Finally, Something to Contribute!

Well, I finally made something that took a little more effort than pushing start on the microwave! So here it is, in honor of National Chocolate Chip Day; which was Augst 4th!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

2C All purpose Flour

1 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 C unsalted butter, softened

1 C sugar

2 large eggs, room temperature

1 tsp vanilla extract

1 C ripe, mashed bananas (about 3 medium)

1/2 C plain yogurt

1/2 C chocolate chips

-- Heat oven to 325 degrees

-- Using shortening or soft butter grease 9x5 inch bread pan with waxed paper

-- Flour the bottom of the pan and tap out the extra

-- Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a mixing bowl and set aside

-- Using an electric mixer, cream the butter in a separate bowl. Gradually beat in the sugar. Beat the eggs in one at a time. Blend in the vanilla.

-- In another bowl, stir together the banana and yogurt until blended

-- Blend the dry mixture, banana mixture and creamed mixture in thirds, alternating dry and wet to help prevent clumping

-- Fold in the chocolate chips

-- With a rubber spatula, scrape the batter in to the pan and smooth the top

-- Bake on the center rack of the oven 60-70 minutes or until the top is golden brown and a toothpick comes out clean.

-- Cool in the pan on a rack 15 minutes

-- Remove from the pan and cool completely before slicing

The recipe actually comes out to about 340 calories per serving (makes 10-12 servings) -- I don't have the exact nutritional info, but I ran it through the Calorie King meal builder and thats how it came out!

Let me just say that I don't normally bake...heck, I don't normally COOK seeing as when I married the man 13 years ago (this month!) he was a chef (who can -- or wants to compete with that?) -- and, further, I don't LIKE fruit breads. But I had almost all of the stuff on hand and the kids LOVE it.

It also makes the house smell yummy!