Banana Bread

I just love cooking (and baking). The mixing of the ingredients, scrounging around the kitchen to see what I have to throw together and putting them all together to make something (hopefully) delicious! Well, today's recipe (thanks to the over-ripened fruit on my counter) is a simple, Banana Bread. Something about banana bread reminds me of fall and winter. Maybe it's because I tend not to do as much baking in the summer but for whatever the reason, the smell of baking cinnamon and nutmeg is enough to bring the coziness of fall. So, here is the recipe, courtesy of my beloved:

Banana Bread
Prep: 25 minutes Bake: 55 minutes
Oven: 350 degrees Makes: 1 loaf
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1/8 teaspoon ground nutmeg
2 eggs, beaten
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe banana (5 medium)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 recipe Streusel-Nut Topping (optional)

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 7 1/2x3 1/2x2-inch loaf pans; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and nutmeg. Make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, banana, sugar and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy. Fold in walnuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired sprinkle Streusel-Nut Topping over batter in pan(s).

3. Bake for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3-inch pan or 40 to 45 minutes for 7 1/2x3 1/2x2-inch pans or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning).Cool in pan on wire rack for 10 minutes. Remove from pan. Cool completely on rack. Wrap; store overnight before slicing.
Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.
Enjoy!