There is a specific kind of magic that happens on a kitchen counter over the course of a week. It begins with a vibrant, yellow bunch of bananas firm and perfect for a midday snack. As the days pass, they soften, their skins yielding to dark freckles, eventually turning an unappetizing shade of deep brown or even black. To the uninitiated, these fruits are past their prime, destined for the compost bin. But to a baker, these are not ruined fruits; they are the essential, sugar-laden gold required to create one of the most beloved comfort foods in the world: Banana Bread.
Banana bread occupies a unique space in the culinary world. It sits somewhere between a rustic bread and a decadent cake, making it socially acceptable to eat for breakfast, as a teatime snack, or a late-night dessert. Its popularity transcends cultures and generations, and for many, the … Read more