A First

We decided one night this week to just stay home and cook for ourselves for a change. We've been busy and have eaten out more than we normally do and it was time to deal with all the food we've been stockpiling in the fridge and freezer. The decision was made - pork tenderloin, sweet potatoes and an assortment of mixed veggies. However, as I was cruising the freezer, I came across the 3 bananas we've collected. We've found that bananas ripen very quickly here and there have been a few times (3 of them in fact!) when one banana out of the bunch just really needed to be turned into Banana Bread, so into the freezer it went, to wait for the perfect moment.

I enjoy baking, and find it to be relaxing, but it's just not something I've done since we arrived in Mazatlan. Mike loves Banana Bread, the bananas were taking up space in the freezer, it seemed like a meal that deserved some kind of dessert, it was just meant to be.

This Banana Bread was an adventure. I had flour, inherited from a friend, and baking soda, which was in the Casita when we got here, butter and salt. I 'borrowed' a teaspoon of vanilla from a neighbour, and bought a chocolate bar at the corner tienda to chop into chips. Mike just can't imagine Banana Bread without chocolate chips. I thought I was set until I started mixing everything together and realized that we had eaten the last egg. Back to the store to get an egg. One egg. I love Mexico.

I didn't have a loaf pan, so I used the casserole dish I bought for Brocolli Casserole, my contribution to Christmas dinner. Into the oven it went and we waited anxiously for 1/2 hour. The recipe said 1 hour but it was ready in 30 minutes. It could have been our oven, or the casserole dish!

My first attempt at baking in Mexico was a success! It was delicious. Unfortunately Mike loves Banana Bread and now that I've done this once .....

This is the recipe I used:

Banana Bread

3 - 4 bananas
1/3 c. melted butter
3/4 c sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking soda
pinch salt
1 1/2 c flour
1/2 to 1 c chocolate chips

Mix butter into mashed banana. Mix in sugar, egg and vanilla. Sprinkle with baking soda and salt and mix. Add flour, mix. Add chocolate chips.

Bake 1 hour, 350F/175C

Before



and After!