Banana bread in a hurry

My baking skills are not terribly fantastic- in fact I am not very gifted in that department at all. When I cook, I can afford to behave like an artist and re-create a recipe in my own way and not follow it slavishly word for word. Cooking is both a relaxing and cathartic experience- we can create almost any dish we like and the end result reflects our personality. Baking is a whole different animal, so to speak. If you veer too far from the recipe you 'll have a disaster that cannot be brought back from the brink. A savvy cook can rescue a split Hollandaise but no amount of genius can save a cake that fails to rise.

This recipe is easy and takes no intelligence or technical wizardry. Bananas that are slightly overripe work best. Eat the bread while its warm with a splash of double cream. You can even slice it, brown the slices in butter in a pan and serve with a coulis. Everyone likes this bread and it makes my life easier in the baking department.

Mash 4-6 overripe bananas, add a good squeeze of lemon juice and set aside. Beat four ounces of unsalted butter until creamy and pale. Add two beaten eggs and a splash of vanilla essence and 1/4 teaspoon mixed spice. Add four ounces of self-raising flour and combine. Add the mashed banana and gently fold in. If the mixture is too thick, add a splash of milk or booze. Turn into a greased baking dish. Bake in a pre-heated oven at 200 degrees C for twenty minutes then at 180degrees C for a further twenty minutes until risen and golden brown.

PS Add a handful of raisins or sultanas, if liked, pre-soaked in boiling water and drained, to the final mixture. Your oven will have to be pre-heated and very hot otherwise the fruit will sink to the bottom of the dish.

 

 

Photo copyright SvD.