Banana Nut Bread and Blueberry Muffins
This banana nut bread has a wonderful history. Back in the 1960’s, Mary Sue Grissom, a home economics teacher at Gaston School, brought one of her classes to tour mother and dad’s home.
Mother served this banana nut bread. Years later, several students reminded me of the delicious banana nut bread that they had been served at my mother’s home.
Banana Nut Bread
3 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon salt
2 cups sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1/4 cups of chopped pecans
3 mashed bananas
1 1/2 cups Crisco oil
3 eggs, beaten
Sift dry ingredients together in a large bowl; add pecans and mix. Make a well in the center. Mix the rest and pour into the well. Stir enough to dampen all ingredients, and then pour into a large greased and floured tube pan or 2 greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 hour.
Andy’s Note: This is one of my favorite recipes. I think any bread is a cozy and warm welcome to your home. Breads are so easy to make. No mixers are needed and usually just one bowl is sufficient. All breads can be baked in muffin tins. You just need to adjust the baking time, they also improve with age. A loaf of bread makes a wonderful gift!
Blueberry Muffins
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup sugar (I like to add a little more)
3 teaspoons baking powder
1 egg, beaten
3/4 cup milk (you might need a little more)
1/3 cup Crisco oil
1 cup blueberries (frozen or fresh)
Grated rind of one lemon (this is very important)
Mix altogether and bake at 375 degrees for 30-40 minutes. While they are still warm, dip the tops
in sugar and lemon juice. When I am filling a muffin tin, I fill it nearly to the top. I love a nice
rounded muffin.
Andy’s Note: Mrs. Carl Patterson, who lived in North Gadsden, gave me this recipe. One of her granddaughters came to school and told me that her grandmother made the best blueberry muffins. Of course, I just HAD to have the recipe. She served these at her daughter’s wedding and they were a big hit!
You know our state has so many beautiful things: mountains, rivers, music, beaches, falls, foods, music, art, Southern hospitality and FABULOUS COOKS!!!!
Happy Cooking to all of you.
— Andy Bedwell
“Southern Cooking with Andy Bedwell” can be purchased on Broad Street Gadsden at Alabama Gift Shop, Little Faces Doll Shop and the Gadsden Messenger.