a healthy alternative

the title is totally misleading. what i am about to share is not healthy in the slightest but it just tastes so fucking good. i like bananas. i learned recently that they help you not get cramps in your feet which i often experience so i am attempting to eat more bananas. but that is beside the point. bananas. a peanut butter and banana sandwich with a tall glass of milk - heaven on earth. no joke.

so, i buy bananas with the intention of lessening my foot cramps and improving my all around health and they always turn. i'll even break the bunches up at acme and just take home two or three and inevitably the last one or two is dark and spotted and unappealing. thus the utter beauty and joy of banana bread. my very favorite recipe in the whole wide world is from the joy of cooking, a most wonderful and helpful book. the sheer knowledge in the book about fruits and vegetables and meats and how you should clean and cook them is incredible and the kick ass banana bread recipe is just a bonus.

1 3/4 c. sifted flour
2 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 c. shortening
2/3 sugar
3/4 tsp. lemon zest (who always has zest on hand? this is optional.)
1 beaten egg (recipe calls for one to two but why use two eggs when one works just fine?)
1 to 1 1/4 c. banana pulp

preheat oven to 350 degrees. sift together flour, baking powder and salt. set aside. blend together shortening, sugar and lemon zest. beat in eggs and smushed bananas. add the sifted dry ingredients in three parts beating after each addition until smooth. now you can fold in any extras. i think dried cranberries or cherries are exceptional. this last time i added some chocolate peanut butter chips and those were also very tasty. pour the batter into a greased bread pan and bake around 1 hour or until done.

i like to let mine cool enough where i can touch the pan and then dump it out and wrap it tightly in foil. but when it is still warm slice of a piece and slather it with real butter (soft butter at room temperature) or if you are feeling guilty eat it plain. it is still delicious. case in point: