Valentine's Day!

To all you lads and lasses trying to find that perfect gift for your sweetie, look no further! A nice warm home-baked loaf of banana bread is the way to go! Well, normally I would say something chocolate like my chocolate cake with raspberry mascarpone filling, but that recipe will have to come later. Today's recipe is for my very special banana bread, with an optional topping:

Famous Banana bread:

Ingredients :

1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup plus 2 tablespoons sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup oil
3 1/2 bananas, very VERY ripe, mashed (i use my potato masher)
2 tablespoons sour cream (can also use creme fraiche)
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

optional:
2/3 cup walnuts or pecans, toasted and chopped

(I usually use Pecans, which don't necessarily have to be toasted. These can be added into the batter or Tossed with a few TBS. of brown sugar and a few shakes of cinnamon to make a wonderful topping)

Directions:

Set oven to 350 degrees F. Butter and flour the sides of a loaf pan.

Sift together the flour, baking soda, cinnamon and salt. Beat sugar and eggs with a whisk until light and fluffy, about 10 minutes (or with kitchen-aid/mixer for 5-8 min). Drizzle in oil. Add mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Fold in dry ingredients and nuts (if mixing in). Pour into a lined loaf pan (if making topping add now) and bake for about 45 minutes to 1 hour.

Total Time: 

1hr 20 min
Prep
20 min

Yield:
1 loaf