Big Joe shares Lela’s Banana Nut Bread recipe

This time of year, I enjoy a slice of banana bread with a cup of coffee, the taste blends very well. When you bake this tasty bread the smell permeating throughout your kitchen will make you very hungry.

This is my friend Doug DeHays grandmother’s recipe for this delectable treat. When I was doing my first cookbook, he was telling me about this recipe, and I finally made it and was so grateful for the thought and the recipe that I had to share it with you. Doug’s grandmother passed away at the age of ninety-three and it’s great that this recipe can bring up fond memories for Doug and his family.

While most people associate this recipe with a fall recipe, this banana bread can be enjoyed year-round. Keep in mind the trick with this recipe is to make sure that the bananas are ripe because the release of sugar that a ripe banana creates makes for a tasty finishing product. Make this and have a slice, enjoy.

You'll need:

3 ripe bananas
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 tablespoons hot water
1/4 cup butter, softened
1 ½ cups flour, sifted
1/8 teaspoon salt
1 egg
1/2 cup walnuts or pecans, chopped

How to put it together:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees. In a mixing bowl mash bananas and add sugar. Dissolve baking soda in hot water and add to banana/sugar mixture. Add softened butter, flour, and salt. Mix well. Add beaten egg and chopped nuts. Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake for 45 minutes or until the toothpick comes out clean.

The post above reflects the thoughts and observations of New Jersey 101.5 weekend host Big Joe Henry. Any opinions expressed are Big Joe’s own.