If you get close enough to the computer screen maybe you'll be able to smell how good this banana banana bread is! Are you sick of all the baking I've done? I know my husband isn't. :) It's also helped to pass time while I'm knitting. Knitting and baking, hmmm what a novel idea?
So, you see up there that's my Phildar sweater. Remember how I said I was going to kick some Phildar butt? Those confusing 1 x 2, 2 x 5 decreases have been explained to me by the lovely Tres Chic Veronique. Merci! And Michele pointed me towards a French knitters forum which helped to iron out any other questions I had. I'm hoping to have this little brassiere done by the end of the week. It's for my friend who's just had a baby girl. Check out the cuteness this sweater will be:
I've also made the scarf that's in the picture. What a fun excuse to use that funky Phildar Bowling!
And here's the recipe for the banana bread :
INGREDIENTS
* 2 cups all-purpose flour
* 1 teaspoon baking soda
* 1/4 teaspoon salt
* 1/2 cup butter
* 3/4 cup brown sugar
* 2 eggs, beaten
* 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas
DIRECTIONS
1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.
I didn't have enough banana, I had three and half and probably needed two more to make the 2 1/3 cups needed for the recipe. I substituted with a pot of compote de poire williams and it worked like a charm. Also I used a different pan and my bake time was cut by about 20 minutes.
Happy knitting and baking... I'm off to have a piece of banana bread and curl up on the couch with my cheri d'amour.
*edit* I highly suggest using apple sauce or pear sauce with chunks of fruit for the banana bread recipe. It really made for a moist bread with delightful little chunks of fruit. Nothing like fruit cake, I'd never do wish that on anymore. Ew. :)
Tout le plaisir etait pour moi!
Oh, that sweater is darling...
Posted by: Veronique | October 25, 2006 at 15:22
Yaaaay! I used to make a fab banana bread but lost the recipe. Will certainly try this one.
BTW, thanks for visiting my blog yesterday and I'm glad you liked that little movie I made. There will be more soon.
Ciao!
Posted by: frog with a blog | October 25, 2006 at 15:23
Definitely get the knitting and baking, but I want to know how knitters manage to find time to read. I find I usually have to sacrifice one or the other.
Posted by: Serena | October 25, 2006 at 15:54
I just got that Phildar magazine myself! Can't wait to see how the sweater comes out!
Posted by: laura b | October 25, 2006 at 19:59
the sweater will be adorable, and the bread looks great. I love your loaf pan, btw. I've got one big one and three tiny ones. I wish the tiny ones were all connected like yours are!
Posted by: Genevieve | October 25, 2006 at 20:46
You are in serious "nesting" mode, sweetie. You'll be a natural as a mommy!
Posted by: The Bold Soul | October 26, 2006 at 00:43
I love your sweaters -- the new one is super cute. I find the French patterns completely intimidating, but on the other hand I can't even read ones in English. I'm pretty impressed with your ability to knock a beautiful sweater out in 2 days. I'll be lucky to have finished my sample swatch in 2 days.
Posted by: Pardon_My_French | October 27, 2006 at 23:34