Banana Bread

Healthy-ish Banana Bread
Makes 1 loaf.

1 3/4 cups white or regular whole wheat flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon fine salt
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon, plus more to sprinkle on top
1/3 cup extra-virgin olive oil (or other high quality oil)
1/3 to 1/2 cup honey
2 eggs
About 3 medium or 2 large ripe bananas, mashed
¼ cup whole milk
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 cup chocolate chips, optional

1. Preheat the oven to 325° F and grease a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan.
2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, baking soda, salt and 1/2 teaspoon of cinnamon; set aside.
3.In a large bowl, beat the oil and honey with a whisk until combined. Beat in the eggs and then whisk in the mashed bananas, milk, and vanilla.
4. Using a wooden spoon, stir the flour mixture into the wet mixture until just combined (lumps are ok!) If using, fold in chocolate.
5. Pour the batter into your greased loaf pan and sprinkle lightly with cinnamon. Run the tip of a knife across the batter in a swirl pattern.
6. Bake until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Let the bread cool in the loaf pan for 10 minutes, then remove from the pan and set on a wire rack to cool for 20 minutes before slicing.  – Adapted from CookieAndKate.com.

NOTE: If you have a habit of eating too much at one sitting (as I do,) I suggest slicing the bread and freezing it in batches. Then you can pull out only a few slices at a time.

NOTE #2: These make great muffins too, just cook them for about half the time (or until a tooth pick inserted comes up clean.) Mini loaves and mini muffins are bake-sale winners.