Message from Maggie:  As a dietetics major, I spent a lot of undergraduate hours working in a food lab.  A semester long project was to refine a recipe twice a week for a semester to get to a perfect version.  I chose banana bread.  Below you will find my perfect Banana Bread- a menu staple when I have a pile of sad bananas or visitors coming to town.

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 3 medium bananas, very ripe
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 teaspoons vanilla
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon kosher salt
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts or chocolate chips (optional)

Directions

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F with a oven rack in the bottom third of the oven. Spray the inside with nonstick cooking spray.
2. Melt the butter in the microwave.
3. Whisk together the melted butter and sugar in a mixing bowl until combined.
4. Crack the eggs into the bowl. Whisk until completely combined and the mixture is smooth.
5. Whisk the milk and vanilla into the batter.
6. Peel the bananas and add them to the bowl. Using a fork, mash them into the batter until smooth.
7. Measure the flour, baking soda, and salt into the bowl. Using a spatula, stir until the ingredients are combined.
8. If using nuts or chocolate, gently fold in.
9. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan or scoop into muffin pans leaving 1/4 of room.
10. Place the pan in the oven. Bake until the top of the bread is caramelized dark brown with some yellow interior peeking through and a tooth pick or cake tester inserted into the middle comes out clean. Baking time will vary slightly depending on the moisture and sugar content of your bananas — start checking around 50 minutes and then every 5 minutes after.
11. Set the loaf, still in the pan, on a cooling rack. Let it cool for at least 10 minutes.

Makes 1 loaf or about 12 muffins.

Photograph:

Allergies:  This recipe contains gluten, eggs, dairy- and in some cases nuts. It can be made gluten free by using cup for cup gluten free flour.  I am partial to King Arthur’s multi-purpose brand.