When life gives you bananas... you make banana bread

I found about 10 bananas on the back shelf of my freezer, so naturally, I made lots and lots of banana bread. Do you sense a theme this week?! I'll give you a hint - it's food found in the depths of my freezer.

I thought I should be healthy or something, and I bought sprouted wheat flour to use in this recipe. It was VERY WHEATY, and not really an improvement in my opinion, so the recipe and nutrition analysis below uses all-purpose flour. Oddly, when I changed the flour in the recipe from whole wheat to all-purpose, it added vitamins because the white flour is enriched - funny how that works out sometimes. Additionally, the fancy flour cost more than a dollar more in this recipe. Definitely going to stick with all-purpose flour on this one.

But I toasted up the bread with a little butter and it was pretty darn good with a cup of coffee on this cold, snowy morning!

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups all-purpose flour
¾ teaspoon fine grain salt
½ teaspoon baking soda
¼ teaspoon baking powder
5 1/3 tablespoons unsalted butter
2/3 cup sugar
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
2 very ripe bananas, mashed
1 tablespoon bourbon

½ cup coarsely chopped walnuts (optional)

Directions:
Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position a rack in the lower third of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350° F. Butter a 9x5-inch loaf pan, and set aside.

Whisk the dry ingredients (flour through baking powder) together in a medium bowl. Set aside.

In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar together using a sturdy fork or in a Kitchen-aid until it’s lightened in color and texture. Mix in the flour mixture until well blended and the consistency of brown sugar. Gradually beat in the eggs.

Fold in the mashed bananas, walnuts (if desired), and bourbon. Scrape the batter into the pan and spread evenly. Bake at 350° F for 50-60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool in the pan on a wire rack for 5 – 10 minutes before unmolding to cool completely.

Adapted from: http://lifecurrents.dw2.net/bourbon-banana-walnut-bread/

Allergens: Wheat, gluten, milk, egg, nuts

Nutrition Info (1/8 loaf): 240 calories, 7 g fat, 4 g saturated fat, 62 mg cholesterol, 113 mg sodium, 147 mg potassium, 39 g carbohydrate, 1 g fiber, 20 g sugar, 4 g protein, 6% vitamin A, 5% vitamin C, 2% calcium, 7% iron, 10% vitamin B-6, 12% folate, 10% riboflavin, 11% selenium, 12% thiamine

Cost (1 loaf): $2.33 (with all-purpose flour), $3.34 (with sprouted wheat flour)