Banana Bread for Kim

I have a great group of girlfriends. I think it is rare nowadays to find one or two really solid female friends, especially once you have kids. I am blessed to have four. Three of us were teachers together “back in the day”, and the other two were introduced to us by Kim.

Kim has the ability to talk to anyone- not just small talk, but a real conversation. She is always genuine and kind. She has more friends than I have purses and she is a fan of wine- both fine and from a box. We teased her for months when Michael Jackson died. She hadn’t heard the news and was having the hardest time figuring out why were talking about MJ so much at girl’s night.

She recently abandoned us and moved to Texas. She rudely did this without consulting anyone. Texas is lucky to have her.

So, this post is for Kim. Her kids love this banana bread recipe. We are in a vicious cycle with it. I give her the recipe. She forgets the recipe. She asks for it again. I forget to give it to her. I figured if I posted it here she could check whenever she needed it.

Here’s a picture of the five of us. That’s Kim in the back left. Katherine has the baseball cap on in front. Katherine is “allergic” to bananas. She probably saw the title of this post and dry heaved. That’s Zumba-machine Bridget in the middle. Until she joined the clan I was the youngest of the lot. I try not to hold it against her. Crazy Audrey is on the far right. Like myself, Audrey has three kids...but that is not why she is crazy.

And here is the Banana Bread Recipe. I have been making it for about ten years and I think it is originally from Cooking Light Magazine. Sorry, Katherine!

2 cups baking mix (I use Bisquick)

2 ripe bananas

2 eggs

1 cup sugar

1 (8oz) package of cream cheese.

Cream together the sugar and cream cheese. Add the bananas and eggs- mix well. Add the baking mix and stir until combined. Bake in a greased loaf pan in a 350 degree oven for 45 minutes, then tent with tin foil and bake for 15 more minutes.

My oven stinks so I always bake it for an extra 15 minutes- just make sure a tooth pick inserted in the middle comes out clean and you are good to go.

You can add nuts, or chocolate chips. A splash of almond extract would be yummy. I like butter or cream cheese slathered on it.

Alternatively, you can make this healthier by using low fat cream cheese and “Heart Smart” Bisquick, if that floats you boat...or in the case of our Texas friend, hitches your chuck wagon...drives your cattle...rattles your boots.

You know what I mean.