6.12.2011

sunday banana bread and a mystery tree

Today was one of those lovely days when everything just... worked. Does anyone know what these little white flowers are? They're in bloom here right now (shhh, I picked this tip of a branch this morning when I was out for my run). They're on trees, and are beautifully fragrant - kind of a licorice-y scent, and the branches are kind of rough and angular, like a flowering crab, and the branches are completely covered. They seem to grow anywhere. Anyone?
And any day that includes banana bread is just fine with me. This is the recipe I used, and it is delicious.

Banana Bread
  • 2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking soda
  • 1/4 teaspoon salt
  • 1/2 cup butter
  • 3/4 cup brown sugar
  • 2 eggs, beaten
  • 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Directions

  1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.
  2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten. Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
  3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.

5 comments:

  1. I'm betting it's some kind of crabapple... do a google search for Sargent Crab Apple or Siberian Crab Apple... Zumi Crabapple maybe but that looks more pinkish.

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  2. Hi Karen! I don't think it's a crabapple - each flower is super tiny, and the tree doesn't have apply bark. Someone suggested choke cherry, but the leaves are much different. So I still don't know - maybe I'll take a few pictures of the whole tree thing. :)

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  3. I'm afraid I can't help - I know the least about trees in my family. I keep asking my kids what certain trees are. :}

    Thanks for your banana bread recipe - I have some overripe bananas crying to be used. LOL!

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  4. Judtih6/13/2011

    Hi Sherrie,
    I am wondering if you are meaning the hawthorn trees? I believe they have large thorns and the leaf is similar to gooseberry bushes. They are flowering beautifully right now. Anyway, just a thought...

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  5. Judith, I think you're right! Thank you. I need to get out and take some more pictures - they're gorgeous. :)

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