The Blissful Banana Loaf

Hello Folks!!!

"Cooking is one of the great gifts you can give to those you love"

                                                                                                                               -Ina Garten

I don't think there is anyone out there who doesn't love to eat a slice of banana loaf. I like it with peanut butter for a lovely breakfast, frost it with some fresh cream for high tea, or simply enjoy it with some fruit salad for a refreshing desert. What's better than a loaf that can act two ways just to confuse you! you can either have it like cake or imagine it's bread ha ha ha.... It is obvious that if you use a sheet pan, it is a cake. But there is always an element of doubt. Many people don't know the difference between  banana loaf and  banana cake. So, read on to understand.

"Qu'ils mangent de la broiche", or the very famous - "Let them eat cake" supposedly was uttered by Marie Antoinette, the last Queen of France, before the French Revolution.It was a miserable famine during the reign of her husband Louis XVI and the Queen, upon learning that the peasants had no bread made this cruel and ignorant statement. 

Anyway, the original French phrase contains no mention of cake because, broiche is a bread enriched with butter and eggs.So, I wonder whether she was referring to banana loaf!There really is not much difference between the two. A banana loaf stands somewhere in between the baking time needed for cakes and breads. It is usually the baking powder that causes it to rise. So, in short, just slap on some icing and eat it like a cake...

There are no strict rules when it comes to baking your favorite banana loaf. It just needs some bananas, a fork, a pan or a muffin tray - literally whatever you find at home to bring that heavenly bliss.The best part of all is that it works even if you find yourself short on some ingredients...like you can use half flour and half wheat flour; use brown sugar instead of white for a denser and moist cake; use oil or margarine to substitute butter;and water in place of milk!!! This looks like the loaf just wants you to eat it and never say no... 

Isn't this a cause for celebration! This reminds me about the loaf I baked this morning.. Please excuse me..I'll just have a slice or maybe two and get back with some hot chocolate.

Image from Shutterstock

Thought For Food😊

• Only only use ripe bananas that have developed freckles and not so pleasing to bite into.This will help you make the tastiest, rich,crispy and moist loaf you have ever had.  
• I love to bake this loaf with a few chunks of banana along with the completely mashed bananas, so that when you take a bite, you just can't stop. 

The rule now is wait only for an hour to fill your home with it's aroma and snack on your very own banana loaf. 

RECIPE                                                                                                                              Makes: 1 loaf  

INGREDIENTS

1.Flour - 1 cup

2.Large ripe bananas- 2

3.Egg - 1

4.Castor sugar -½ cup

5.Butter- 2tbsp

6.Baking powder - 1 ½ tsp

7.Cinnamon powder -½ tsp

8.Salt- a pinch

9.Chopped nuts- ½ cup (optional)

INSTRUCTIONS

1.Preheat your oven and grease the loaf tin.

2.Sieve all the dry ingredients into a bowl.

3.Mix the softened butter and castor sugar until fluffy in a separate bowl. Then, add the bananas , beat well and add the egg as well while beating well after each addition.

4.Fold in the dry ingredients and the nuts as well.

5.Pour the mixture into the loaf tin and bake for 45-55 minutes at 180°C.

With it's buttery soft, super moist texture, wait for it to just melt in your mouth.