Ingredients:
1 1/4 sugar
1/2 cup butter - softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 cup mashed bananas (about 3 medium bananas)
1/2 cup buttermilk (or 1/2 cup plain yogurt or 1/2 cup regular milk)
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup blueberries
1. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl
2. Stir in eggs until well blended
3. Stir in bananas, buttermilk, and vanilla - beat until smooth
4. Stir in flour, baking soda, and salt until moistened
5. Stir in blueberries
6. Grease loaf pan or pans -
recommend either one 9 x 5 x 3 pan or two 8.5 x 4.5 x 2.5 pans
7. Pour batter into pan or pans.
8. Bake at 350 degrees - 1 hour if using two pans, 1 hour 15 minutes for one pan
9. Run a toothpick through it - make sure it comes out clean - if not, cook a little longer
10. Let cool for 10 minutes, remove from pans and let cool for two hours on wire rack.
FYI - Isopentyl acetate (IPA) aka banana oil - when the banana bread is baking, this is what you smell. Banana oil evaportes very quickly when left at room temperature. So, while the banana bread is baking and your home smells divine, you have this to thank and be sure to enjoy while it lasts.
Mark's Notes-
1. Instead of adding in blueberries, I have added in the following:
1/2 cup chocolate chips (you can add more but it becomes too sweet in my opinion)
1/2 cup dark chocolate chips
1 cup frozen strawberries (I ran out of blueberries once and decided to go with the frozen strawberries we had in the freezer).
Some people add nuts for a banana nut bread. The nuts will actually absorb any moisture in the bread. In my opinion, that is too dry but some people like it and will simply enjoy a glass of milk with their banana nut bread.
If you just want regular banana bread, then don't add anything. I would also suggest that you check out the recipe I have posted for Extreme Banana Bread.
2. I very rarely have buttermilk in the house. I usually substitute 1/2 cup buttermilk with 1/2 cup plain yogurt. I have also read that you can substitute buttermilk with regular milk and adding in a few drops from a lemon. 1/2 cup regular milk will also work.
3. Instead of using 2 1/2 cups regular flour, I have made it with 2 1/2 cups of whole wheat flour. It's really good. You can use any combination of regular flour and whole wheat flour.
4. I always forgot to take the loaf out of the pan after ten minutes, and I just let it cool in the pan for two hours. It will actually bake a bit longer doing that but it comes out fine.
5. Abby likes to pour the ingredients into the bowl while I stir. Miriam likes to stir the ingredients while I pour those into the bowl. Either way, it is great family fun.
So, with the bananas, blueberries, yogurt, and whole wheat flour mix that I use, it is very moist, extemely delicous, great family fun, and a wonderful snack / dessert for everyone over the next several days.
