I recently had an existential showdown with some bananas. As existential showdowns go it wasn’t in the same league as Oscar Wilde’s with the wallpaper in a Parisian hotel, where he reputedly uttered the immortal line: ‘one of us has got to go’, while lying on his deathbed and looking at said wallpaper.
Now the situation with the aforementioned bananas was not, as I said, quite so dire. But still and all, something had to give because the bananas looked as black as the ebony keys on a piano. I ruled out eating them as I don’t like the cotton wool-y taste of over ripe bananas and throwing them out was not an option. So, banana bread it was then.
The first recipe I came across for banana bread when I was rifling through my cookery books was in Tasmin Day-Lewis’s ‘Tasmin’s Kitchen Bible’. The method outlined was different from any I had used to make banana bread on other occasions, so I was somewhat dubious about it working. I decide to have faith and I am so glad I did because the recipe worked a treat and produced the most delicious banana bread.
Here is how it’s made.
INGREDIENTS
225g/8oz self-raising flour
¾ level tsp ground mixed spice
½ tsp sea salt
100g/3½oz vanilla caster sugar
100g/3½oz unsalted butter cut into small pieces
1 tbsp good runny honey
100g/3½oz sultanas
55g/2oz chopped walnuts
450g/1lb ripe bananas, peeled and mashed
2 eggs
juice of a lemon
METHOD
1. Preheat the oven to 180°C/350°F.
2. Sift the flour into a large bowl, then add the mixed spice, salt and sugar and stir to blend.
3. Add the butter pieces, beaten egg, chopped walnuts, sultans, mashed bananas, honey and the lemon juice and beat the mixture well to combine everything.
4. Pour the batter (it’s loose but not liquid-y) into a greased loaf tin.
5. Bake at 180°C/350°F for an hour then turn the oven down to 170°C/325°F and bake for a further 15 – 30 minutes. (insert a knife to check: if it comes out clean the bread is done).
6. Cool, but not completely, in the tin before turning out.
The banana bread is best served warm and is yummy with crème fraîche. I used up leftover slices by warming them in the oven and then slathering them with butter and drizzling honey on top. Delicious as a breakfast treat.
Enjoy your weekend!
Just Add Attitude 
You made the best of the situation – it looks delicious!
Thanks Meg the bread tasted delicious and I persuaded myself it was ‘healthy’ because it had walnuts in it!
Wow, what a lovely bake! Hmmmmm, I can tell it’s real yummy! =)
It’s well and truly eaten but it was delish!
Like, like, like! Will be trying this one out… thank you
I hope you enjoy it. I loved it and as a bonus it’s so easy to make.
B., the picture is so lovely! You did a great job. I’m not a fan of banana bread but my mom and my daughter adore it. Your recipe is going on my to make list. Have a wonderful week.
Thanks Francesca for the compliment on the picture, although I wished I had managed to get whole plate in the frame, by the time I uploaded the image the banana bread was all gone so I couldn’t retake it! I like banana bread without absolutely loving but the bread that this recipe made I liked a great deal. Thanks for you comment and best wishes for a great week. Bx
PS. I hope the diet is going well.
It must be wonderful fresh from the oven but heated with butter and honey for breakfast sounds wonderful.
Karen it was wonderful straight from the oven. I wish I had a slice to eat right now with the cup of tea I have just made!
Sounds and looks yummy. Great picture!
Thank you for the compliment on the image. And yes the banana bread was yummy.
Great recipe (I like banana bread a lot!) and very nice photograph, B!
Take care
Thank you Stefano. Take care and have a great week.
You’re further fueling the craving I have today for a good moist, dense tea bread or cake. I guess I’d better hie off to the grocer’s shortly!
Sorry about that. I know that type of craving well!
It’s funny how the universe works. I was thinking of looking for a banana bread recipe, but I thought I’d check out florastable blog instead, where I discovered your blog, where I discovered this lovely banana bread recipe!!!!
I totally agree with you that it’s funny how the universe works, life is so full of coincidences. I am pleased you visited, thank you.
This looks soooo delicious! Warm.. with creme fraiche… sounds more than yummy… 🙂 I’ll have to give it a try.
Greetings to you from Norway
Dina
Hello Dina,
*waving from Dublin* This recipe for banana bread is sooo very good. And a great way of using up over-ripe bananas.