Jungle Time

 

Even though I have never been to a jungle, it’s still on my list of to-do’s at least once during my life. I love the lush greenery, the animals, and of course the fruit that comes from the jungle. My favorite would have to be a banana! (Did you really think I was going to ramble on about an actual jungle ha ha?)

 

Over the past 18 years, I have had my share of banana bread; dense bread, fluffy bread, tropical banana bread, glazed, not-so-good, delicious, etc. This new recipe is based off of this one, but of course I made significant changes that make it go from “just a good banana bread” to one that you want to make all the time! The secret is…

• A jar of sweet potato baby food
• Imitation Banana Extract (found by spices, vanilla, etc.)
• Pumpkin pie spice (you can make your own—see how here)

So grab your bread pan and all of those frozen bananas that you aren’t using for the oh-so-famous banana soft serve(I still need to try this), and be prepared for your kitchen to smell like the jungle and your taste buds to go wild like a monkey! ;-)

Amped Up Banana Bread

Serves: 12

Ingredients:

1 1/4 cups whole-wheat flour
1/4 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 cup no calorie granulated sweetener of your choice 
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 bananas) + 1/2 c sweet potato baby food                               
1/2 cup fat-free liquid egg substitute (like Egg Beaters)
1/2 cup no-sugar-added applesauce (I used cinnamon applesauce)
2 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. vanilla extract and 1 tsp banana extract
1/2 tsp. cinnamon and 1/2 tsp pumpkin pie spice
1/2 tsp. salt

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

In a large bowl, combine both types of flour,sweetener, baking powder, salt, pumpkin pie spice, and cinnamon (in other words, all dry ingredients).

In a separate bowl, mix together the mashed bananas, baby food, egg substitute, applesauce, and extracts (all the wet ingredients).

Add this mixture to the bowl with the dry ingredients, and stir until just blended. Spoon batter into a large loaf pan (about 9" X 5") sprayed with nonstick spray.

Bake for about 50 minutes, or until a knife inserted in the middle comes out clean. Allow to cool slightly, and then cut into 12 slices. If you like, spritz with some spray butter or spread on some Cool Whip Free.

Enjoy!