Orange You Glad I DID Say Banana?? (and cranberry nut)

I have off this week. Since the streets of Manhattan are knee high in slush, and E! insists on airing nothing but Bridalplasty (I mean, really?) I decided the best way to spend my time was in the kitchen. I initially planned on making just banana bread, but there was a recipe for cranberry nut on the opposite page (Bittman). Clearly, my mind was made up for me.

For the banana bread, first preheat the oven to 350 and grease bottom and sides of a loaf pan. Mix together your dry ingredients: 1.5 cups all purpose flour, a half cup of whole wheat flour, 1 tsp salt, 1.5 tsps baking powder and 3/4 cup sugar. Next, cream 1 stick butter (you can use smart balance also), and add to it 2 eggs and 3 very ripe bananas that have been mashed with a fork til smooth. Stir the wet mixture into the dry until everything is mixed together, but don't mix more than necessary. Gently stir in 1 tsp vanilla extract and 1/2 chopped walnuts. You can also add 1/2 cup grated coconut but as noted in a previous post, Needy Chef + Coconut = NO.

Pour your batter into the pan and bake for about and hour. This bread is unbelievably moist.

Onto the cranberry walnut bread. Mix together dry ingredients: 2 cups all purpose flour, 1 cup sugar, 1.5 tsp baking powder, one half tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt. Cut half a stick of butter (or smart balance) into chunks and then use a fork to combine with dry mixture until butter pieces are no bigger than pea-size.

Beat together 3/4 cup orange juice, zest of one orange and 1 egg. Pour into dry mixture until it is just moistened; do not mix until smooth. Fold in 1 cup chopped cranberries and 1/2 cup walnuts. Pour into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for about an hour.

O to the M to the G. This bread was unbelievable. I think the orange juice and zest do it. You do not get an overwhelming orange flavor, just the perfect amount of tartness. Enjoy!