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View Full Version : Now this is GOOD Banana Bread


rubychan
06-10-2005, 08:22 AM
Hey there....
I am somewhat new to this...cooking with new recipes and all...
I have recently fallen in love with Nigella Lawson (yes, i live under a rock)and her style of cooking. I love how relaxed she is in the kitchen and how she uses "just a dash of this, and a little of that, and somemore if you want".... That is so the way I cook...
Anyhow, I made her Banana Bread last night and ahhhhhhh... it is VERY good!! The rum soaked rasins make it feel so decadent....very delicious!
Here it is....



three-quarters cup golden raisins

6 tablespoons or 3 ounces bourbon or dark rum

1 cup plus 2 tablespoons all-purpose flour

2 teaspoons baking powder

half teaspoon baking soda

half teaspoon salt

half cup unsalted butter, melted


three-quarters cup superfine sugar

2 large eggs

4 small, very ripe bananas, mashed

three-quarters cup chopped walnuts

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

9 x 5 inch loaf tin, buttered and floured or with a paper insert








Put the golden raisins and rum or bourbon in a smallish saucepan and bring to the boil. Remove from the heat, cover and leave for an hour if you can, or until the raisins have absorbed most of the liquid, then drain.

Preheat the oven to 325ºF and get started on the rest. Put the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt in a medium-sized bowl and, using your hands or a wooden spoon, combine well. In a large bowl, mix the melted butter and sugar and beat until blended.

Beat in the eggs one at a time, then the mashed bananas. Then, with your wooden spoon, stir in the walnuts, drained raisins and vanilla extract. Add the flour mixture, a third at a time, stirring well after each bit.

Scrape into the loaf tin and bake in the middle of the oven for 1 to 1 and a quarter hours. When it's ready, an inserted toothpick or fine skewer should come out cleanish. Leave in the tin on a rack to cool, and eat thickly or thinly sliced, as you prefer.

Makes 8-10 slices

lwright
06-10-2005, 09:50 AM
Sounds yummy, Ruby. Thanks for sharing it with us!

susan_foster
06-10-2005, 10:16 AM
I think this is one of the twenty-million banana bread recipes I have in MasterCook. Thanks for bringing this one back to mind - will have to see when I end up making it!

Susan

SusanMac
06-10-2005, 11:36 AM
I'm probably going to stick w/my tried & true BB recipe. But....I *love* the idea of plumping raisins in rum. Will definitely try that next time!! (I've been hinting to DH lately that he really shouldn't be eating all the bananas each time we get them at the store :-)

jtoepfert100
06-10-2005, 11:57 AM
SusanMac - just curious - which BB version is your tried and true?

Rubychen - thanks for posting - I remember seeing this some time ago and wanted to give it a try - I've got some bananas in the freezer so hopefully I'll have time this weekend!

gaja
06-10-2005, 04:00 PM
Rubychan, thanks for the recipe... it looks delicious!

I only discovered Nigella last year (guess I was living under that rock with you ;) ) and I agree that her style of cooking - and writing - is lovely and refreshing. I especially love her Forever Summer book; it has become a staple for the warm season at our house :)

rubychan
06-13-2005, 11:27 AM
Well i had baked this bread in order to take to our family reunion in Atlanta this past weekend... but it did not last unitl Sunday!! My husband and I pinched off little bites here and there unitl it was all gone.... it was so so so good.. especially in the mornings with coffee.
I hope you all can whip this one up.. it was so good. Next time I am going to add more rasins and walnut in... I like my bread heavy with texture!!
cheers to you all!
Chan

sadie
06-24-2005, 05:25 PM
I was all set to try this recipe until I saw that there was only a little over 1 cup of flour in the batter. That doesn't seem like much flour, since there are 4 bananas, 1/2 cup butter and 2 eggs in the liquid ingredients. Most quick breads I've made have 2 cups of flour, unless there are rolled oats or bran, etc. in the dry ingredients. I'm curious if this is a very heavy, almost wet, bread. Does it "dome" nicely or is it a small flat loaf? Thanks.

rubychan
06-25-2005, 07:07 AM
it is a very heavy moist bread.. but it is very delicious.
chandra

rubychan
06-25-2005, 07:07 AM
and yes, it domes beautifully!:)

sadie
06-25-2005, 05:39 PM
Thanks!