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Julie bakes Aunt Minnie's Banana Bread

By on August 12, 2013
bananabread

An Aunt of mine used to say that her mind (or memory…I can’t remember which) was like a sieve. No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t keep things in.

She was my Great-aunt and her name was Minnie. And yes the images that come to your mind (other than Minnie Mouse) are probably accurate. She was not very tall, had white hair that she rolled in curlers, glasses and round rosy cheeks.

I saw my Aunt Minnie last, in 1997. It was during this trip, that I had the best banana bread I had ever tasted. Of course I had to have the recipe. Imagine, this lovely, little, white haired lady, who claimed that her mind couldn’t keep a thing in, did not have a recipe for her banana bread.

As you know, I only cook with recipes, so I was stunned. I convinced her to make more and show me how she made it. I watched, and diligently recorded all measurements. I have made her recipe over and over and to this day I have not been able to duplicate it. Aunt Minnie’s banana bread was dense without being heavy or greasy. It was best served with a bit of butter and a cup of tea.

I am convinced that it’s not something that’s missing from the recipe. What is missing is that she is not making it.

 

aunt minnie’s famous banana bread

*yields one loaf. Simply double for 2.

½ cup butter, softened
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 cup of mashed bananas (about 3 bananas, very very ripe)
1 ¾ cup flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
pinch of salt

Preheat the oven to 325°F. Grease a loaf pan, preferably glass.

Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, beat well.

Add bananas and sifted dry ingredients, and mix with a spoon until just combined.

Bake for 70 minutes. Testing the bread with a toothpick after 45 minutes.

*baker’s note…feel free to throw in some chocolate chips before you put the batter in the pan.

 

Julie of By The Recipe says this about her food writing:

I’m not sure which came first: my sweet tooth, or my desire to bake.  Before I was a wife and a mother, I was a baker.  I love to bake.

Before kids, I wasn’t much of a cook. After kids, my cooking abilities improved, I guess because I needed to feed my family. Over the years I have come to enjoy cooking, almost as much as baking.  But let’s be honest, the best part of baking and cooking are the accolades of a great mouthful of food. That inspires me.

When I cook, I cook by the recipe. Almost always.

 

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