Banana Bread

After finding this little apron in the linen cupboard and discovering that it still fit me I was inspired to bake something new. My mother suggested "Banana Bread" as she had the recipe in an old cookbook of hers. The book is falling to pieces though, I need to see if I can get it laminated or maybe get it bound somehow at a stationary store (I will have to look into that). The book had a bunch of other savoury goodies in it that I would like to try out in the future: Barm Brack, Potato Scones, Welsh Cakes & American Brownies. Anyway, Here's the recipe for the Banana Bread with a couple of my own alterations mixed in.


Banana Bread

220g wholemeal self-raising flour
1/2 tsp salt
1/2 tsp mixed spice
100g margarine
450g ripe bananas(approx. 4-5 peeled bananas)
120g caster sugar
100g sultanas
50g walnuts
2 eggs(lightly beaten)



Turn on your oven to 180C(350F) and then grease and flour a 600g loaf tin. Sieve flour, salt and spice into a mixing bowl. Rub in margarine until mixture resembles fine breadcrumbs. Mash bananas and add to mixing bowl. Place walnuts into a plastic bag and crush them into small pieces using a rolling pin, then place into mixing bowl along with the eggs and caster sugar. Use an electric beater to mix until the mixture is well-blended and there are as little lumps as possible. Add in sultanas and stir with a wooden spoon. Pour mixture into tin and bake in the oven for 45mins to an hour(or until loaf is well risen and has a pale golden colour on top). Once cooked leave loaf in tin for 5 mins and then place on a cooling rack. I like to eat the loaf warm(10 seconds in the microwave if not fresh out of the oven) with a bit of extra margarine on top.


I can't remember exactly how I got this apron but I just remember wearing it at my great aunt's house in Ireland when I visited her when I was younger. I specifically remember having it on when I helped her make gooseberry jam. I really love the design and colours used on it,very sweet.