Banana bread just like my mother used to make it

After many agonising tries, I have finally figured out the recipe that takes me back to my mother's loving arms.

Laila Dharamsey December 16, 2012
The sweet smell of ripe baked bananas takes me back to my mother’s kitchen when I was a mere seven year old. By the time I was 15, my mother could no longer share her recipes or secrets with me; she fell sick when I was just a little girl.

Growing up, I knew I wanted to hold on to every piece of her that I could remember and so after experimenting and testing out different recipes, I finally figured out my very own banana bread recipe inspired by my mother. It requires no fancy or expensive ingredients, just normal stuff you have lying around at home.

The only trick is baking it to perfection.

To make your banana bread you will need:

1-cup walnuts or almonds which ever you prefer, chopped coarsely.

Please ensure that you don’t add the nuts in case anyone has a nut allergy. It can be fatal

1/2 cup raisins (optional)

1 3/4 cups white flour

3/4 cup granulated white sugar

1/2-teaspoon baking powder

1/4-teaspoon bio-carbonate soda or baking soda

1-teaspoon cinnamon

eggs, lightly beaten

1/2-cup butter, melted, at room temperature

4 ripe large bananas, mashed well (Bananas you get in Pakistan are small, so you might want to use 6 or 8 depending on the size)

1-teaspoon vanilla extract

Method:

Turn your oven on to 180 degrees Celsius.

Start by mashing the bananas; make sure not to over mash, you still want nice chunky bits in your bread.

Add your eggs, melted butter and vanilla to the bananas

Combine all your dry ingredients together in a large bowl and then gently fold your wet ingredients into your dry ones.

Butter a loaf pan and dust with flour. Add your prepared mixture into the pan and bake for 35-45 minutes. Check your bread with a long wooden skewer (that’s what I use, to see if it’s cooked through in the middle), it should come out clean.

The bread should be slightly brown on top, when it’s ready. Take it out and give it 15 minutes to cool, and there you have it; your banana bread is ready to serve!

For an extra pat on the shoulder, serve your bread with whipped cinnamon cream.

As I grab one of my mother’s books, curl up in my warm blanket, the smell and taste of this divine bread takes me back to Susie’s loving arms.

I hope your loved ones enjoy this comfort food as much as mine do!

It’s a quick fix and a lovely snack.

References: www.bbc.co.uk and www.joyofbaking.com

Read more by Laila here
WRITTEN BY:
Laila Dharamsey Associate creative manager at Red Communication Arts. She tweets @LailaDharamsey1 (https://twitter.com/LailaDharamsey1)
The views expressed by the writer and the reader comments do not necassarily reflect the views and policies of the Express Tribune.

COMMENTS (19)

Fatima | 11 years ago | Reply Add chocolate chips for extra flavour! I make banana bread with chocolate chips and it tastes awesome.
uzma ausaf | 11 years ago | Reply Refreshing!!! next time when I log on ,I'll have a slice of it along with a mug of hot coffee or tea.Thanks for sharing the long forgotten recipe by my elder sister!!
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