* Exported from MasterCook *

                               Banana Bread

Recipe By     :Cook's Illustrated
Serving Size  : 14    Preparation Time :0:00
Categories    : 

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
  2               cups  all-purpose flour
     3/4           cup  sugar
     3/4      teaspoon  baking soda
     1/2      teaspoon  salt
  1 1/4           cups  walnuts -- toastet, chopped coarse, (About 1 cup)
     1/4           cup  plain yogurt
  1           teaspoon  vanilla extract
  6        tablespoons  butter -- melted and cooled
  2              large  eggs -- beaten lightly
  3              large  banana -- soft, darkly speckled, mashed well (About 1 1/2 cups)

Greasing and flouring only the bottom of a regular loaf pan causes the bread to cling to the sides and rise higher. If using a nonstick loaf pan, on which the sides are very slick, grease and flour sides as well as the bottom. 



Adjust oven rack to lower middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of regular loaf pan, or grease and flour bottom and sides of nonstick 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside. Combine first five ingredients together in large bowl; set aside. 

Mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs, butter, and vanilla with wooden spoon in medium bowl. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan; bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes. Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. 



BANANA-CHOCOLATE BREAD 
Follow recipe for The Best Banana Bread, reducing sugar to 10 tablespoons and mixing 2 1/2 ounces grated bittersweet chocolate (a heaping 1/2 cup) into dry ingredients. 



BANANA-COCONUT BREAD WITH MACADAMIA NUTS 
Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Toast 1/2 cup flaked, sweetened coconut and 1 cup chopped macadamia nuts on small cookie sheet, stirring every 2 minutes, until golden brown, about 6 minutes. Follow recipe for the Best Banana Bread, substituting toasted macadamias and coconut for walnuts. 



ORANGE-SPICE BANANA BREAD 
Follow recipe for The Best Banana Bread, adding 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon, 1/4 teaspoon grated nutmeg, and 2 tablespoons grated orange zest to dry ingredients.

Yield:
  "1 loaf"
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Per Serving (excluding unknown items): 255 Calories; 12g Fat (42.4% calories from fat); 6g Protein; 32g Carbohydrate; 2g Dietary Fiber; 44mg Cholesterol; 207mg Sodium.  Exchanges: 1 Grain(Starch); 1/2 Lean Meat; 1/2 Fruit; 0 Non-Fat Milk; 2 Fat; 1/2 Other Carbohydrates.


Nutr. Assoc. : 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0 0