It’s cold outside, there is a fire in the fireplace, and the house feels warm and cozy. Every season has something to look forward to—and for many during the winter months it is the feel-good comfort foods.
When it comes to comfort foods, my family has its favorites. Even now that they are all grown and raising their own families, they still enjoy it when I make their childhood favorites.
Best Banana Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup white flour
- 1 ¼ cut whole wheat flour
- ½ tsp salt
- 1 tsp baking soda
- ½ cup butter
- 3/4 cup honey
- 2 eggs, beaten
- 1 cup mashed ripe *bananas (about 3)
- 2-3 Tbsp. hot water
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
Directions
In a medium bowl, stir together the white flour, whole wheat flour, salt, and soda. Set aside. In a large heavy saucepan on low heat melt the butter. Stir in the honey with the butter and remove from heat. Add the beaten eggs and the mashed bananas and stir vigorously, combining thoroughly. Carefully stir in about half of the dry ingredients, then half the hot water, then the rest of the dry ingredients and the rest of the hot water until you have a smooth dough. Lastly, stir in the nuts.
(I always prepare my ingredients before I begin to melt the butter as you will need to move quickly once it has melted.)
Fill a greased and floured loaf pan and bake for 70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool on a rack and then turn out when completely cooled.
This bread is delicious served warm with butter but gets even better when it has been refrigerated for about a day and then sliced.
*This bread is good even if the bananas are not ripe – but the riper the banana, the sweeter the bread
Adapted from Joy With Honey by Doris Mech, 1979
