LOADED BANANA BREAD

Taking down and packing up the Christmas decorations is not something I look forward to each year. I have been waiting for several days for it to warm up enough so that the attic wouldn't be as cold when I pulled the periscope stairs down in the hall to get to the attic. I had asked my husband if he would help me by handing the containers up to me after I climbed the stairs and got in the attic. 

I must be a sight when I go up in the attic in the winter wearing my gloves and coat. I wear my gloves because the metal stairs are so cold. I usually end up taking my coat off after I make several trips up and down the stairs. Today, though the coat stayed on. The temperature was in the low 40s when I started but it was cloudy and rainy so it felt cold. 

When I was ready, I called my husband. Some things were loose on the table and needed to be packed away in containers that I had left in the attic. Those I told him I would take up later. I told him we could start with the two containers right inside my sewing room. When he saw them, he asked me if they were the same size as the ones I had used to pack up the Christmas tree ornaments. (He had found a place to store them in the garage so that I wouldn't have to put them back in the attic.) I told him yes, they were. He said, "Well, I think I can find a place to put them in the garage, too." I couldn't believe it. 

I did have to put some of the decorations back in the attic, but most of them are going to be in the garage. It will be so much easier for me next year (this year) when I have to decorate for Christmas. So after a couple of hours, Christmas is gone and winter (snowmen) is here (in my house). (See below.)

With that done, I decided I should bake something to have in the house that wasn't real sweet but would really hit the spot, when we wanted something. Whenever I have a bowl full of bananas that are starting to ripen, I start looking for a recipe to use a few of them. I wonder if there are more banana bread recipes than any other? I have made quite a few in my lifetime. And yesterday I found another one. I especially liked the word "loaded" in the title. It is loaded with lots of "extras".

LOADED BANANA BREAD

6       tablespoons butter, softened
1/3    cup sugar
1/3    cup packed brown sugar
2       eggs
3       ripe bananas, mashed (3 of my bananas made almost 1-1/2 cups mashed bananas)
1/2    teaspoon vanilla extract
1-1/2 cups flour
2-1/2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4     teaspoon salt
1         can (8-oz) crushed pineapple, drained (I measured 1 cup of crushed pineapple from a 20-oz can and drained it)
1/3     cup flaked coconut (I used unsweetened  coconut)
1/3     cup mini chocolate chips
1/3     cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Spray with nonstick cooking spray a 9 x 5 - inch loaf pan. (My Wilton loaf pan is more like 8-1/4 x 4-1/2.)

Combine the butter and sugars in a large mixing bowl.

Beat on medium with electric mixer for 3 minutes or until light and fluffy.

Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Beat in bananas and vanilla.

Combine the flour, baking powder, and salt together with a whisk.

Add flour mixture all at once and stir just til combined.

Add pineapple, coconut, and chocolate chips.

Stir til well blended.

Pour batter in pan. Sprinkle with chopped walnuts, if you like.

Bake for 60 to 70 minutes. Check doneness with a toothpick inserted in center of loaf. I had to bake mine the full 70 minutes.

Remove from oven and cool on wire rack in pan for 1 hour.

Remove from pan and finish cooling. (I had to hit the bottom of the pan to release the loaf as a few of the chocolate chips had baked in the bottom and were sticking to the bottom of the pan.)

Cathy Mitchell presents Quick & Easy Dump Cakes and More.