Warm Comforts...

The cool brisk wind moved across the flat plains this morning as I arrived to delivery D (my son) at preschool. This winter has been incredibly mild compared to last, and although my mommy list didn't disappear, I decided to bake some banana bread. It's always a good thing in my book to do something that you enjoy even if it means everything else can wait. 

This Banana Bread recipe is a tweek on several I have come across. It is moist and it doesn't use loads of sugar. To me really ripe bananas are already sugary sweet and essential to this recipe. 


Ingredients
4 medium extremely ripe bananas. (the ones that look like not so pretty are the best)
1 stick of unsalted butter ( leave at room tempt over night is best)
1/2 cup organic sugar. 
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 tablespoon aluminum free baking powder (I like the Trader Joe's brand best)
1/2 teaspoon iodine free salt (This is what I use but I'm sure table salt will work)
2 cups of unbleached all purpose flour. ( Wheat is also very yummy, I often do half all purpose and half wheat)
3/4 cup chocolate chips  ( semisweet ) 



Now for the fun part that tiny helpers can do. I use a potato masher and let the kids go to town on those bananas. I also add the vanilla to them before mashing.  Also smash the butter and sugar  into the wet mixture. Then add the eggs and mix until incorporated. 
In a separate bowl mix together the flour, baking powder and salt.  Add your dry ingredients to the wet slowly and do not over mix. Add the chocolate chips and then pour into your loaf or mini loaf pan. 
Bake at 350 degrees until golden . One big loaf can take up to 50 minutes. The smaller loaves take around 30. You may not get a clean toothpick if you have big chunks of banana in your mixture. 

I love to share this homemade goodness, so I often make mini loaves. Truth be told it keeps me from eating an entire mega loaf.  This bread also freezes well. I wait until they have cooled completely before freezer wrapping. 

Now onto the best part....eating it. I always make a small cup of tea or coffee to enjoy with it. I am really digging the organic wake up blend from Trader Joe's right now. I hope you can enjoy this recipe with your loved ones. 

Even finding time to document this small moment makes me smile. I almost forget some days that I just need to get dressed and it can change my entire focus. This year my gears are on focus. Focusing on the things I feel will make me happier as a person and a mommy.