Banana bread!

So this past week was full of meals I have already shared - did I mention my family loves them? - and this left me racking my brain for something to share with you all. Then I discovered some bananas I had gotten were left uneaten and past the point of no return, so there's only one thing to do with them - make banana bread! This happens to be a family favorite, so there were no complaints about this. Now the recipe I have is not my own, it comes from my great-grandmother, but I've made one little adjustment that everyone agrees makes it that much more yummy - the addition of brown sugar. Whenever I make this bread, I feel connected to my great-grandmother, whom I affectionately nicknamed Great. Because of this, I happened to be her favorite great-grandchild and she let me get away with all sorts of things, like jumping on her bed. My memories of her are very few as she passed when I was only 4, but eating, and now making, this banana bread always brings back such fond memories. Make this the next time you're in the mood for some comfort food and it will be a new family favorite! 

What's cooking in my kitchen this week:
Banana bread

What you'll need:
1 1/2 cup flour
1/2 cup sugar
1/2 cup brown sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup vegetable shortening
3 bananas
2 well beaten eggs
1/2 chopped walnuts (optional)

How to make it:

First, you will need to grease and flour bottom and sides of loaf pan. Next, shift dry ingredients, minus the brown sugar, in a bowl. 

Whisk in brown sugar and then work in shortening, like pie crust so it is little beads. 

Mash up bananas - see I told you they were past the point of no return! 

Put mashed bananas in flour mix and stir until bananas are incorporated. If you are using walnuts, this would be the time to mix them in (I didn't have any around, so I just left these out this time). 

Fold in beaten eggs quickly. It is important not to over mix this batter. 

Pour batter in prepared loaf pan and smooth out with spoon. Bump pan a few times to remove any bubbles. 

Bake 55-60 minutes in 350° oven. Let stand 5 minute and remove from pan. Serve immediately (this is the best!), or cover and serve later. Enjoy!

Did you know?
On this day in 1817, Hippolyte Mege Mouries was born (died May 31, 1880).  A French scientist, he invented margarine (French patent No. 86489) and also received patents for canned meat, sugar extraction and others.