This post is dedicated to Gwen Stefani, whose “Hollaback Girl” did for bananas what “MacArthur Park” did for cake.
According to Gwen, “this shit is bananas,” and I couldn’t agree more. This is a fancy banana bread from a recipe in the Gourmet Cookbook available here at Epicurious.
The bread contains three very ripe bananas, toasted coconut, lemon zest and sour cream. It’s also supposed to contain macadamia nuts but I forgot to buy them. Are all these flourishes worth the effort or does this banana bread lack the simplicity of a more basic banana bread? And more importantly: am I your Hollaback Girl?
Ok, first things first: I’m not your Hollaback Girl. I’m not your Hollaback Girl.
And, secondly: this bread, like Nancy Silverton’s banana bread (which features a real vanilla bean and savory spices), is too fussy for its own good. I like the addition of toasted, flaked coconut:
And I’m sure the sour cream added a nice textural component. The lemon zest perked things up, no doubt. (Haha, get it? No Doubt? Gwen Stefani? You see, Gwen Stefani was in No Doubt… And this post references Hollaback Girl.) (You people have no sense of humor.)
Ultimately, what matters most in your banana bread are (drumroll): the bananas. I used three super-ripe bananas:
I wish I would have used one more. The final product just wasn’t banana-y enough for me. And what’s the point of banana bread if it’s not banana-y enough? There is none, I tell you, none at all!
Let’s use an example from “Project Runway.” Last week, Heidi, a Southern gal, lost the competition because her dress, while pretty, was all frills. Michael Kors made the point: “If you strip away all the extras, what you have is a very basic, boring dress.” And that’s how I feel about this banana bread.
But look, we cook so we can learn, so we can get better. To quote the immortal Gwen: “A few times I’ve been around that track / so it’s not just gonna happen like that.” Wiser words have never been spoken. LET ME HEAR YOU SAY, THIS BREAD HAS BANANAS…B-A-N-A-N-A-S!
Darn, now I won’t be able to get that song out of my head…
Ahhh very funny! I love that you post your downs as well as your ups!!!
try this recipe sometime – it is the recipe i use without fail every time. no frills, bells or whistles.
“mom’s bananna bread – the best!”
2/3 c white sugar
1/3 c marjarine
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla (i like a little more)
1 C. mashed, ripe bananna
1/4 c honey
3/4 c whole wheat flour
1 c unbleached white flour
1/2 tsp. salt
3 tsp. baking powder
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)
———–
cream first 6 ingredients. sift dry into wet, gently fold in nuts. grease and flour bottom of a loaf pan, pour in batter and let sit for 20 min. preheat oven to 350 degrees. bake until golden brown and a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 45 minutes to an hour.
Adam,
I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn’t think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I’m ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That’s right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up
Sincerely,
Kirk
Adam,
I heard that you were talking shit
And you didn’t think that I would hear it
People hear you talking like that, getting everybody fired up
So I’m ready to attack, gonna lead the pack
Gonna get a touchdown, gonna take you out
That’s right, put your pom-poms down, getting everybody fired up
Sincerely,
Kirk
maybe i never noticed it last week, but it makes me laugh to come to your site and see a blog ad for an MSNBC story on p0rn, complete with neon outline of naked lady.
In addition to Boutros’s observation, I especially like how the naked neon girlie is contrasted with “Farmgirl Susan” right beneath her.
Your blogads are hilarious!!
Funny stuff as usual, Adam. What ever happened to Gourmet Cupid? You give that up?
Hi Adam!
I’ve been reading your site for a while now and just took park in the secret santa, what a great idea!
The last time I was in Paris with my family, we went to a wonderful little restaurant, that my parents have gone back to every time since. I thought I would give you the name and location and if you’re interested give it a shot, it’s really QUITE delicious!
“Le Troquet”. 21 reu Francois-Bonvin
Enjoy Paris!
Have you tried Nigella’s Banana Bread recipe? It has bourbon-soaked raisins in it and is very moist… divinely delicious!
I just found a great new ebook or ecookbook what ever you call them. On a pretty cool website called americas best kitchens. The company seems to have collected thousands of recipes from everywhere and from all types of people. They created cookbooks and cds from them. Kinda cool!
I just found their christmas ecookbook and it has some really nice christmas recipes in it. It downloads right to your computer. It lays out a full christmas menu so I don’t have to worry about that this year:). The ecookbook has pictures of the recipes in it and the layout is really pretty. They show a sample on the site and they are donating profits to Toys for Tots. I think that’s nice. It comes with another free cookbook too!
If you want to view it for yourself go to:
http://www.americasbestkitchens.com/purchase/christmas.php
i love this stuff
B-A-N-A-N-A-S
HOLLABACK GIRLZ SEXY KITTEN
i think this is so sexy grrrr.
i’m open for a date any time call me at 919-658-3515 i am 16-18 you know i’m still a virgin but i would do it any day if your hot!!!!! my name is chelsea C Love you sex kitten
i love toys.!!!!
this is delicious and it is so mouth watering MMMMMM….. i think i could eat this for days.