Banana Bread

As you can maybe tell from some of my recipes I love adding 'extras' to recipes. I love going through the cupboard when I'm cooking or baking and just tossing things into the mix. I find banana bread the perfect base to add 'extras' to, not only is it fun but it usually turns out really good. This morning I whipped up a batch of basic banana bread batter and tossed in chopped up dates, chocolate chips and coconut. And a little rum extract, too. I think bananas and rum have a relationship quite like macaroni and cheese or peanut butter and jelly, they just go together.
Banana bread is also a great way to use up that stash of over a dozen frozen bananas in the freezer...oh, or is that just our freezer? Zoe and I only like bananas at a certain stage, and once their past that point they are bound for the freezer.
So, I thought I'd post my base recipe for banana bread and maybe you'll be inspired to make your own banana bread a la you!

Banana Bread
Makes 1 loaf

3-4 ripe bananas, mashed
1/3 cup melted butter
3/4 cup to 1 cup brown sugar (depending on how sweet you want it)
1 egg
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 teaspoon cinnamon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 cups flour

Preheat the oven to 350F.
Grease a 4x8" loaf pan, or any baking vessel you want. I've done it in square pans, round pans, and even glass tupperware containers.
In a large bowl mix together the bananas and butter with a wooden spoon. Stir in the the sugar, egg, vanilla and spices.
Sprinkle the baking soda over the mixture and stir.
Add the flour last, and mix just until there are no white clumps.
Now add in your extras, the sky is the limit. Here is some 5 second brainstorming of possible ideas:

• swirl in some peanut butter
• coconut
• dried fruit
• pineapple
• chocolate chips
• peanut butter chips
• flax, ground or whole
• rum extract, heck even a few tablespoons of actual rum!

I could go on all day!

Stir in your extras, gently and spread the batter into the prepared pan.

Bake for 50 minutes. Check it, and bake for longer is needed. Banana bread sometimes takes forever to bake. Be patient, but don't burn it. 

Have a great Monday!