Monday, August 04, 2008

TWD: Black and White Banana Loaf

For me, banana cake is fast, easy comfort food.  It's sort of the equivalent to Mickey and Judy saying, "Hey, I've got a barn!  Let's put on a show!"  and everything comes together quickly, easily, and everyone's happy in the end.  I say, "Hey, I have black bananas, let's make a cake!"  And then I throw it all together in a bowl, bake it, and everyone's happy in the end.  Then I eat it.  Perhaps while I'm making myself sound old while referring to movies made a very long time ago.  Anyway, my point is, banana cake is quick, accessible, and delicious.  Except when it's not.

See, black banana.  Ready for baking.



Ashlee of A Year in the Kitchen chose Dorie's Black and White Banana Loaf.  It was a good cake.  It tasted fine.  It looked good.  I didn't have the underbaking problem that lots of other bakers have.  Here's why I won't make it again, though.  It was very fussy.  In reading the recipe, Dorie calls for four separate bowls.  Four.  Plus the loaf pan, measuring spoons, rubber spatula, measuring cup, paddle attachment, and either an insulated baking sheet or two regular baking sheets.  That's just too much.  For me anyway.  And for my husband who does the dishes.  

My favorite banana cake with chocolate chips uses one bowl.  One.  (I'll post that recipe later this week)

Ok, so fine, it uses a lot of dishes.  If it was amazing, I could say, "So what if it uses a lot of dishes.  It's amazing!"  However, it wasn't.  It was good.  For me, it didn't have enough banana flavor.  I over-bananaed it as well.  It called for one and a half bananas, I used two large bananas.  The chocolate wasn't strong either.  It was a little muddied.  Mostly I just tasted sweet.

Here it is all swirly and ready to go into the oven.



Not so swirly anymore.  



The beauty shot.



Maybe I'm just used to my favorite recipe.  I don't know.  I like the moist banana cake with a hit of chocolate from the chips.  It was good that I tried another version.  Now I'm convinced I have the best recipe in my files already.

Ah well.  Upward and onward.  Next week:  Blueberry Sour Cream Ice Cream chosen by Dolores of Chronicles of Culinary Curiosity.

25 comments:

Flourchild said...

Hey! Im with you on the bread...to many dishes and to sweet. I liked the way it looked though. Visit my blog and see all mly dishes! I also have to tell you what I usually put in my banana bread..it's Recess peanut butter cups. It's the bomb! Oh your bread looks pretty!

Katrina said...

Yeah, I was a bit miffed at all the dishes as well. I was glad at least to mix the bananas, rum, and juice all in a measuring cup and zest the lemon right over it... but still.
I'll look forward to the chocolate chip version!

Nancy/n.o.e said...

I made a bonus flavor combination, so I had even more dishes! I viewed this as a cake, so it won't be supplanting my usual banana bread.

Bumblebutton said...

Yep--hate the dish thing too. And now you have proof that your other recipe is terrific. Looks good even so!

marae said...

hehee I like the dish scrutinization. I hate washing a ton of dishes as well. Looks yummy though, but the choco chip version sounds YUM.

Eleganza Strings/ The DeLadurantey Family said...

Nice looking swirl before you baked it!

Anonymous said...

yeah the whole paddle attachment and all the dishes is kinda annoying. Sometimes I just ignore that stuff and do it by hand. I think I ended up using two bowls for mixing the wet ingredients and then just a piece of foil for the dry. Then I didn't even bother with using an insulated baking sheet or even two. I make my own rules. Your loaf did turn out pretty. Good job for trying :)

CB said...

Too many dishes is a turnoff for sure. Your loaf looks yummy and I'll be interested to see your other banana bread recipe later.
Clara @iheartfood4thought

Anonymous said...

You totally summed up my thoughts on this one. I'll stick to my normal banana bread. Yours looks great though!

Anonymous said...

Well, it looks really good. My swirly thing didn't work all that well either. I need to work on that a bit. Yes, a lot of dishes. A. Lot. of. Dishes. I think I can improve on that as well...LOL.

Nickki said...

I totally agree with you on the dishes. To be honest my small kitchen counter looked like a bit of a bombsite when I was finished making the cake!

Looks great anyway! I have to admit I also prefer my normal banana bread recipe.

Tammy said...

I do agree that this wasnt a straight forward banana loaf recipe! I was also sad taht my marbling didnt hold that well.

The Food Librarian said...

Love your banana...and like you, I would stick with your basic banana bread! :)

Anonymous said...

I took a picture of all the dirty dishes. There were SO many. A few too many for banana bread/cake.

Pamela said...

Hey, is that a "Little Rascals" reference? Haven't thought of them in ages. It was a little big in the mess making department, but we enjoyed it. Sorry it wasn't a favorite, but it looked good!

Engineer Baker said...

Ya know, as long as you have a go-to banana bread recipe, it doesn't really matter, does it? In any case, it looks beautifully delicious.

hoagiefest 2020 said...

I've been seeing a lot of similar reviews! I think you all have more discriminating tastes than I do. If something has sugar, I'm happy!

Linda said...

Now that was a ripe banana!!! I'm looking forward to reading about your banana bread recipe.

Anonymous said...

This one was fussy! Not one of my faves. Looking so forward to your one-bowl recipe. ;)

Anonymous said...

I have a favorite banana bread too -- it's David Lebovitz's, and you can find it at www.davidlebovitz.com/archives/2007/09/banana_bread_or_1.html. We eat it for breakfast at least once a month. But this was wholly different -- much richer -- and when we need a cake I'll go for this one.

Krafty Christy said...

I didn't really think it was that great either. Just give me plain ol` banana bread anyday. But your swirls look terrific, I'm not sure what happened with mine. I used 1 1/2 medium bananas. The recipe didn't really specify. That's okay though, from now on I will just stick with my tried and true banan bread recipe.

Jessie said...

Yeah, it wasn't the greatest banana bread ever, but it sure is fun to try new things. Your loaf looks tasty, tho!

Shari said...

You're right about the dishes! I wish this baking hobby didn't come with dishes! Love the pic of your black banana. :)
Shari@Whisk: a food blog

Rigby said...

It was a very messy recipe, I agree! I am curious about the chocolate chip banana cake...

LyB said...

I have to agree with this making loads of dirty dishes! But I liked it though. I hope you like next week's ice cream better. :)