Basic Banana Bread

I have called this 'Basic Banana Bread' because there are lots of things you can add into the recipe like nuts, seeds, dried fruit, etc., but this is plain. However, the taste is far from 'basic' or 'plain'. Banana bread, whilst in the oven, fills the kitchen with a warming sweet smell. A slice fresh out of the oven with a cup of tea ... well, I'll let you decide!

MAKES 1 LOAF

Ingredients

285g plain flour

1 teaspoon bicarbonate of soda

½ teaspoon salt

225g caster sugar

110g unsalted butter, plus extra for greasing

2 eggs

4 ripe bananas, mashed

85ml buttermilk

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Method

• Preheat the oven to 180ºC.

• Grease a 450g/1lb loaf tin with some butter.

• Sift the flour, bicarbonate of soda and salt into a medium bowl.

• In a large mixing bowl cream together the sugar and butter using an electric mixer until light and fluffy-looking. Add the eggs, mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla extract and mix well.

• Fold the flour mix into the wet ingredients with a wooden spoon until just incorporated (no need to mix too thoroughly) and pour the mix into the greased tin.

• Place in the middle shelf of the oven and bake for 1 hour until golden brown and cooked through.

• Remove from the oven and allow to cool for a few minutes in the tin before turning out onto a cooling rack.

Tip: If you have no buttermilk for the recipe, use ordinary milk with a teaspoon and a half of lemon juice or vinegar whisked in to curdle it … it works a treat!