I love baking. It's easy (for the most part) and it's so delicious! It's not always the healthiest option for you, but every now and then isn't bad. :) I'm no master at baking or anything, but if I can do the recipes I share with you, then you can too.

Banana bread is possibly the easiest thing to make! It's so simple and yet so delicious! If you're like me, you like having a step by step process. So here's what you need to get started:

Produce Aisle:
- 4 bananas (slightly over-ripened)

Dairy Aisle:
- 2 eggs
- 1/2 cup of butter (1 stick)

Baking & Spices Aisle:
- 1 1/2 cups of flour
- 1 cup of sugar
- 1 teaspoon (tsp) of baking soda
- 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of salt
- 1/2 teaspoon (tsp) of vanilla extract
- Oil spray

Utensils:
- 1 large mixing bowl
- 1 microwaveable measuring cup (if you have a stick of butter)
- 1/2 teaspoon measuring cup
- 1/2 measuring cup
- 1 whisk
- 1 loaf pan

Step One: Mix all the ingredients together.

For the bananas, make sure they are slightly over ripened. You can just leave them on your countertop for a few days, put them in the fridge (what I do), or you can put them in the oven for a little. (How to do that? go here.) It's all about preference and I don't like overly the blackened part of the bananas in my bread so I just make sure it's just right. If the bananas are from the freezer or fridge, defrost them for some time before adding them to all the ingredients. Sometimes using a masher helps, if it gets difficult.

If you're using a stick of butter, put it in a microwaveable measuring cup (usually made of glass) or just a small bowl and place it in for 30 seconds. This way, when you mix everything, you're going to strain your wrist whisking because the butter hasn't melted all the way.

If you hate dishes like I do, I try to the minimal amount of measuring cups and spoons. Start from the dry items and end with the wet items. Make sure to do the math, depending on what you use. For example, I use my 1/2 measuring cup to do the sugar and the flour first - 2 scoops for the sugar and 3 for the flour. I know that sounds ridiculous to think math with measuring cups can be difficult, but I'm just saying... it can happen.

Step Two:  Set the oven at 350 degrees.

It takes about 10 minutes for an oven to preheat so give it time.

Step Three: Grease AND flour your pan.

Use the oil spray to grease the pan. Then take a little of the flour and sprinkle it over the pan. Voila! You've floured and greased your pan. Do both processes to make sure your bread slides out easily after it cools.

Step Four: Pour all evenly mixed ingredients into the pan and bake in the oven for 60 minutes.

I like to check how the bread is baking every 20 minutes just because. But as long the oven has preheated, only leave the bread to bake for 60 minutes. If you oven isn't user-friendly, take a toothpick and poke a hole in the middle of the loaf. When you bring the toothpick back up, nothing gunky(?) should be sticking to it. Try not to leave in there for longer than an hour because what happens (and I know from personal experience of thinking the middle wasn't baked enough) is the ends of your bread will be grainy versus moist.

Step Five: Take the pan out and let it cool.

Don't get over-excited and try to take the bread out right away. It won't work well. (I say that because it's happened. lol.) Give it at least 20 minutes to cool.

Step Six: Take the loaf out of the pan and enjoy!

Once the loaf has cooled, you can take it out and slice it up. You can use the knife to separate the loaf from the pan so it's easier to remove the loaf. For keeping, I like to plastic wrap the loaf and place it in the fridge.



Hopefully, these instructions were easy to follow! Enjoy baking!

-Gardenia Rose