Banana Bread Two Ways (Walnut or Chocolate Chip): On getting out

For TR, the whole reason I'm getting out.

Tomorrow, for the first time since 2010, I am getting out.  I am going to leave the kids at home with a sitter, I'm going to meet three fabulous friends at a mani-pedi place, and we are getting our hands and feet done and then we're going to a fantastic dinner.

I cannot tell you how long I have looked forward to this.  This evening, as I struggled to get the kids dressed, fed, and ready for bed, I thought of how much fun it will be to let it all go, if only for a night and just to feel somewhat free.  I want to be out long enough to miss Son and Daughters, and long enough to forget all the hard stuff and remember only the good.  Unfortunately I'm only going to be out for about 4 hours so maybe it it won't happen but I'll give it a try anyway.

Banana bread is also something I have not done for a very long time. I had quite a few recipes I liked, but this one from Tyler Florence's book Family Meal is a great one and easy to do.  Making it reminded me of simpler days, where I only had myself to worry about, as I used to make banana bread a lot more when I was single, without children. However, I found it so easy to make it made me wonder why I hadn't made it in so long. I tweaked Tyler's version and came up with a variation with chocolate chips as well.  You can also make a bit of each by splitting the batter into two loaf pans.

I intend to make these again very soon; most likely I'll make this before I even have a shot at getting out.

Banana Bread Two Ways (Walnut or Chocolate Chip)
adapted from Tyler Florence's Family Meal

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 overripe bananas
1/2 cup white sugar
1/2 cup golden brown sugar
3/4 (1 1/2 sticks) unsalted butter, melted and cooled
2 large eggs, room temperature
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup chopped walnuts OR 1/2 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350. Lightly grease a 9X5-inch loaf pan. (Alternatively, you can use two 8.5X4.5 loaf pans if you wish.)

In bowl, whisk together flour, baking soda and salt. Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl, leaving a bit of texture. With an electric mixer, or by hand, beat the remaining bannas and the two sugars together, for 3 minutes; you want a light and fluffy banana cream.

 

Add melted butter, eggs, and vanilla; beat well and scrape down sides of the bowl. Mix in flour mixture until just blended. Fold in nuts  (or chocolate chips) and mashed bananas with rubber spatula. Pour batter into prepared pan.

Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes (for the two small pans, bake for 1 hour) until the loaf is golden brown and a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Cool bread in the pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto wire rack to cool completely. Do not slice until complete cooled.

 

Printable recipe

half chocolate half walnut