Chocolate Banana Bread

This one book by Nigella Lawson was one of the earliest book that I used heavily as they are very easy and very friendly. A good cook book must be very friendly with its reader, or else you couldn't get yourself to start trying the recipes. I have tried a number of recipes in this book and some have been modified to suit my taste. This banana bread recipe was also adapted by one of her favorite books and now I am doing exactly what Nigella was doing, adapting her book instead.

Chocolate Banana Bread
Adapted from: How To Be A Domestic Goddess by Nigella Lawson
Edited through so many improvisations: Khai
Level: Easy

Ingredients:

1/4 cup apple or blackcurrant or grape juice (original recipe used bourbon or dark rum)

1/2 cup raisin or mixed dried fruits

2 cups plus 2 tbsp all purpose flour

2 tablespoon 100% cocoa powder (I used Valrhona) - i added

4 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon salt

1 cup unsalted butter (melted)

3/4 cup brown sugar

4 large eggs (at room temperature)

4 large or 8 small very ripe bananas ( I used Dole's)

1/2 cup walnut

2 tsp vanilla essence

1/2 cup chocolate chips or chopped bittersweet chocolate- i added

Method:

1. Put the dried fruits and juice in a small saucepan and bring to boil. Remove from heat and leave for an hour or until all the dried fruits absorbed most of the liquid. After one hour, drain and discard the leftover liquid.

2. Preheat oven to 160 degree Celsius. Grease a 10 cups tube pan or 2 of a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.

3. Sift flour, cocoa, baking powder, soda and salt into a medium sized bowl.

4. In a large bowl, whisk melted butter and sugar until blended. Beat in the eggs one at a time, followed by the mashed bananas. With your wooden spoon, stir the walnut, dried raisins and vanilla.

5. Add the flour mixture, 1/3 at a time stirring well after each addition. Fold in the chips and mix well.

6. Scrape into the prepared pan and bake in the middle for 60-90 minutes depending on your oven.

7. When it's ready, insert a cake tester and if it came out clean, you can take the bread out and let cool in the pan.

8. Once it is completely cooled, cut a slice and serve with cream cheese or whipping cream with hot tea or coffee....or warm milk perchance, and enjoy!