If you Have Time to Bake

So far, my month on nights is going well.  We've gotten to sleep at least a little bit most nights...so thankful for that.  This weekend is one of our short off weekends, go back to work on Sunday.  Tomorrow I'm going to see Les Miserables with a friend!  I've seen it before but am quite excited about seeing it again; unfortunately, that means that my only full day off this week is completely taken.  That doesn't leave much time for cooking or baking....

but if I was to do some cooking, this would be something that I would make again - Nutella Swirled (or peanut butter) Banana Bread.  This is a recipe from Emily at Sugar Plum.  The bread is SO moist.  Another plus...it actually BAKED completely in my oven!  Woo Hoo!  I loved the texture so much that when I went  home, I made a similar version with peanut butter instead of nutella.

  The Nutella is definitely more full of flavor and provides a more exciting visual effect as well.  See?

  Please try this...and more of Emily's recipes too.  She makes great ones!

Marbled Nutella Banana Bread from Sugar Plum

2 1/3 cups all purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups mashed ripe banana
4 tablespoons unsalted butter, softened
1/4 cup granulated sugar
1/2 cup packed brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 large eggs
1/2 cup Nutella

Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9-inch loaf pan with cooking spray.

In a medium mixing bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.
In a large mixing bowl, mix together banana, butter, granulated sugar, brown sugar and vanilla until creamy and well combined.  I used a regular bowl and spoon but Emily suggested a mixer. Beat in egg until well combined. Stir in dry ingredients.  Place 1/2 of of the batter into a medium bowl; stir in Nutella until combined.

Alternate spoonfuls of batter into loaf pan until all of the batter is used up - I did mine in a checkerboard pattern. Swirl batter gently with a knife (not too much!). Bake 1 hour or until well risen, deep golden brown, and a toothpick inserted into bread comes out with moist crumbs attached.  Enjoy!