Banana Bread

Today was one of those days...

You know those days when you're stressed and sorta sad and just want to curl up with a fuzzy blanket and read a book or take a nap and eat chocolate...lots and lots of chocolate.

Enter this chocolate chunk banana bread...

It's full of super ripe bananas and eggs and butter and sugar...

And if that's not enough to pick you up a little bit, don't worry.

The best is yet to come...

Lots of little chocolate life preservers to the rescue.

Folded into sugary buttery banana-y batter these morsels can resuscitate even the lousiest of days.

Refrain from diving in just yet...

I know it's hard but in the end it's well worth the wait. I pinky promise.

That doesn't however, mean that you can't lick the spatula while you wait.

That's always allowed.

Warning: This bread will drive you crazy as it bakes. Despite falling in the deceptively titled category of quick breads, banana bread takes a little over an hour to bake.

I know, I know, that is not quick whatsoever. Trust me, I grumbled about it too. But I promise you, it is so worth the wait.

Your kitchen will be filled with the uplifting aroma of sweet bread and just a hint of bananas...

But the real comfort comes from that first slice, with its warm gooey chocolate making a mess of your hands and the sweet tender bread evoking smiles from that first bite.

Oh yeah, today just got a lot better.

Bad day or not, chocolate chunk banana bread definitely can't hurt ;)

Happy Tuesday everyone, enjoy!

Banana Bread

adapted from Martha Stewart

• 1/2 cup (1 stick) butter, at room temperature, plus more for pan
• 1 cup granulated sugar
• 2 large eggs
• 1 1/2 cups unbleached flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup sour cream
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 1 cup chocolate chunks or chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter 9x5 in. loaf pan.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. When light and fluffy beat in eggs.

Add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined. 

In a separate bowl combine mashed bananas, sour cream, and vanilla. Add to butter mixture and stir until just combined. Toss chocolate chunks or chips with just a few pinches of flour. This prevents them from sinking in the batter. Fold into batter and pour into prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about an hour and 10 minutes.

Let cool in pan for 10 minutes and then remove and allow to cool completely. No one will blame you if you sneak a piece while it's still warm though.  ;)