Go Banana

I dunno when have i develop a love for banana bread. Particullary, served toasted with a dash of honey and butter. I have been baking and testing a lot of banana bread recipes, this is by far, the best recipe ever, with dates and pecan nuts added to it. It calls for wholemeal flour, but still comes out of the oven moist, and soft. It's just plain wonderful, and i look fwd to have it for breakfast every saturday! The only downside of me not having banana bread every weekend is that the banana don't seems to be over-ripen during this god forshaken winter cold!! Sigh***

Banana Date and Pecan Bread

125g low fat spread
1 cup brown sugar
3 eggs
1 ½ cups wholemeal self raising flour
½ teaspoon ground cinnamon
½ teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 cup mashed bananas (about 3 bananas)
½ cup coconut
½ cup low fat milk or buttermilk
1/3 cup chopped pecans
1/3 cup chopped dried pitted dates

1. Preheat oven to moderate 180C. Lightly grease a 10 x 20cm loaf pan.
2. In a large bowl, cream spread and sugar together using an electric mixer, until creamy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift flour and spice together, returning husks to mixture. Fold into creamed mixture with bananas, coconut, milk, nuts and dates. Spoon into prepared pan.
4. Bake for 50-60 minutes until cooked when tested with a skewer. Cool in pan and turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.
5. Serve sliced plain or toasted. Store in an airtight container or wrap and freeze.

( recipe adapted from Everyday Food Mag )