I have always been a bit of a fiend for a sugary crust.
The specific crunch that sugar can create on a crust is perfection.
Think back to that moment of bliss when you closed your eyes and did a little happy dance over that morsel you just popped in your mouth.
I suppose it's all about the simple things. Simple things that have the ability to invoke a powerful emotional response.
Complex in their simplicity - these moments and experiences always have so much more going on that meets the eye.
Unfortunately, it is oftentimes the simple things that are most taken for granted.
In a recent collaboration with Country Road, I had to stop and think about the simple things in life.
The basics that move me.
Baking in my kitchen is a staple to my happiness. Only then am I in my element with all my senses being nourished.
To smell a fresh loaf of bread in the oven, to breathe it in and have your heart warmed by it is a simple pleasure that I could go not without.
In one breath, it has the power to bring my entire childhood back into the here and now rendering me overcome with memories long since forgotten and a lingering feeling of nostalgia that can last for days.
After much thought, I decided to combine my thoughts on these 'simple things' and share something truly special with you.
The Result?
A simple yet sentimental loaf of banana blueberry bread with the ultimate sugary crust.
The baking is a labor of love and smelling it will bring you untold happiness and, well, tasting? You decide.
Create a moment of reflection for yourself.
What are your simple things?
Serves: 6 cooktime: 1h 30m
Ingredients:
- 3 ripe bananas, smashed - don't have ripe bananas? Put them in the oven at 100 degree Celsius for 40 minutes
- 1/3 cup melted butter
- ¾ cup sugar
- 1 egg, beaten
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 teaspoon baking soda
- Pinch of salt
- 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
- ¼ cup desiccated coconut
- ½ cup of blueberries (frozen or fresh)
- 1 fresh banana sliced to top the bread.
- 2 tablespoons brown sugar
Instructions:
Preheat the oven to 180 degrees Celsius.
Grease your bread loaf tin a 4x8 inch or 10 x 20cm
In a large bowl using an electronic mixer mix the butter and the mashed bananas.
Mix in the sugar, egg and vanilla.
Add the baking soda and salt and mix it into the batter
Add the flour and coconut and beat, do not over beat the batter. Using a spatula gently fold in blueberries. Be carseful to not break them as you will get a blue banana bread. Top the bread with the sliced banana and sprinkle the top with the sugar. This will result in a perfect crust.
Add your mixture to your baking tin and bake for 1 hour.
Allow cooling on your cooling rack in the tin for 15 minutes and then let it cool further out of the tin.
-Melissa
This blog post is sponsored by Country Road. All homeware can be shopped here.