Banana Bread

Ok, so I will start out small. How many of you throw out the bananas as soon as they get a few brown freckles? Or how many of you wait until they are pretty much all brown before they get tossed in the trash? Did you know that you are throwing them away when they are reaching the peak of flavor? Sometimes I let mine turn brown on purpose just so I can make the best banana bread or muffins or milk shake or fruit rolls ever. REALLY! Ok, so maybe they are spotted or all brown and you just don't have time to deal with them right now. Thats ok. Just peel them, cut in chunks, put in a sandwich bag and pop in the freezer. Now, put a note on the fridge door to make the banana bread or whatever later so you don't forget that they are there. (No need to thaw if using in milk shake.)

VERY BEST BANANA BREAD

1 cup sugar

1/3 cup butter, softened

2 eggs

1& 1/2 cups banana (3-4 bananas)

1/3 cup water

1& 2/3 cup flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 cup chopped nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees

Grease bottom only of regular size loaf pan*. Mix sugar and butter together. Stir in eggs until blended. Add bananas and water. Beat for 30 seconds. Stir in remaining ingredients except nuts until moistened. Stir in nuts. Bake 55 - 60 minutes.

*if using mini loaf pans bake 30 minutes.

Whole Wheat Banana Muffins
2 cups whole wheat flour
1/2 tsp salt
1 tbs baking powder
2 large ripe bananas
1/3 cup oil
1/2 cup milk

1/4 cup chopped nuts or raisins

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease muffin tins. Mash bananas in a large bowl. Add oil, honey, and milk and mix well. Add flour, salt, and baking powder and stir until moistened. Stir in the nuts. Pour into muffin tins and bake for 30 minutes, or until lightly browned.

Makes about 12 muffins.

BANANA MILK SHAKE

1 cup cold milk

1/2 teaspoon vanilla

1 frozen banana (cut in chunks before freezing)

nutmeg (if desired)

Put milk and vanilla in blender container. Turn blender on high speed and add frozen banana chunks thru opening in lid. Milk should thicken as banana is pureed and milk begins to get frosty. Turn off blender and pour shake in tall glass. Sprinkle with nutmeg if desired.