Rainy days are perfect for baking banana bread

It’s raining and I get the day at home today. I decided on some spring cleaning instead of working.
And rainy days, when one decided on spring cleaning, are perfect for baking banana bread.

This is the situation at my place: Some days all the bananas are gone and we don’t realise till someone goes to make a smoothie, and other days, there are three and a half dead bananas hanging around.

My most favourite banana bread recipe comes from my friend Claire, a brilliant pastry chef, and is an olive oil version, (so much healthier than butter). I’ve linked to Claire’s original chocolate chip and pecan banana bread, but I usually twist it a little.

I’m not a fan of chocolate chips, tend not to use sugar, and prefer walnuts to pecans, so here’s my version:

Best banana bread

2 cups Flour, (I usually use something good for me like sprouted spelt flour)
3/4 cup Brown Sugar, (I tend to use Stevia instead of sugar, and only about 1/4 cup because I find Stevia is sweeter)
3/4 tsp Baking Soda
1/2 tsp Salt
1 cup Toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped
1/3 cup Extra Virgin Olive Oil
2 large Eggs
3 mashed very ripe bananas (plus that 1/2 which C left in the fridge)
1/3 cup Yogourt, (I don’t use a lot of dairy so usually substitute coconut milk yogourt, but if you use cow’s milk yogourt, be kind to yourself and get pasture raised organic yogourt)
1 tbsp Vanilla Extract.

Preheat the oven to 350F

Spay some non-stick olive oil based spray into a baking pan, I use my grandmother’s bunt pan because why not? It’s a shame to have it in the drawer and use loaf pans all the time.

In a large bowl mix together the oil and sugar. In my case, that bowl is the bowl of the Kitchen Aid!

Stir in the eggs one at a time until they are totally incorporated.

Add in the bananas, vanilla, and yogourt.

Blend in the flour, salt, baking powder, when it is nearly combined add in the nuts. Stir to combine being careful not to over stir.

Pour the batter into the prepared pan and bake until a wooden skewer comes out clean, about 40-45 minutes.

Allow to cool at least 10 minutes before eating.

Go on, sprinkle it with a little icing sugar. It looks so pretty.

Ten minutes of waiting…Time enough to make a cup of tea and load the dishwasher.

Cut a warm slice and enjoy. 😀