Before you get the recipe, you have to hear me out. I began using this
recipe a while ago, and once, out of desperation, I promised my winless
Midget Boys basketball team that if they could win a game, I would make
them banana bread. Well, they won, and the whole thing just snowballed.
I have moved away from basketball and coach volleyball
instead. What hasn't changed is how I use my banana bread as an incentive,
a reward, a gift, or just for the hell of it. Most students like it (although
some will eat anything), and few parents and teachers have also tasted
it's goodness. As a result I have become known, by some, as "The Banana
Bread Man." Given the range of possible names for a teacher, I figure
this one is pretty good.
So here it is. I make no promises that you'll be a star, but you can
be pretty sure that you'll impress at least one person. Enjoy!
The stuff you need
1&3/4 cups flour
1&1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
3/4 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons milk
1&1/2 cup mashed banana
Optional: 1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped walnuts (remember those allergies!)
Pre-heat oven to 350°
The things you do
Casually mix the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt. Set aside.
In a electric mixer, mix the butter and sugar. Blend it into a nice,
creamy mixture.
Add the eggs, one at a time, continuously mixing them together into
a swirl of love.
Add the milk, sort of filling the tablespoons over the mixture, and
dumping them in without slowing the pouring process.
Mix it up good!
Add, alternatively, the flour mixture and the mashed banana.
Pour into two lightly greased 8x4x2 bread pans. You could make one
big one if you like, but sharing with many is easier when the pieces are
smaller.
Bake at 350° for about 45 minutes. Add time as needed.
The bread should be a dark brown colour. It's easier to cut when cool,
but nothing beats warm from the oven.
