Brilliant Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour

• 1 teaspoon baking soda

• 1/4 teaspoon fine sea salt

• 3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon

• 3 medium bananas or 1 ½ cups mashed, very ripe bananas are best

• 8 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled

• 3/4 cup light brown sugar

• 2 large eggs at room temperature

• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract

• Raisins if you are so inclined (or nuts or is you like extra sweet- chocolate chips!

• Position a rack in the middle of the oven. Preheat the oven to 350°F.

• Butter and flour an 8 ½-inch by 4 ½-inch loaf pan. Or grease the pan and then line it with a sheet of parchment paper.

• Whisk the flour, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon together and set aside.

• Use a fork to mash the bananas into a chunky paste in the bottom of a large bowl.

• Whisk the melted butter, brown sugar, eggs, and vanilla into the bananas until well blended.

• Switch to a large rubber spatula, scrape the sides and bottom of the bowl, and then add the dry ingredients in two parts, stirring until the flour disappears and the batter is smooth. You can add chocolate chips, nuts or raisins if you would like! I like raisins. :)

• Pour batter into the prepared pan and smooth the top.

• Bake for 55 to 65 minutes, or until a thin knife inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean. If you have an internal thermometer, you can check the temperature by inserting it into the center, and it should read close to 200°F.

• Transfer to a wire rack to cool for 5 minutes. Unmold the bread and cool completely before slicing!!

• Bon appétit!!!