Everybody is baking Banana Bread, why not me?

There is a major pandemic, and the best we are doing is baking banana bread, Lots of it!! Haha. When the quarantine started, the majority of the people like myself thought, this would be short-lived, and in a few months, we will be back to somewhat normal. A lot of creativeness, zoom callings, TikTok’s, binge-watching on all of the streaming platforms later, the one thing that brought the entire world together is Banana Bread, also known as Quarantine Bread.

At first, I did not understand the concept, but after giving it some more profound thought, the reasoning is quite simple. Although its not the first go-to recipe for everyone, it’s also not discounted for either. During uncertain times, regardless of the pandemic, food is the primary source of comfort. Then the act of baking not only indulges our senses but also makes our home smell amazing, which is often nurturing for some. Secondly, the majority of the population like bananas, I personally do not know anyone that does not like bananas (being allergic is a different story). It is also one of those fruits that are inexpensive and readily available at all times. Lastly, banana bread is straightforward, not too overly sweet, could be consumed pretty much any time of the day, and comforting to the soul. Which is exactly what everyone needs during these unprecedented times. And honestly, after scrolling through social media and seeing all of the posts/pics, how can one not be tempted to make it!!

I am not much of a baker, I was not sure how this would turn out, especially since baking is not my forté. I have adapted this recipe to my likings, so please feel free to add your creativity to it. It is entirely eggless and vegan friendly.

Ingredients:

• 3-5 ripe bananas
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 2.5 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 cup of maple syrup
• 3 tsp of chia seeds
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts
• 1 tsp of pumpkin spice powder or cinnamon (optional)

Directions:

1. Preheat the oven to 350F. Take a loaf pan and spray it with nonstick spray.
2. In a bowl, start mashing bananas and maple syrup. You can add your pumpkin spice powder or cinnamon with the banana smash.
3. In another bowl, combine flour, baking powder, walnuts, and chia seeds. Mix in the wet ingredients in the flour. Try not to overmix, as it can create denser bread.
4. Transfer the batter to the pan and top it with pumpkin spice powder and whole walnuts.
5. Let it bake for 45 minutes. Insert a toothpick or knife in the center to check if it has cooked. If the toothpick comes out with few crumbs, it’s a sign that the bread is baked.

Tips:

*Always remember the adding ingredients. It is always better to add wet ingredients to dry ingredients.

*if you have nuts allergies, you can completely eliminate the walnuts and substitute it with sliced bananas, chocolate chips, etc.

*When mixing the batter, you can use dairy or nondairy milk to make the batter.

Cheers, and Enjoy!