Two Delicious And Different Banana Breads

Who doesn't like a nice "fresh from the oven" warm slice of homemade banana bread?

Always a favorite for using those too ripe bananas you were thinking of tossing - these recipes offer great taste, texture and ease, but one is "quick" and one is made with yeast in your bread maker.

You will enjoy both, promise!

Banana Quick Bread

Makes one loaf

3 large bananas, peeled and mashed

1/3 cup melted butter or margarine, cooled slightly

¾ cup sugar

1 egg, lightly beaten

1 tsp. vanilla

1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp. baking soda

½ tsp. salt

1/3 cup chopped nuts, any variety

In a large bowl, mix bananas, butter, sugar, egg and vanilla well. Add the remaining ingredients, mixing well.

Grease a large loaf pan (1.5 qt.), add mixture, and bake for 45 minutes to one hour at 350 degrees. Test with a toothpick in the middle of the loaf. Let cool a few minutes on a wire rack, then gently remove from pan and let cool.

This banana bread freezes well if wrapped tightly in plastic wrap and then tin foil. Let cool completely before freezing.

Hint: cut out a piece of parchment paper to fit the bottom of your loaf pan. Lay it on top of the greased bottom and grease it again then add the batter. The loaf will pop out!

Bread Machine Banana Bread

Makes one, 1.5 lb. loaf

1/3 cup milk

1 egg, lightly beaten

¾ cup mashed banana

2 T melted butter or margarine

3 cups bread flour (I used “Better For Bread Flour” by Pillsbury)

¾ tsp. salt

3 T sugar

¼ tsp. ground cinnamon

1 tsp. active dry yeast

¾ cups chopped nuts (or half nuts and half sweetened dried cranberries or raisins)

In the bottom of the bread machine insert, add the ingredients in the following order:  milk, egg, banana, butter, flour, salt, sugar, cinnamon, yeast, and nuts.

Select the basic white bread cycle and your work is finished!!

This bread is especially good toasted and spread with a little butter.