Every year, with the arrival of the Christmas season, I like to go through my recipe box and make plans for my holiday baking. Over the next few weeks I’ll share some of my favorite recipes, starting today with this one.
This recipe was given to me by my dear friend Pam, a long time ago. I was a single girl when I met her, while she was about to be married and begin her life as an Air Force wife. We worked together at a small day care center, and favorite recipes were always a hot topic, not only for Pam and me, but among all of the women who worked there. Pam shared this recipe for banana bread, and I remember it being a big hit with all of us because it was fast, and easy and really, really good.
Originally I only used this recipe when I had some bananas I wanted to use up, but I’ve since done some experimenting and found that the cup of banana can be substituted with an equal measure of some other similar ingredient. When I made this bread yesterday, I doubled the recipe and used one cup of cooked pumpkin and one cup of cranberry sauce. A delicious combination! I could easily have added chopped walnuts too, if I’d had some.
My friend Pam eventually had to move, to an Air Force base far away. I remember we cried and cried when we said goodbye. And then a few years later, she was my matron of honor when I got married. We still keep in touch, on Facebook now. And as much as I love the internet and all of the recipes you can find there, I still cherish my memories of times spent sharing recipes with that group of dear women.
Banana Bread
Preheat oven to 350 degrees, and stir the following ingredients together:
1/4 cup cooking oil
3/4 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 cups baking mix, such as Bisquick
1 cup mashed banana or similar ingredient
Put batter in a greased 9x5 loaf pan and bake 55 minutes, or until a toothpick comes out clean.
Tip: Line the bottom of the loaf pan with waxed paper and the bread will come out easily when done!
I hope you will love this bread as much as I do, and if you do end up trying this recipe please let me know what you think. I will also be visiting all of your blogs soon. I’m looking forward to getting caught up after my brief blogging hiatus!
I'm glad you are back, Valerie--I missed your wit and enthusium and joie de vivre!
ReplyDeleteThank you so much Dawn! I'm sorry that I was away for so long, because it feels good to be back. I'm looking forward to getting caught up with everyone:)
ReplyDeletePam sounds like a wonderful friend!
ReplyDeleteI don't like bananas, so no banana bread for me, but sometimes I do make it for the rest of the family, who enjoys it!
Lisa, I'm so thankful for the internet-I can keep up with old friends and make new ones too. Who'd ever have dreamed that would be possible!
ReplyDeleteI like bananas, but I think this bread is even better when I use the pumpkin like I did. Applesauce and rhubarb sauce are good in it too!
Welcome back! Been wondering where you were ;)
ReplyDeleteI love banana bread and this looks so yummy and easy to make. I love the story behind the recipe, too.
Valerie! wow! i am so glad you are back! just yesterday i was seriously wondering where you were? i don't like bloggers to be gone and not return (i have a few that have done that). i loved your comment re the word delectable and the sadness of poor old cyber-shot. still not sure what camera i will be using. my daughter said I can use hers, but they don't have the card in it for some silly reason. oh boy.
ReplyDeleteSeeing this recipe and your story about it made me realize something about blogging.
ReplyDeleteFirst the history...I remember a time when women (and they were always women at this time) got together and traded recipes. They chatted about their recipes or the recipes of other women and shared life stories. It was a get-together.
You don't see this too much anymore, but here you are doing exactly the same thing and through blogging. It's a page from history.
You've started your own "get together" and recipe sharing moment. I love it and the idea that people from all over the world can take your recipe and make delicious banana bread.
Thanks for this. You made me smile with your story and the picture at the end:~)
Welcome back I love this recipe and adding cranberry and pumpkin sauce is a very smart idea I am going to try that.
ReplyDeleteOh You look beautiful . Good friends do last forever even at a distance. B
Thanks Tammy! I'm really glad to be back to blogging again-I missed all of you so much:)
ReplyDeleteTry this recipe-I think you will really like it!
Thanks Renae! I won't disappear like that again-I promise! I'm hoping you get a working camera soon, too:) I love your pictures!
ReplyDeleteSara-that is a very cool realization, isn't it! I like the idea of a global recipe exchange! Thanks for your wonderful comment:)
ReplyDeleteButtons-I can't believe I dropped out of sight for so long, because I sure did miss you all!
ReplyDeleteThe combination of pumpkin and cranberry is so good for the holidays too! I think you'd love it! :)