Banana Bread

Best fresh from the oven with a bit of margarine.

General Information

• Time until ready:  hours
• Serving size: 1 slice
• Number of servings:
• Calories per serving:
• Carbohydrates per serving:
• Yield: 3 loaves

Serving Suggestions

Ingredients

• 2 cups whole wheat flour
• 4 cups white flour
• 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
• 4 1/2 tsp. baking powder
• 1/2 cup margarine
• 2 1/4 cups of brown sugar
• 6 very ripe bananas
• 3 TBSP.  water
• 3 tsp. vanilla extract

Directions  

1. Heat oven to 350^o.
2. Mix the margarine (1/2 cup) and brown sugar (2 1/4 cups) together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
3. Add the bananas (6) mix well (until lump-free).
4. Sift into the bowl:
   1. Flours (2 cups whole wheat & 4 cups white)
   2. 1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
   3. 4 1/2 tsp. baking powder
5. Add the water (3 TBSP.) and vanilla extract (3 tsp.).
6. Mix this all together and pour equal amounts into three loaf pans (that have been sprayed with no-stick spray).
7. Bake at 350^o for approximately 45 minutes (until a toothpick inserted into the center of a loaf comes out clean).

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Banana Trivia

Wild bananas, as shown in the photo, have hard seeds throughout, making them not nearly as pleasant to eat as the variety we find in stores.

Bananas grow in an orientation we think of as upside down, but they do not grow on trees.  The plant, however, looks very tree-like. The plant can grow up to 16 feet tall.  

Each plant can produce only one bunch of bananas, after which it is removed, and one of its suckers is allowed to grow in its place -- well, close to its place.  Through the many generations of suckers replacing the plants, they tend to slowly creep away from the original location.

Bananas will produce fully formed fruit even if the seeds within were not fertilized.