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| The finished loaves |
If you remember, the last sweet sandwich bread I baked was not one that I particularly liked even though it was a hit with Jake and Caroline. There was something about the combination of spice and sweet that I just did not enjoy, so I was a little apprehensive to try this banana sandwich bread. The recipe said that it was the perfect bread for a peanut butter sandwich, and on my budget, that was exactly what I needed to hear to motivate myself to make it. To me there is little else more perfect for breakfast than peanut butter toast. I used to wish that my mom would be a Jiffy mom and make me sandwiches with Jiffy and Wonderbread, like some of the other moms. Once I was in college, I did my own shopping (which if you ask me is the reason for the Freshman 15, not the beer)and bought disgusting white bread and preservative laden peanut butter. I quickly realized that my mom was right with her combo of whole wheat bread and Adam's All Natural peanut butter that actually had oil on the top of the jar. I have been a devoted healthy bread and peanut butter lover since that point (especially after I shed some of the extra weight).
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The banana is not very prominent in this bread, and takes a back seat to the wheat, cinnamon and orange peel flavors. It is not the typical overly sweet dessert bread that conventional banana bread is and isn't packed with extra sugar. The end product looks just like regular wheat sandwich bread but packs a secret punch and makes an excellent Cinnamon/sugar toast. I definitely prefer this bread to the Swedish Summer Rye but I am also realizing the flavor that the orange peel contributes to both breads. For some reason, I think of orange flavoring being something sweet, when in fact, it is a little bitter. The reason the orange works in this bread is because it balances out the sweet flavors of banana and wheat. I am always one that enjoys a balance, sweet with savory, tart with buttery, crunchy with soft, and this bread definitely satisfies that desire for balance.
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| The set up complete with the second jar of active dry yeast I have finished! |
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| Stirring up the yeast, water and sugar. |
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| After the addition of Cinnamon. |
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| ...and orange peel. |
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| The yeast doing it's job! |
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| The yeast working over time! (probably need a bigger bowl) |
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| After mixing in the melted butter and salt. |
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| The dough before kneading. |
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| After kneading, placing in baking pans. |
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#10 Banana Sandwich Bread
From Tassajara Bread Book
2 1/2 cups lukewarm water
2 packages dry yeast
1/4 cup honey
1 cup dry milk
2 bananas, mashed
2 eggs, beaten
2 tablespoons cinnamon
peel of 2 oranges, grated
2 cups unbleached white flour
2 or more cups whole wheat flour for forming the sponge
4 teaspoons salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
3 cups whole wheat flour
1 cup (approx)whole wheat flour for kneading
Proceed with directions for recipe#1, adding the bananas, eggs, cinnamon, and orange peel after the dry milk.
