Directions

• Preheat oven to 325 degrees F
• Using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar together
• Once fluffy, add eggs 1 at a time, as well as vanilla and almond essences
• Add in mashed banana and orange rind, blend together
• Mix all dry ingredients in a separate bowl, and slowly add them to the wet mixture, which you will now need to stir by hand.
• Combine just until the dry ingredients are all mixed in, do not over stir!
• Pour mixture into 2 greased and floured loaf pans, and bake for approx 30 to 40 mins, or once a toothpick inserted comes out dry
• Slice and Enjoy!