Catherine -- Best Banana Bread

[rinsav]

I think it was Catherine who posted her recipe for lowfat banana bread, claiming that it was the best she'd ever tasted. Well, I tried it and I have to agree. I have not had good luck with other lowfat recipes but this one was really moist and yummy. I honestly wouldn't have known that it was lowfat. I will be making it again and again. Thanks!

[cooksrhot]

I second that! YUMMY!

[catharine]

Oh my gosh - what an honor. My name in a title. You're welcome for the recipe. I wish I had created it - but I am just glad that I found it.

I have been away from the board from a while. As many of you know, I am in law school - well, I just finished my second year - yahoooo! I am working full time this summer, and honestly don't know how you all do it. My commute is about 45 minutes each way (because of traffic, not distance) and I am having such a time trying to fit in time for exercise, sleep, and cooking - not to mention keeping up with the boards. I am trying to read three weeks worth of messages this evening (I am an addict).

How do you all do it? I can't really check the site while at work, and I am so hectic on the weekends trying to clean the house, do laundry, grocery shopping, etc.

Anyhow, glad you like the banana bread as much as I do. I sent a loaf to my father-in-law for Father's Day. What an advenutre that was. I tried baking a double batch, but it was after work and since it was so late (it was like 10 pm by the time they were ready to go into the oven), I tried to bake both loaves at the same time.

Well, I am not a baking expert and so I managed to undercook both loaves. Good thing I had an extra one to try because I discovered that they were very mushy on the inside.

So I had to start all over the next night. Another late night baking. I only did one this time, but was very uneasy about sending it off without being able to slice right into it to make sure it was okay (it passed the toothpick test).

We sent it off by Express Mail (for like $20) so it would arrive fresh. My husband said that it was thoughtful of me to want to send it to his father, but it wound up being a very expensive loaf of bread http://www.cookinglight.com/bbs/biggrin.gif It was ironic, because we had it arrive on Friday - and apparently he decided that he didn't want to open his present before Father's Day. So it sat there. But he said it was good (although by the time he got tasted it it was at least three days old). Ahhh, learned my lesson.

Hope you all got a kick out of my little tangent. Next time, I'll write "perishable" on the package - or not send at all.

If anyone has tips for increasing baking time for larger quantities (or for baking mini-loaves) I would greatly appreciate it.

Take care.

[mariakj]

Catherine,

I am another big fan of your lowfat banana bread recipe. I make it all the time and I just took some mini loaves up to New Jersey to my in-laws this past weekend and they loved them. I did trial and error on the baking times. The mini loaves only need to cook half as long as the big loaf. I think 30 minutes did the trick for the mini loaves.

[suziking]

Catherine- I love banana bread as much as life itself. Would you mind posting the recipe? Thanks!

[Donna P]

To the top.

[Peeps]

Suziking - the recipe is here:

http://www.cookinglight.com/vbb/showthread.php?s=&threadid=8489

I made it last week - it is very good, can't tell its lowfat at all.

[BlueMoose]

I love these muffins from Fit Pregnancy Magazine. Good with or without chocolate chips and /or walnuts.

3 very ripe bananas, mashed
3 T canola oil
1/4 cup unsweetened applesauce
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup nonfat plain yogurt
2 eggs
1/3 cup wheat germ
1 cup whole wheat flour
3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 t baking powder
1/2 t baking soda
3 ounces mini chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts, optional

Preheat oven to 350 F. Line muffin cups with paper. Combine bananas thru eggs; mix well. Combine wheat germ thru soda. Add wet ingredients to dry. Stir until just mixed together. Stir in chocolate chips and nuts. Bake 18 to 22 min. 12 muffins.