#29 Banana Bread with walnuts and chocolate

When the weather gets colder we turn our thoughts to home and the warmth of a fireplace. The smell of baking banana, zuchini or pumpkin bread wafting through the house brings back fond memories. It
feels just like eating grandma's home made banana bread. Mmmm........ wait a minute, I am getting carried away my grandma did not bake at all!!! Well, she used a batter similar to this one to fry fritters
called "Unni Appams" which filled the house with a heavenly smell. It really does not relate to where you are born or where you live, the point is that you always have fond memories of home and
grandma's food during any Holiday Season. I encourage everyone to try out my recipe for banana bread. You will not regret it and if this does not remind you of childhood, I don't know what will!!

The only issue you will ever have is that the bread can be very addictive. I was mortified to read that the USDA lists one serving as a slice of traditional banana bread. According to their statistics, one 60 gm slice has 200 calories between 6 gms of fat, 33 gms of carbohydrates and 3 gms of protein. With the high carb content, those of you who are looking for energy can always turn to banana bread and it is easy to make.  I made this batch with walnuts and I ended up with 2 moist and delicious 9" loaves.  Mini banana bread loaves make great Holiday gifts, and by adding chocolate chips or cranberries they become festive eats. Make sure to butter and flour both loaf pans well and the bread will easily lift off the bottom of the pans.

Ingredients:
Bananas(preferably ripe ones)- 4
Eggs-2
Corn Oil-1/2 cup
Butter- 2 Tblpsns
All-purpose Flour-1 cup
Corn Meal-1/2 cup or you can subsititute with Bisquick Mix
Sugar-1 cup
Walnuts- 1 cup chopped.
Vanilla Extract- 1 tspn
Baking Powder- 1tspn
Melted chocolate chips-1/2 cup
or
Baking Soda- 2 pinches
If the batter turns out too thick add 1/4 cup of milk

Method:
1. Peel and cut up the bananas in a mixing bowl.
2. Heat the Oven to 350 degrees. Prepare a Loaf Pan by greasing with butter all over and dusting lightly with flour.
3. Take an egg beater or a food processor and mash up the bananas until coarse.
4. To this mix add eggs, oil, vanilla, sugar butter and beat really well for 5 minutes.
5. Sift together all the dry ingredients -flour, corn meal, baking powder except walnuts. Toss the walnuts lightly in some flour and keep aside.
6. Slowly add the flour mixture and beat the batter until well incorporated. Add the chocolate and walnuts and pour the batter into the prepared Loaf pan.
7. Bake in the middle of the oven for about an hour or until the top is light brown and a toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean.
8. Cool or serve up warm with hot coffee or cold milk.