Just an hour ago I was sitting here perusing this very fine forum when my sweet tooth started to nag me for something to eat. I do have half a ginger loaf in the refrigerator and some short bread (both home-made of course) but I was in the mood for something a little sweeter still.
When I strolled through to the kitchen and saw three bananas starting to turn a bit black my mind was made up - I would make banana bread, and here is the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
400G/14oz Self Raising Flour (if using plain add 2 teaspoons of baking powder)
400G/14oz Margerine/Butter/Lard
400G/14oz Sugar
4 Large Eggs
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Essence
100G/3.5oz Chocolate Chips (White, Milk or Dark - your choice)
100G/3.5oz Nuts (I used Flaked Almonds, but you could use whatever you prefer)
6-7 Glace Cherries
3 Bananas which are starting to turn "past ripe"
PREPARATION:
1. Pre-heat oven to 170*C/338*F/Gas Mark 3.
2. Grease two loaf tins with butter and flour (if you do it right you don't need grease proof paper)
METHOD:
1. Cream margerine/butter/lard with sugar until combined and the mixture "cleans" the sides of the bowl.
2. Add one egg per 2 tablespoons of flour (sifted), mixing until combined each time.
3. Peel bananas and mash with a fork. Do not use a mixer or blender as you will make the mixture tough due to bananas being part of the silicone family.
4. Add bananas, nuts, chocolate chips, glace cherries (sliced into 3-4 pieces) and vanilla essence, then mix to smooth and finally beat gently until a light and fluffy mixture is obtained.
5. Divide mixture evenly between two loaf tins, smooth top with back of spoon then place in oven to bake for 30-40 minutes. Once top is golden poke with skewer, which will come out clean if it is cooked or covered in mixture if not.
6. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes in tins then carefully remove and either slice and eat warm or allow to cool and store in an air tight container.
Here is a picture of mine, just fresh out of the oven this second:
When I strolled through to the kitchen and saw three bananas starting to turn a bit black my mind was made up - I would make banana bread, and here is the recipe:
INGREDIENTS:
400G/14oz Self Raising Flour (if using plain add 2 teaspoons of baking powder)
400G/14oz Margerine/Butter/Lard
400G/14oz Sugar
4 Large Eggs
2 Teaspoons of Vanilla Essence
100G/3.5oz Chocolate Chips (White, Milk or Dark - your choice)
100G/3.5oz Nuts (I used Flaked Almonds, but you could use whatever you prefer)
6-7 Glace Cherries
3 Bananas which are starting to turn "past ripe"
PREPARATION:
1. Pre-heat oven to 170*C/338*F/Gas Mark 3.
2. Grease two loaf tins with butter and flour (if you do it right you don't need grease proof paper)
METHOD:
1. Cream margerine/butter/lard with sugar until combined and the mixture "cleans" the sides of the bowl.
2. Add one egg per 2 tablespoons of flour (sifted), mixing until combined each time.
3. Peel bananas and mash with a fork. Do not use a mixer or blender as you will make the mixture tough due to bananas being part of the silicone family.
4. Add bananas, nuts, chocolate chips, glace cherries (sliced into 3-4 pieces) and vanilla essence, then mix to smooth and finally beat gently until a light and fluffy mixture is obtained.
5. Divide mixture evenly between two loaf tins, smooth top with back of spoon then place in oven to bake for 30-40 minutes. Once top is golden poke with skewer, which will come out clean if it is cooked or covered in mixture if not.
6. Allow to cool for 10-15 minutes in tins then carefully remove and either slice and eat warm or allow to cool and store in an air tight container.
Here is a picture of mine, just fresh out of the oven this second:
