Monday, April 19, 2010

Banana Poppy Seed Bread





It is beginning to seem like there are healthy versions for just about any recipe that you desire to make and banana bread definitely has it's renditions... but this is not one of them!!! My family was begging for banana bread and usually I pull out the flax seeds, honey, and whole wheat and make a baked good that I can feel good about giving them. But this was not a healthy recipe day. This was a lazy Saturday spent indoors being cozy while it rained and rained outside. This bread is soft and cakey. Has a wonderfully textured top that adds to the decadence of the bread. So save this one for when you are ready for some desert!

Preheat oven for 350 degrees

Ingredients:
5-6 extra ripe bananas
1 1/2 cup sugar
2 tsp vanilla
1 cup oil
3 Eggs
3 cups flour
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
3-4 tsp of cinnamon (depending on your taste for spice)
a dash of nutmeg
3 tsp poppy seeds

I use a mixer to soften the bananas. Then I add the sugar, vanilla, oil and eggs to the bananas. I add in 2 1/2 cups of flour. To the other 1/2 cup of flour stir in the baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Continue mixing as you add the remaing flour mixture. Stir in the poppy seeds.

Chocolate chips are an awesome addition to this bread too! And muffins are fun too!

Bake at 325 degrees for around an hour depending on what type of baking pan you are using. Just be aware that when you start smelling it, you should probably check it.