Supermarket Sweep, Semi Nudes and Bananas

My job has afforded me some extra time in the home kitchen as of late. Coupled with my discovery of more frozen remains (of the food variety, not Hannibal Lecter variety) deep within my side by side freezer I have been venturing down the path of quick breads. In the last few weeks I've consumed whole loaves of Spicy Zucchini Bread on multiple occasions (damn Ms. Stewart and her test kitchen minions).  

Late last night I ventured into my freezer with dirty thoughts of frozen cookie dough running through my mind knowing full well that I had baked off the final four (pretty sure that is a basketball reference about something that is interrupting my Big Bang viewing on TBS this week - Boyfriend take note I integrated sports and food). While basking in the glow of my Frigidaire freezer light I saw lounging about on the second shelf some frozen bananas that Boyfriend and I bought in a Supermarket Sweep-like shopping experience at Super Target a few weeks back. We've come to learn that Target reads our minds and sends us coupons catered to our future needs. Target knew we needed to make banana bread before we did.  

So this morning I was up baking banana bread while the half naked woman who lives across the courtyard and refuses to close the blinds of her bathroom and bedroom directly across from my kitchen got ready for work. Good choice on the black blouse Semi-Nude Neighbor.  

Coconut and Macadamia Nut Banana Bread

RECIPE FROM GOURMET TODAY 2009 EDITION

Makes two 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaves

ingredients

2 1/4 cups all purpose flour

3/4 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 1/2 sticks (12 tablespoons) unsalted butter, room temp

1 cup packed light brown sugar

1/2 cup granulated sugar

3 large eggs

1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 tablespoon finely grated lemon zest

1 1/3 cups mashed ripe bananas

3 tablespoons sour cream

3/4 cups (6 ounces) chopped macadamia nuts

1 cup sweetened flaked coconut, lightly toasted

instructions

1. Put a rack in the middle of oven and preheat oven to 350F. Generously butter two 8.5 x 4.5 inch loaf pans and dust with flour, knocking out extra.

2. Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a medium bowl.

3. Beat together butter and sugars in a large bowl with an electric mixer at high speed until pale and fluffy, about 2 minutes. Reduce speed to medium and add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add vanilla, zest, bananas and sour cream, beating until just combined. Reduce speed to low, add flour mixture, and mix until just combined. Stir in nuts and coconut.

4. Divide batter between buttered loaf pans and smooth tops. Bake until a wooden pick or skewer inserted in center of bread comes out clean, 45 to 60 minutes.

5. Remove bread from pan and cool completely, right side up, on rack.

Now I sprinkled a little brown sugar on top in honor of my best friend from high school that got caught eating brown sugar out of the bag with a spoon when she was a kid. I do that myself now when I need a me moment.  

Finally, loosely wrap one loaf on the counter so you can easily grab a bite giving you the energy to get from the kitchen to any other room in the house. Tightly wrap the other loaf in plastic wrap and place back in the side by side so Boyfriend has something to eat next week.  

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