Dragon Food - Banana Bread

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Banana Bread

I love this recipe (originally borrowed from Sam, AKA the Caked Crusader). Technically, it's not a bread - no yeast - but it is a great way to use up old bananas, dried fruit and nuts or chocolate (I prefer plain chocolate, otherwise it can get a little too sweet). Rather than bending a fork on new bananas, rescue the ones that are getting too ripe in the fruit bowl. Stick them in the freezer until you're ready to bake, once defrosted they'll be even easier to use in baking and slightly sweeter.

Ingredients:
75g Butter, softened
100g Light Brown Sugar*
3tbsp Honey
2 Eggs
2 Bananas,over-ripe
225g Self-Raising Flour
1tsp Mixed Spice
1/4 tsp Bicarbonate of Soda
1/4 tsp (Pinch of) Sugar
225g Mixture Sultanas, Raisins, Chopped Walnuts, Chocolate Chips (whatever you have in the cupboard, no more than half chocolate or nuts)

*If you don't have brown sugar you can use caster sugar and add 1tbsp Black Treacle/Molasses instead.

Recipe:
[Preheat Oven to Gas Mark 4, 180C]

1. Line a 2lb/800g loaf tin with parchment paper or foil, leaving an overhang for later use.
2. Beat the butter and sugar together until light - brown sugar won't get really fluffy, just give it a decent go.
3. Mash the bananas, then mix in the honey and eggs. Add to the butter and beat well - yes, it will look awful!
4. Sift in the flour, spice, bicarb and salt then stir until just combined.
5. Stir in the fruit and nuts (or whatever) then spoon into the tin.
6. Bake for 1 hour, or until a skewer comes out clean, then sit on a rack for 30 minutes before removing from the tin.
7. Eat warm or cold, best with buter and jam if you like, custard or ice cream, yogurt and a drizzle of honey or whatever takes your fancy.

This recipe takes minimum time to make, and fills your kitchen with a fabulous smell. Actually using butter and unrefined sugar makes it relatively healthy, as cakes go. This makes a fabulous breakfast loaf, particularly if you add some sesame, pumpkin or other seeds - you could sprinkle some on top as well, but beware of burning. You could easily increase the batch to make a couple of loaves, just stockpile your bananas until you have enough, you can also divide among muffin tins and reduce the baking time accordingly (16-18 muffins for 20-25mins or 12-14 cupcakes15-20mins)