Best Banana Bread On the Planet

The Hawaii n's claim to have the best banana bread on the planet and maybe that is true. For when you find their banana bread, it is usually a little spot made of straw on the side of the road on your way up the skinny, mountain road to Hana. The person selling it, generally, is large local woman who has made it at home, packs it in sand which baggies & keeps the bread hot in a Styrofoam cooler? And when you sit to eat the best banana bread on the planet.. your view is that of the lush, green tropical mountain side, spectacular ocean with Humpback whales singing and playing in the distance. That's what makes their's the best on the planet. Well mine is the best in Orangevale and when I take a bite it brings back my Maui Memories.

But if I were to live in Hawaii mine would be the "best banana Bread on the planet"... So moist and really good. Tips: I use baby zucchini and carrots for added moistness & sweetness. Freshly ground nutmeg makes a tasty difference too.

Dry:
1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup almond meal (Trader Joe's)(locate it near the nuts and dried fruit)
1.5 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp kosher salt
1/4 tsp ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp freshly ground nutmeg

Wet:
2 eggs, beaten
1/8 tsp maple flavoring
1/2 tsp pure vanilla extract
4 cups mashed banana
2 baby shredded zucchini (sweeter, I buy the little ones at Trader Joe's)
1 small shredded carrot
1 cup organic sugar
1/2 cup butter or canola oil (I used butter)
1/4 cup chopped pecans or walnuts ( I used pecans)

Streusel Topping:

In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tbs almond meal + 1 tbs whole wheat flour. Using a pastry blender or fork, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbles. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped pecans.


Preheat the oven to 350. Mix your dry and make a well in the center. In a separate bowl combine your wet ingredients and add all at once to the dry. Mix until just moist and then fold in the nuts. Add to a large greased loaf pan and top with Streusel. Bake for 60-75 minutes checking at 60 min. with a knife insert into center of bread and if it comes up clean it is done.Let sit for 10 minutes and then take bread out and continue to cool on a wire rack for 30 minutes. Serve with butter or not. I keep mine refrigerated. Makes 16 slices.