Banana Bread

Ever since I can remember my family has been baking from one of the best cook books known - the St. John's cookbook, given to us by Grandma and Grandpa Gerner. It is hard to pick which recipe from the book is my favorite, but I have to admit my "go to" recipe is the Banana bread, so I thought it was only fitting for my first post. The St. John's cook book, which is actually titled "Our Favorite Recipes" is a collection of recipes submitted by the ladies of St. John's church in West Bend, WI where both of my grandparents and parents are from. The original copyright was in 1949 and I was lucky enough to receive my copy for Christmas in 2006. I have been using this cookbook ever since started baking.

Over the years I have used this banana bread recipe, occasionally trying new recipes to confirm that this was in fact the best, which it is. I continually tweak it, adding new things, trying to make it just perfect and I think I've finally got it! I did attempt to make it a little bit healthier by substituting some of the butter with greek yogurt, so I will also post the original recipe at the end, but I promise it tastes the same! You be the judge. Now, I have to admit, i did inherit the gene from my mother that I don't always measure everything... so beware!

Side note: When I bake there a couple of "rules" I always try to follow. For instance butter, eggs and milk should always be at room temperature unless specified otherwise. But of course I awalys forget to take them out of the refrigerator. One quick tip I learned with eggs if I forget, is to put them in warm water for 15 minutes to bring them to room temperature. For more quick baking tips visit: http://www.marthastewart.com/274369/tips-for-the-home-baker/@center/276954/great-cake-recipes#/186282

BANANA BREAD

2 Tablespoons butter

1 Cup sugar

2 eggs

6 Tablespoons Non-fat plain greek yogurt

1 Tsp Vanilla

1 Tsp baking soda

1 Tsp baking powder

1/2 Tsp salt

1/2 Tsp cinnamon

2 cups flour

3 bananas

1 cup of nuts or Chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs one at a time, scraping down the sides in between. Next add greek yogurt and vanilla. In a separate bowl sift baking soda, powder, salt, cinnamon and flour and add to mixture. Next add bananas and chocolate chips. Pour batter into bread pan and sprinkle sanding sugar on top!

Enjoy!

Original recipe:

1/3 cup butter, 1 cup sugar, 2 eggs, 3 Tbsp sour milk, 1 tsp. soda, 1 tsp baking powder, 1/2 tsp salt, 2 cups flour, 3 bananas and 1 cup nuts.