bananas Archives - East of Eden Cooking

2015/04/212018/04/07

Easy Yeasted Banana Bread with Toasted Pecans

A Recipe for the Forgotten Bananas

“Breakfast, he said and nudged the door open with the edge of the linen-covered tray. He pushed the door closed with his knee. Want it there? He asked and gestured toward the gray room with his chin. No, I’ll have it right here. And I want a boiled egg and a piece of cinnamon toast.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

I started making this bread with the forgotten bananas. My excuse was to make fresh bread for breakfast that included whole grain flour. But when this loaf is barely cool enough to slide from the hot pan thick slices have been cut and devoured, usually toasted and then slathered with both butter and honey. Leaving barely half a loaf for my breakfast plans. What’s left of the Yeasted Banana Nut Bread gets toasted for our for breakfast. To jump start our day we add a scoop of almond butter for protein. But if my vision of cream cheese ever so slightly melting on the warm toast sounds better, give it a try. If that’s not enough enticement, I’ve discovered that apricot jam is another fine option. READ MORE . . .

2014/10/26

Browned Butter Banana Cupcakes with Salted Dark Chocolate Ganache

Browned Butter Banana Cupcake with Chocolate Ganache

Too Many Ripe Bananas

“Charles squared his chair around and put his elbows on the table. We’ll have to figure it out, he said nervously. We can put it off all we want, but we goddam well got to figure out what we’re going to do. I know that, said Adam. I guess I just wanted some time to think about it.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

There is a time when a decision must be made. We’ve all been there. What is the best thing to do with too many ripe bananas? When there are five ripe bananas a certain panic sets in. A massive amount of food waste becomes possible. I was ready to throw the bananas away when I saw this post. This is a genius recipe from Fine Cooking. READ MORE . . .

2013/04/152017/12/26

Tropical Banana Cake

Return of the Lounging Bananas

“Kate was in no hurry. She thought to the end very quickly and then put it out of her mind. She let herself work on the method. She built a structure and attacked it, and if it showed the slightest shakiness she tore it down and started fresh.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

The ripe bananas have returned. My fruit bowl has become a tropical retreat. Mangos and oranges lounge seductively atop a pile of sultry ripe bananas. Their presence needed only a nudge from coconut and ginger to become Tropical Banana Cake. Sweet bananas on a tropical vacation end up lounging with their new friends, ginger, mango and coconut. Ginger sparkles dropping hints of tropical warmth. Tantalizing mango blushes with sweet buttery spice while coconut sways in the balmy breeze. A tropical escape baked in a cake. READ MORE . . .

2013/02/252017/12/26

Spiced Banana Faro Muffins with Ginger Streusel Topping

Lounging Bananas Cause Disturbance

“He lay hidden during the day and went in search of food at night–turnips, a few ears of corn from a crib, a few windfall apples–nothing that would be missed.”

East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

Ripe bananas have a haunting quality. In the beginning they hold such great promise as a snack tucked in a lunch bag or perched atop cereal for breakfast. They lounge in the fruit bowl until green becomes yellow— and then brown. When the brown spots appear I wonder where the sunny topical escape went? Still lounging and now forgotten in the fruit bowl I must decide the fate of the very ripe bananas. It is disturbing to throw them away and yet Banana Bread often sounds too mundane. Besides I need three bananas for my Banana Bread recipe, and sometimes I only have two bananas. Bananas can be frozen and I did that once. I ended up with a huge bag of frozen bananas. I just kept adding bananas to the bag. I wasn’t using the bananas, I was storing them. With an inventory of two ripe bananas I decided muffins were to be made. And not just any old boring muffin, I wanted a muffin to cure the lounging banana disturbance. READ MORE . . .

2011/08/212017/12/26

Banana Nut Bread

Banana Nut Bread with orange zest or chocolate chips!

“While Lee helped him Adam said, ‘I had a dream—very real. I dreamed about my father.’”

—East of Eden, John Steinbeck

Inspiration

My father always said he didn’t care for sweets, but loved to eat them! His favorite dessert was banana nut bread. He adored bananas. My dad grew up in the “drought and depression” (that was his description). For his family sweets were something to dream about. He found bananas to be exotic and sweet and he liked them. I have tried many banana nut bread recipes, but this one is the best. The recipe was shared with my daughter by a friend who enjoys baking. Her friend loves to get up early in the morning and start baking at 5am. I am so impressed! Her family has used this recipe for several generations. She adds chocolate chips to her banana nut bread. I like to add orange zest to my bread. READ MORE . . .