Good for you Banana Bread (and some healthy baking tips!)

Why, hello there.

Last night, I made low fat banana bread. Last night I also could not find my camera. Which means today, you get no pictures. :(

When it's cold out, I love breads. Whether it be Banana, Zucchini, or Challah, there is just something so comforting about bread.

But, bread in and of itself isn't the best for you. Between butter or oil and white flour... it's just less than ideal.

So here are four easy, healthful, and tasty tips for baking in general. Below my tips, you'll find a pretty kick ass recipe for Healthy Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips for that not as healthy taste (but still, I assure you, this is good for you!)

• Did you know you can substitute applesauce (or really any pureed fruit) for cooking oil? This, my friends, is the easiest substitute, ever. Let's say your recipe calls for 1/4 cup of cooking oil. You may be asking...What's the conversion? How much applesauce do I use? well ladies and gents...you simply use 1/4 cup of applesauce. It's 1:1 ratio. See? Easy.
• Did you know whole wheat flour can be used in recipes like banana bread? Just be careful. Your bread can get very dense, very quickly. Try sifting the whole wheat flour a couple times before using it in your recipe. Why should you substitute this you ask? The Mayo Clinic says it best.
• Have a sweet tooth but can't eat a lot of sugar? There are loads of natural sweeteners out there. I've heard of people using Truvia (note, I've never tried this)...and I've personally tried baking with Splenda for Baking, and have had great results.
• Eggs, sure they are good for you in general, but those yolks! Yikes! The cholesterol!. Try substituting two egg whites for one whole egg, OR 1/4 cup of egg substitute, like this, per egg.

Healthy Banana Bread with Chocolate Chips

1. 1 1/2 cups sifted whole wheat flour
2. 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
3. 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
4. 1/8 teaspoon kosher salt
5. 1/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
6. 3 medium, ripe (turning brown) bananas, mashed
7. 1/4 cup egg substitute
8. 3/4 cup granulated sugar
9. 1/4 cup all natural unsweetened applesauce
10. 1/2 cup semi-sweet chocolate morsels

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and grease an 8x4x2 loaf pan.

• In a medium mixing bowl, combine the first 5 ingredients (flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon).
• In a smaller mixing bowl, combine the next four ingredients (bananas, egg, sugar, applesauce).
• In the dry ingredient bowl, make a well in the center. Stupid camera. I would show you what it looks like, but a reference to Kingarthur.com will have to suffice. Here is what a well looks like: Not your Bubbe's Kitchen Couldn't Find Her Camera.
• Pour the wet ingredients all at once into the well.
• Combine ingredients til dry is now wet like a batter. The batter will be lumpy. Do not over mix. Please. You'll be mad at me if you do.
• Fold in the chocolate chips.
• Place batter in greased loaf pan.
• Place in oven for 50-55 minutes, until a toothpick (or slender picking type object of your choice) comes out clean when you insert it in the center of the bread.
• Let cool completely on wire rack (pop it out of pan)
• Wrap it in plastic wrap for about 24 hours (if you can wait that long) before cutting into it.

Enjoy, because the facts say you can.

Nutrition Facts

Serving Size: 1 slice

Amount per Serving

Calories 174

Calories from Fat 3

% Daily Value *

Total Fat 3.2g

4%

Saturated Fat 2.0g

10%

Cholesterol 0.0mg

0%

Sodium

3%

Total Carbohydrate 36.5g

12%

Dietary Fiber 3.1g

12%

Sugars 22.6g

Protein 2.8g

5%

Est. Percent of Calories from:

Fat

1%

Carbs

83%

Protein

6%

* Percent Daily Values are based on a 2,000 calorie diet. Your daily values may be higher or lower depending on your calories needs.