Banana Bread Recipe, Ogunquit Beach Inn style....

I am going bananas!

-Madonna

With a busy B&B we always have plenty of bananas. Bananas are perfect breakfast food.  I have one every morning with my cereal; it's also a  good recovery food after a run.  Bananas are an excellent source of vitamin B6, potassium and vitamin C.  Banana's also contain tryptophan, Tryptophan  is a natural mood enhancer, which can help reduce feelings associated with Seasonal Affected Disorder (SAD).

The question is what to do with ripe bananas?  Solution: Banana Bread! So every other day, we make Banana bread at Ogunquit Beach Inn. My recipe is different than Mike's. Innkeeper Mike won't share his recipe. However, I will share MY recipe.

             These are NOT ripe bananas, but rather bananas from our yard in Wilton Manors, Florida.

The key to making good banana bread is to use ripe bananas. When bananas ripen more sugar is released, and this changes the chemical composition of the starchy fruit. Green bananas are actually tart and not good for you.

Banana bread is the perfect breakfast food, or snack. It also goes well with coffee!

Greg's Ogunquit Beach Inn Best Banana Bread Recipe

Five  or six mashed ripened bananas ( mash with fork)
3/4 cup of sugar
1 1/2 cups of flour
1 teaspoon of baking Soda
1 teaspoon of sea salt
1 teaspoon of vanilla
1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon melted
1 large egg
1/4 cup of melted butter ( half of a stick or 4 tablespoons).
1/2 cup of chocolate chip morsels (not optional)
1/4 cup of Ocean Spray "Craisins" (dried cranberries). Optional

Cream butter and sugar, add bananas, eggs and vanilla.
Combine flour, baking soda, sea salt, cinnamon into batter. Add chocolate chips and craisins. Bake in greased loaf pan for 60 minutes at 350 degrees.
Let cool on bakers rack. Cut and serve. Delicious. Wrap in aluminium foil.

One of my favorite all time snacks is the Filipino Merienda snack maruya. This tasty banana fritter is dipped in batter...mmm

Innkeeper, Greg enjoys Maruya in Cubao, Quezon City, Philippines.....

Caribbean Markets in Fort Lauderdale

I enjoy shopping at the Caribbean markets that are scattered throughout south Florida. One never knows when one will need a stalk of sugar cane or watermelon soda. I know when I go back to Ogunquit Maine; I will not be able to find such exotic treats
Of course you'll find the Goya and Badia brand products, that you can find in most US supermarkets now, but you can also find some real exotic finds!
The best part about shopping in these markets is about the experience: taking in the savory smells of spices, fish and tropical produce.

When I was a kid, I thought a banana was a banana. But in the Latin markets, there are plantains, burros, and other yellow strarchy looking fruit for boiling and frying. These plantains are used for tostones, tajadas and patacones.

There is also banana chips (chifles), which are one of my favorite snacks! Many people use plantains to make desserts, appetizers, and starches for their meals.

This "bunch" of bananas is from my back yard in Wilton Manors. Maybe I'll fry them up with butter and brown sugar and have a "merienda".

These markets usually have bulk produce, rice beans and fresh tortillas by the pound! There is always different types of fish; both fresh and salted.
Its always an adventure to check out the markets, and get some aguacates (avocados) and cebollas ( onions)!
I know when I am shopping in these mercados, I am not in Ogunquit Maine anymore, or at the Village Food Market!