Grandma's Banana Bread

 

My grandmother was a wonderful baker. She traveled by train from Virginia to Miami to visit us when I was little, always arriving with a carefully wrapped baked good in her pretty tin can.  Banana bread was her specialty. My mother, sister, and I, love making this bread for our families. I like to bake the loaf, let it cool on the rack, and then wrap it very tightly to chill in the fridge before slicing. The secret is to use VERY ripe bananas, preferably when their skins are black. This bread is so delicious when it is enjoyed with a cup of hot coffee. I made some for my son the other day as it is his favorite. I thought I'd share Grandma's recipe with you this morning.....a morning when we ALL could use a hug after the horrible tragedy that happened yesterday to our precious youth at Virginia Tech. My heart goes out to those poor kids, the lost faculty members and all of their loved ones.

Grandma's Banana Bread

3 very ripe bananas

1/2 cup margarine

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

pinch of salt

Cream butter and sugar, add eggs and beat. Add flour, sifted with salt and soda. Add mashed bananas last. Bake in a greased loaf pan at 325 degrees for 1 hour.

Comments

[Pat]

Dear Kim, my thoughts and prayers are with the victims' families, students and faculty of Virginia Tech. My thoughts are also with the people of Virginia.

Your banana bread sounds wonderful, a perfect comfort food. My eldest DD is our banana bread baker.

Pat
Back Porch Musings

[SusanG]

It just so happens I have black bananas sitting on my counter waiting to be made into bread. I will definitely try your Grandma's recipe tonight!

Adding my prayers for the friends and families of those killed yesterday.

Susan G

[The Decorated Houset]

Good Morning Dear Kim,
I've been catching up on blogs to get away from the news. The sadness is too much.

So this morning I find the comfort of your post about your grandma and banana bread, which we love, too. It shows why I treasure you as a friend.

For years my MIL would bring it with her, made from the bananas they grew in their yard. Now they are in a retirement community, and no more banana bread. I miss it. Life is always changing.
Hugs, Donna

[Janet K]

Hey Miss Kim, what is it about banana bread that is so special that we all have fond memories about it? Banana bread is one of the two things my husband wanted me to learn to make like his Mom when we got married. I never got to know her very well, unfortunately, as she died not long after we were married. I always think about her and what a good Mom she must of been to make her son his favorite whenever I use her recipe. Hers, ironically is almost identical to your Grandma's! I too pray for all those lost and their loved ones. I can't think of any thing worse than losing a child. Take care. HTH Janet

[Rhoda]

Oh, I just love banana bread too & have a favorite recipe I use. Sounds a lot like yours, except mine has apple sauce & canola oil. I'm sure they're both yummy! What great memories of your grandma. And what a horrible tragedy in VA...it's just sickening.

Rhoda
Southern Hospitality

[Susan Ramey Cleveland]

I love banana bread. This sounds a lot like my own recipe.

[Lori]

I think a lot of Grandmas made Banana Bread. My Grandma use to make it all the time...except her's had pecans in it & was called (appropriately) Banana Nut Bread. Now I'm the one who makes it in our family & it's still one of our favorites. As a matter of fact, I have several "rotten" bananas stored in my freezer right now just waiting to be transformed into delicious homemade goodness. Ahhhhh....I can almost smell it now!
:)

[Cindy]

Dearest Kim, thank you for the recipe, I will try that one, banana bread is one of my favorites too, only I like it with nuts and dark choco chips in it. Yummmmm...
I and my friends here in Canada are very sad to hear of the tragedy at VT. My heart breaks for the mums and dads. God bless, Cindy S.

[Carrie]

Wowee this looks good! Thanks for sharing the recipe.
God bless :)

[hqm]

Thank you for sharing your Grandma's Banana Bread. At a time like this, when we feel so sad and helpless, a little comfort can be found in the kitchen doing something sweet for you family!
h.

[NIcole Reed]

Thanks for the banana bread recipe Kim. It is also good to be reminded how warm, fragrant, lovingly made baked goods can be a comfort and reminder of the civilized world we pray for.

[Beachy]

Thank you for sharing your dear Grandmother's family recipe!

Our heart goes out to those families in Virginia! One of those murdered was a local Massachusetts student ~ he was his mother's only son, and was a sophomore taking a French class at the time. My heart just sank when I heard it, as even our local newscaster broke down when she told the story on air. They all have our prayers.

[Judy]

Hi Kim, I think we are still reeling from the tragedy yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone. I live in Denver and it is bringing back too many sorrowful memories. I use my Grandma's recipe and it is very close to yours...maybe I'll make some tonight, good ole comfort food..we all need some.

[Judy]

Hi Kim, I think we are still reeling from the tragedy yesterday. My thoughts and prayers are with everyone. I live in Denver and it is bringing back too many sorrowful memories. I use my Grandma's recipe and it is very close to yours...maybe I'll make some tonight, good ole comfort food..we all need some.

[LaTeaDah]

Yum! So delicious! I love the handwritten recipe tucked into the old-fashioned hanky. Was it your grandmothers?

Thank you for sharing!

[Tammy518]

My thoughts and prayers are also with those whose lives were touched by the horror at Virginia Tech. We're in Virginia Beach, and a lot of children in our area end up going there. It's so scary that one is not really safe anywhere anymore, certainly not at school.

Your grandma's banana bread sounds yummy. I love bananas and rarely let them get too ripe before I eat them. I'll have to get some now on purpose to set aside so I can make this.

{{{Hugs}}} on this sad morning.

[Kathy]

Good Morning...

Thank you for sharing, my recipe is very much like yours. I just made one and sent it to my daughter in college; speaking of college yesterdays news was just so horrific..words escape me !!!My heart aches for those families. I can't even imagine what I'd do !!!

Thank you for the comforting post !!

Kathy :)

[Karen]

I'm off to make your grandma's banana bread. I have the perfect bananas on the counter and just last night said I needed to dig out a recipe for them. I have one of my own, but yours sounds so simple I bet it's delicious. Yesterday was such a tragedy.

[yellowfarmhouse]

I've got some very black bananas that almost hit the trash this morning. Glad they didn't. I can already smell this wonderful bread and it will be wonderful tomorrow morning with a cup of coffee for breakfast. Thank you for sharing.

Karen

[Thimbleanna]

What a wonderful post when everyone needs a hug. Thanks for sharing the recipe -- always looking for a good banana bread recipe.

[Shopaholic D]

mmm...that looks so yummy! wish i could grab a bite before dinner...im so hungry right now...waitin for my honey to come home so we can get some bbq.

:) D

[Sadie Olive]

I just love banana bread. This looks yummy!

[tricia]

That's the exact recipe I use!!

[T Sheeley]

Thank you Kim!! I love recipes. Hmmm, since I have now started Weight Watchers, I wonder how many points a slice of this yummy-ness is? :)

Teresa
xo

[Anina]

Yet another inspiration from Kim!

[Cindi]

I gave up making banana bread years ago since I couldn't find a really good recipe. Your Grandma's recipe sounds wonderful. I'll have to try it!

I found your blog about a month ago and enjoy it everyday. Thanks for all of the inspiration you share.

[Robin Sherwood]

This is so beautiful. I love banana bread.
I can't wait to make it. Your grandmother sounds so sweet. I was born in Miami Beach.
xo
Robin

[Cherry Menlove]

Your banana bread is a delicious looking treat that is there to take ones mind off of an awful tradgedy.

Cherry xx

[jessie lavon /purple cucumbers]

your invited to my front porch party.

[Southern Heart]

I loved hearing about your banana bread (I could almost smell it!), and hearing about your grandmother, too.

[Kristi]

Hi Kim! This is making me SOOOOOOO hungry and I have a bunch of ripe bananas sitting RIGHT here, LOL! I am going to try your recipe today! I have one that I have used for years, but yours sounds delicious!
Kristi

[Stacey]

Amen to that, we will continue to pray for and remember those beautiful souls who were taken so soon.

Thanks, Kim.

[Kathy]

Kim,
I looked at the pictures from your post of Apples in a Punch Bowl again. In the picture with the urn and beads there is a plate under the urn. I have a few tea cups,saucers,and dessert plates with that same pattern that I purchased at our favorite Goodwill Store. I looked for dinner plates, but apparently you had gotten there first. This is so funny !!!!!

[willzmom]

I love banana bread, yours made me so hungry for a slice!

[cityfarmer]

Who doesn't like banana bread...a little diner we go to puts butter on the slices and then puts them into a hot skillet...they get crusty and you put warm syrup on the slices like french toast....oh my it's unbelievable

[berrie]

There is ALWAYS room for banana bread* I actually prefer it to most cakes well...except for carrot cake....ummmmmmmmm now you have me going! xo

[Elizabeth]

Great looking bread for sure. Thanks for the mention of Virginia Tech. I live very close to Tech and know many kids that attend school there. This is just horrible. As always, I love everything you write and your pics are great. I hope this is not a duplicate post, I kinda lost the first one, LOL.

[carolyn]

I love Banana bread and always used a recipe from my American Grandmother who lived to be 92, sadly I seem to have mislaid it along with the ones for zuccini bread and carrot bread. So now I'll use your Grandmother's recipe instead. Thankyou.

[Monique]

That bread just looks scrumptious !!!
I would love to make it. Could I use baking powder instead of baking soda, because we don't have that in The Netherlands. The rest of the ingredients I can manage !!!

You are so right it was a terrible tragedy what happened. It was all over the news here too. My thoughts are with the victims and the ones they have left behind !!!

[Nonnie]

Thanks for sharing your Grandma's recipe. I love banana bread and that one looks delicious. My thought and prayers are also with the loved ones and victims in Virginia. Such a dreadfully sad and shocking tradgedy.

[Betty Jo]

We love banana bread. My recipe is very similar to your grandmother's. I often add chocolate chips to the batter and is that ever delightful. Actually I have some over-ripe bananas now so just may whip up a loaf. Thanks for the inspiration. Seems like forever since I've been to visit you. I've been having internet connection problems. xoxo

[Britt-Arnhild]

This bread looks delicious. I might try it some day.

[Denise]

Sending a hello from the North East...I love your blog, and take a peek almost everyday. I hope to try your banana bread recipe in a few days.

[willow]

Checking in from Atlanta, Kim! I made Banana bread on Sunday. The bananas were completely ripe and it was something to do inside since it was so bitter out. Thank you for sharing. I love it that it is a 1-bowl recipe.

[Brieanne]

Thank you for the warm welcome Kim! I adore your blog and will have to try out that bread recipe!
:) B

[Bren]

I am going to try this recipe today and I also have some bananas I didn't know what to use them for and so I really appreciate this recipe. Thanks so much.

I LOVE YOUR COTTAGE, it's so georgous!!!!

Bren from Texarkana, Tx

[Maurean Reid]

Burton on Trent and Derby England

I have just found this very interesting recipe for black bananas (hate throwing food away!). e-mail from Carolyn 19 April 2007 interested me because baking powder contains cream of tartar, baking soda and cornflower (cornstarch)and baking soda is sodium bicarbonate and requires a starter of acid eg buttermilk or yoghourt. Both are rising agents but cannot be exchanged, maybe Carolyns bread was flat. I think it is called zuiveringszout in Holland and can be bought at great cost from an apoteken tell her to try tokos (Asian shops) why they don't sell it I don't know. I too was very sad about the school killings in Virginia and now we seem to have the same thing again in Finland. What is causing this TV? took much money? lack of parental discipline (we have very little here. Why?

[Cindy Woellhof]

Dear Daisy:
I am so looking forward to trying your Banana Bread Recipe. I love your website. How warm and inviting it is and I love the music. I will let you know how my Banana Bread turns out. Thank you for the recipe.
Sincerely,
Cindy Woellhof

[Buy Viagra]

The banana bread from grandma is delicious i eat it all the time , my grandma got the special touch every banana bread comes with chocolate pieces and with an extra touch of love from my grandma this make it extra special .

[Melesa Garrison]

I SO wish I wasn't dieting at the moment, but I will definitely be putting this recipe on file for a non-dieting day ;-) I love banana bread and a big mug of coffee! I heart your blog, MG

[Elliott Broidy]

Looks delicious!