Coconut Blueberry Banana Bread

I have to admit, the first time I saw this recipe, it didn't really catch my eye all that much. I'm thinking I was preoccupied at the moment because I found it while searching for Valentine's Day dinner/treat ideas. However, last Friday I was really craving something sweet (I've given up sweets for our church's fasting season during lent) and wanted to find something that I could make without "cheating". It was then that I came across this recipe once again, and this time I could not stop thinking about it! Unfortunately, I did not have time to whip up a batch before work and then Brad and I left for Michigan right when I got out. And then every house we visited there was a bunch of bananas sitting on the counters, slowly aging, begging to be made into bread. But I refrained. The day we were leaving, my mom called to let me know that she had left her bananas on her counter for us to take so we could make our bread. Rejoice! Well when I stopped by her apt, my cute little mother had left me a surprise on our bananas...

loved it! Anyway, the banana bread was pretty good and would have probably been better if I hadn't been stingy with the blueberries (my stash from last year's picking was running very very low), I ran out of coconut and had just under enough vanilla.

A couple notes before I start.

1. I did not use walnuts because 1) we didn't have any and 2) Brad and I both prefer our breads without them.
2. Also, I did not have any buttermilk on hand (I know, by now you're probably thinking why I even tried since I was running out of everything..but I'm telling you, it was tempting me that much). However, I don't really find it necessary to buy buttermilk all the time for baking since I most likely wouldn't use it all before it expired. Instead, I also make my own so to speak. For every one cup of milk, add 1 Tbsp of white vanilla and let stand for about 5 minutes. It has never let me down.
3. Lastly, I did not have two small bread pans as Leslie suggested. So I had to use one large one. And sure enough, this lengthened the cooking time. Just be prepared for that. I don't remember how long it took all together, I just know I hit 5-10 mins longer quite a bit. Thankfully it didn't burn.
   

Either way, I would definitely consider this a repeat recipe for later on this summer when I have another fridge and freezer full of blueberries.

Coconut Blueberry Banana Bread (with toasted walnuts)
from The Hungry Housewife

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 cups all purpose flour
• 1 tsp salt
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 2 eggs
• 4 large nasty looking ripe bananas. smooshed up real good
• 1/3 cup buttermilk
• 3/4 to 1 cup toasted walnuts
• 1 Tbsp vanilla
• 1 cup coconut
• 1 cup blueberries + a handful for sprinkling on top

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 and use middle rack
2. Cream together butter and sugar with hand mixer or stand mixer. Add egg one at a time, mixing well in between each addition.
3. In a separate bowl whisk together flour, salt, baking pwdr and baking soda.
4. Slowly add the dry ingredients to the butter mixture, alternating with the buttermilk..(always start and end with the flour..why? I don't know, just cause that's what my mom told me to do!)
5. Add bananas, vanilla, nuts and coconut and stir until combined. Fold in blueberries.
6. Lightly grease TWO 8in x 3 3/4in x 2 1/2in pans( I use the Hefty EZ elegance pans)
7. Pour the batter into both pans evenly. Sprinkle some blueberries on top for a garnish.
8. Bake for 45-55 minutes or until toothpick comes out of the center with only slight crumbs on it.
9. Try to let it cool before cutting into it..but I can never wait that long before digging in and slathering some butter on it!

Tips***

To toast the walnuts, just place in large skillet over medium heat and cook until fragrant and lightly browned, stirring occasionally. Usually around 5 to 8 minutes.

I use the two smaller pans because I found that if you make one large loaf the bottom tends to burn before the middle is done. And besides 2 loafs is better than one.