The week has flown by with our mysterious visitor from China who comes and goes, that sometime we aren’t even sure if he’s home. It seems he’s going more than he’s coming and I’m missing him even though he’s close by. I have tried to keep him well fed while he has been around, so he can have a change from his normal diet of noodles and noodles, sold on the streets of Shanghai. His favorite noodle man from Mongolia even asked him to bring back some American hot sauce!
It has been a crazy few weeks and tonight the daughter arrives and tomorrow my parents. I am exhausted but in a good way, and I do have a lot more to cook. Cleaning is also on the agenda, because after all the cooking and schlepping of grocery bags through the still dirty winter garage, my floors look gray.
With Easter upon us, I wanted to pass this bread recipe along. I made it for the boy to take to Utah to share with his ski buddies and he told me that it was a hit. I’ve been so behind on posting that I’m actually taking a sitting break, and writing feels quite relaxing compared to what I’ve been doing recently! I’d like to keep my butt parked a bit longer, but I’ve got to hit Trader Joe’s early so I can begin today’s marathon.
Since every blog it seems must have a granola recipe, it also appears to need a banana bread recipe. I love banana bread and often keep my brown bananas frozen in a plastic bag in the freezer to have on hand for baking. Usually I forget about them, but I was on the ball when I made this recipe. This isn’t a cakey banana bread. It is hearty and good and dense, all on its own. Filled with my crack granola and toasted banana chips, this bread really kicks it up a notch! Toasting this bread elevates it to a whole new level! The aroma of bananas perfumes the kitchen and with a little big slather of butter, you have just made a special kind of toast. Now I won’t be eating this for Passover, but you can certainly enjoy this for your breakfast treat!
Happy Easter and Happy Passover and I’ll be back next week with lots of good things that at the moment are sitting on my camera! I had planned to get out a bunch of Passover recipes but well, you see how that went. So it’s off to Trader Joe’s and my marathon day!
Banana Granola Toasting Bread
Makes 1 8 x 4 loaf and 17 x 4 loaf
Time to Make: About 20 minutes Time to Bake: About 45
Ingredients:
1 c brown sugar
2 eggs
3/4 c coconut oil or vegetable oil
1/2 c Greek yogurt
1 t vanilla
1 c mashed bananas ( A little more, a little less, doesn’t hurt anything)
1/2 c chopped walnuts
1 t baking powder
1 t baking soda
2 c flour
1 c of your favorite granola (or use mine which you should make at least once)
1/2 c banana chips (sold with the dried fruit)
Directions:
Preheat oven to 375. Grease your pans. Mix together sugar, eggs and oil. Add yogurt and vanilla. Add bananas and walnuts. Combine flour with baking powder and baking soda. (This distributes the leavening agents better.) Stir into banana mixture. Last, but not least, stir in the granola and banana chips. Bake for 45 minutes. Let cool on a rack. Slice and toast-or just eat. But make sure to enjoy!
More Good Food:
Belgian Liege Waffles
Almost Crack Granola
Everything But The Bagel Scrambled Eggs
Strawberry Crepes
Overnight Mexican Egg Casserole
Biz
April 8, 2015 at 4:50 pmGlad you had some good family time, even if stressful! That bread though – I will have to make that and send it to my step-son, he would love it! I'll have to check out your crack granola too – hugs Abbe!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:29 amI do think it would ship well! The granola is the bomb! (Can't believe I said that!)
mjskit
April 7, 2015 at 3:31 amSounds like you have had a BUSY week! Mine was a sleeper in comparison. 🙂 Love your banana bread. The banana chips are a great addition!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:28 amI am so ready for a sleeper! Thanks!
Sippity Sup
April 7, 2015 at 1:49 amIN contrast your busy household, mine is like an echo chamber. We've been gone more than we're home and I miss the hustle and bustle of the life you describe. Including gray floors. GREG
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:28 amYou could have come here! Always room for more! I love to travel but it is always nice to come home. You need to create some hustle and bustle, Greg!
Chris Scheuer
April 4, 2015 at 6:37 pmYum, this sounds delightful and I can only imagine how delicious it would be toasted! Have fun with your company! It is a lot of work to have guests but so worthwhile!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:26 amVery worthwhile. One must celebrate happy times when one can! Thanks, Chris!
SavoringTime in the Kitchen
April 3, 2015 at 9:13 pmIt looks wonderful, Abbe! I'll definitely be copying this recipe. Happy Passover to you and your family!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:26 amCopy away, Susan! Hope you had a great Easter!
Pamela @ Brooklyn Farm Girl
April 3, 2015 at 4:03 pmI love banana bread and anything related to it! Love all the garnishing on top.
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:25 amThat was my crack granola. It is SO good! Thanks Pamela!
Cheri Savory Spoon
April 3, 2015 at 4:01 amWhat a great recioe Abbe, love that you added granola. Have a wonderful holiday week-end!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:25 amThanks Cheri. The banana chips worked well in it also!
Anna and Liz Recipes
April 2, 2015 at 6:13 pmYour bread looks wonderful Abbe! Have a wonderful Passover this weekend! See you next week!
xo Anna and Liz
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:24 amThanks Anna and Liz. Hope you had a great Easter!
Cathleen
April 2, 2015 at 4:50 pmThis bread looks amazing! I love putting banana in pretty much everything 🙂
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:24 amThanks Cathleen! You are a banana nut! I think you will like this one!
La Table De Nana
April 2, 2015 at 12:45 pmI like this idea of granola(yours:) ) in a banana bread!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:24 amI must admit it worked out well and gives the bread some texture! Thanks!
Sharon D
April 2, 2015 at 8:55 amIt looks perfect, Abbe. Never seen banana bread look this beautiful. You are amazing! ❤ ❤ ^.^
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:23 amOh Sharon, you are so sweet! And amazing, too!
Angie Schneider
April 2, 2015 at 3:59 amwow Abbe, your granola banana bread looks super duper moist and beautiful with that dark brown crust, which is my favourite part of all bread. A great one, Abbe!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:22 amI consider that a great compliment coming from the Queen of breads. Thanks Angie!
Juliana
April 2, 2015 at 3:06 amAbbe, you sure are very busy…this banana bread looks delicious and yes to the granola in it…especially with your crack granola 🙂
Enjoy your busy week my dear!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:22 amIt has been busy to say the least Juliana! But the good kind of busy!
Tricia Buice
April 1, 2015 at 11:17 pmSo perfectly beautiful. I know you must really love having your family there – or at least your son in the same Country. I can't believe you're blogging with so much to do! You're a rock star Abbe. Enjoy your family time!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:21 amThanks Tricia! You know I always did want to be a rock star! Hope you had a great Easter!
Liz Berg
April 1, 2015 at 10:20 pmI love your crack granola—and what a wonderful addition to banana bread! Enjoy your full nest!!! xo
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:16 amThanks Liz! It was quite full! And it is amazing how the more bodies there are, the more dust there is!
Daniela Grimburg
April 1, 2015 at 7:55 pmOh Abbe, you made my day with this Banana Granola bread.
I was just looking for inspiration for our Easter brunch- not looking any longer, thanks so much!
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:04 amYou will love it Daniella and have a Happy Easter!
Karen Harris
April 1, 2015 at 4:41 pmSo glad you are having family fill you house even if it is for abbreviated periods. Love this bread and can't wait to try that granola.
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 3:03 amGotta make it count! Thanks Karen!
Kitchen Riffs
April 1, 2015 at 3:21 pmGlad you're getting to see your mysterious visitor at least a little. 😉 Bake more of this banana bread and I'll bet you'll see a lot more of him! Who doesn't like banana bread? Mrs KR sometimes microwaves bananas that aren't brown enough — a brief stint in the microwave gives them the right flavor/texture. Anyway, good stuff! Thanks.
Abbe Odenwalder
April 10, 2015 at 2:54 amSo it ended up he ate the loaf when he went to Salt Lake. I have another hiding in the freezer! I've heard of microwaving the bananas, but it seems I always have a few on the counter! Thanks, John!