I have been making this Banana Bread since I was a young girl.  I would pull my Mom’s red and white battered Better Home’s and Gardens New Cook Book off the shelf and whip up a loaf.  For a few years when I didn’t have a stocked kitchen in which to bake I didn’t get the chance and I missed it.  Once I was in a stocked kitchen once again the first request I had from my Mom was a red and white cookbook of my very own.

She obliged and Hubby has been kept in Banana Bread ever since.  Well, he also didn’t tell me that it wasn’t his favourite until well into our lives together.  He finally had the courage to tell me.  How was I going to get him to eat Banana Bread?  Omit the nuts and lemon and add some chocolate and occasionally coconut.  And we were back in business again.

A girlfriend of mine is coming to spend the night tonight so I thought I would whip up a batch (a double batch, one to eat one to freeze) so we could have a little treat.

If you have a few minutes, because it only takes a few, whip up a loaf.  It’s a great way to trick your Hubby and the kids into eating something healthy, just add chocolate.

BeachMama’s Banana Bread (adapted from Better Homes and Gardens recipe):

1 1/2 c. flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/4 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

1 egg

3 medium bananas

3/4 c. sugar

1/4 c. cooking oil

1/2 c. chocolate chips (optional)

1/2 c. sweetened coconut (soaked in a bit of water for 10 min.  also optional)

1. Grease the bottom and sides of an 8x4x2 inch loaf pan; set aside.  Preheat oven to 350.

2. In a mixer or bowl with hand mixer add bananas, egg, sugar and oil mix until blended.  Add flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and nutmeg.  Blend just until mixed (batter should be lumpy).

3. Fold in chocolate chips and coconut if using.

4. Pour into prepared pan. Bake in preheated oven (350F) for 50 – 55 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool pan on a wire rack for 10 minutes.  Remove loaf from pan; finish cooling before slicing (if you can wait that long).

5. Enjoy!