Jamaican Banana Bread...Q?

[lorilei]

OK -- I'm going to attempt the CL Jamaican Banana Bread recipe tonight as a substitute for an authentic Jamaican recipe I received a few years back.

I'm certain it will be delicious, as you've given it rave reviews. But, any suggestions? Does the topping make a big difference in the bread, or can I leave it off? Should I add more bananas than called for?

[lorilei]

Aw, comeon guys, or I'll be forced to use my recipe, which calls for (get this!) almost 2 sticks of butter!!

http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif lorilei (with an evil grin)

[LSB]

lorilei - I am sitting here eating a slice (OK, my second slice http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/redface.gif ) of this wonderful bread as I read your post! Definitely make it! I used two bananas and I think it's just fine. I'm not a huge fan of strong banana bread anyway, but you don't want to overpower the subtler flavors of coconut and rum. The topping I thought at first was a little too sweet, but as the bread cools it's a wonderful flavor boost when you take a bite with it.

Hope you enjoy it!
Louise

[Kristilyn1]

I usually make this without the topping. I am a banana bread purist. Still delicious.

Kristi

[CATHIEA]

I usually prefer banana bread with no topping, but I made this one with the topping and thought it added a lot to the recipe.
CathieA

[Christine]

I often add more bananas and leave any nuts out, but the topping was good

[CHRIST1NE]

It sounds great. I've been craving banana bread too! Can you post the recipe or tell me what issue it was in?

Christine

[Deanna]

I thought it was very good! Only problem I had was, the loaf was very brown and a toothpick came out clean...then after cooling and slicing there was a glob of not-completely-baked batter in the center about an inch or so down. That was a little disappointing, but then again I'm sure my oven is in serious need of calibrating!

[KimKelly]

This bread has become one of our favorited! I made it at a recent party that we had and this was one plate that was absolutely empty.

I also was a bit worried about the topping, but it turned out to be wonderful. I think you can use it or not depending on what you want to use the bread for. The topping is a bit sweet and made the bread more of a dessert bread in my opinion. We loved the topping, I did reduce the coconut a bit. The topping got a bit "hard" as it cooled and was wonderful! Hope you have as good luck with it as we did.

We didn't have any trouble with the cooking of it.

Enjoy!
Kim

[lorilei]

Thanx all! I made a loaf of this last night, and it turned out beautifully.

I completely disregarded the directions to alternate flour & banana mixture (oops!), but didn't seem to have trouble with texture as a result. I also added a bit more coconut to the batter, as I decided to skip the topping this time around (to experience the bread, if you will). Also, since I baked it in a pyrex loaf pan, I had to reduce the cooking time by about 10 minutes.

So, my experience has been good so far. It's a deliciously moist bread -- almost too good for breakfast!!

[Shirley Panek]

Originally posted by CHRIST1NE:
It sounds great. I've been craving banana bread too! Can you post the recipe or tell me what issue it was in?

Christine

It was originally in the March '97 issue, but reprinted as a "Back to the Best" in April 2000.

Here's the recipe. Enjoy!

* Exported from MasterCook *

Jamaican Banana Bread

Recipe By :
Serving Size : 16 Preparation Time :0:00
Categories : Breads International
March '97

Amount Measure Ingredient -- Preparation Method
-------- ------------ --------------------------------
Cooking spray
2 tablespoons stick margarine -- softened
2 tablespoons tub light cream cheese -- softened
1 cup sugar
1 large egg
2 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe banana
1/2 cup skim milk
2 tablespoons dark rum
OR
1/4 teaspoon imitation rum extract
1/2 teaspoon grated lime rind
2 teaspoons lime juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chopped pecans -- toasted
1/4 cup flaked sweetened coconut
1/4 cup packed brown sugar
2 teaspoons margarine
2 teaspoons lime juice
2 teaspoons dark rum
OR
1/8 teaspoon imitation rum extract
2 tablespoons chopped pecans -- toasted
2 tablespoons flaked sweetened coconut

Preheat oven to 375º. Coat an 8 × 4-inch loaf pan with cooking spray; set aside.

Beat 2 tablespoons margarine and cheese at medium speed of a mixer; add 1 cup sugar, beating well. Add egg; beat well.

Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; stir well. Combine banana and next 5 ingredients (banana through vanilla); stir well. Add flour mixture to creamed mixture alternately with banana mixture, beginning and ending with flour mixture; mix after each addition. Stir in 1/4 cup pecans and 1/4 cup coconut.

Pour batter into prepared pan; bake at 375º for 60 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes; remove from pan. Let cool slightly on a wire rack.

Combine brown sugar and 2 teaspoons each margarine, lime juice, and rum in a saucepan; bring to a simmer. Cook 1 minute; stir constantly. Remove from heat. Stir in 2 tablespoons each pecans and coconut; spoon over loaf.

Serving Size: 1 slice

Cuisine:
"Jamaican"
Source:
"Cooking Light, March 1997, p.110"
Copyright:
"© Cooking Light"
Yield:
"1 loaf"

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Per serving: 188 Calories (kcal); 5g Total Fat; (22% calories from fat); 3g Protein; 33g Carbohydrate; 13mg Cholesterol; 105mg Sodium
Food Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 0 Lean Meat; 0 Vegetable; 1/2 Fruit; 1 Fat; 1 Other Carbohydrates


Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 3928 0 0 0 3928 0 0 4111 0 0 0 2130706543 0 0 0 20148
2737 0 0 0 2130706543 0 4794 4794 2737

[lorilei]

Thanx, Shirley. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif
I've been wracking my brain trying to remember the name of that issue, knowing that I didn't have the recipe here to post.

-- Do enjoy, Christine. It's a lovely recipe!

[CHRIST1NE]

Thank you - Thank you Shirley for posting the recipe and thanks to you Lorilei for trying to remember where it came from. I hope that you didn't wrack your brain too hard http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I can't wait to try it.

[Natasha]

Hmmmm - what should I make first? This bread or the Banana Spice muffins Mamasue posted this morning? Decisions, decisions ... but good ones! http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

[Peggy]

Natasha,

I haven't seen the recipe for the Banana Spice Muffins, but after all of the rave reviews I made the Jamaican Banana Bread today and it IS fabulous. I definately recommend you make it soon!!

Peggy

[Natasha]

Peggy - thanks! This one looks so good, and now, hearing the comments, I will definitely give this one a try. http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif

Lorilei - glad you were pleased with the results. Just wondering - how DID this compare to your authentic Jamaican recipe after all? How different was it?

[lorilei]

Natasha -
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I should try to find that recipe and post it -- it was decadent and truly evil!

I think the ingredients were too different to compare the two. I believe the Jamaican bread (my recipe) had pineapple in it... and lots of butter.

But overall, I must say that the CL version stood up very well to most of the other banana bread recipes I've tried. The coconut was a very nice addition, and now I'm tempted to add it to other recipes and experiment!

[Natasha]

Originally posted by lorilei:
Natasha -
http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/smile.gif I should try to find that recipe and post it -- it was decadent and truly evil!


Well, if you do happen to find it and ever feel like posting (not, not, not urgent), you know I would be happy to have it (and so would many of us, no doubt)! I'm all for decadence - in moderation, of course... http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/wink.gif

[CLustik]

Hello all;
I've been receiving Cooking Light for 3 years but this is the first time I've visited the bulletin boards I can already see that one can spend waaaayyyy too much time here.

Love the Jamaican Banana Bread, also.

[lanie]

I just have to mention for any of you who haven't tried this recipe - OMG it is so good - I don't think I have ever tasted a banana bread as amazing as this one - didn't have the dark rum - but the light worked out just fine - excellent recipt!

[kltcarley]

For those of you that have not tried this recipe with the topping, I highly recommend trying it. I think it makes the bread!