"Famous" FLAX n FIG Nutty Banana Bread Recipe!

MY "FAMOUS" FLAX n FIG BANANA BREAD!

One of the running jokes in my family is that my Banana Bread is famous. "Famous" because in 2005, during a private event for the launch of Current TV, Al Gore thanked me for allowing my boyfriend at the time to work long hours for Current while they set up the site for launch...and my response?! "It's totally OK, I make him Banana Bread"....Clearly confused as to what the heck I was talking about...Al Gore asked me to repeat what I just had said...
so I said,"uhhh...Banana Bread?". My boyfriend was mortified and quickly pushed me out of the way.
I have yet to live down that moment with my Dad...he looooves reminding me of that story. But the best part of all is that now I can kinda-sorta call my Banana Bread recipe "famous",

My banana bread is a very basic recipe that has been modified over the years to include lots of crazy extra ingredients. It's basically Kitchen-Sink bread...with bananas and whatever I feel like adding in.

Since I'm feelin' a little "NUTTY" today...I decided to make a Nutty, Fig-Y, Flax-Y Banana-Y Bread and here's how you can make yours, too! This particular combination is YUMMY!

STEP ONE!
Materials! For this, you just need a standard bread pan (8 1/2 x 4 1/2 x 2 1/2), a large mixing bowl, measuring cups & measuring spoons.
(and something to mix with if you prefer)

STEP TWO!
Pre-heat the oven!
Just set your oven at 350 degrees.

STEP THREE!
The Recipe!
Here's my (modified) Banana Bread recipe.
Check the comments for the regular old "famous" Banana Bread.

1 1/2 cup Whole Wheat Flour
1 cup Flax Seed Flour (can just use Whole Wheat Flour if you don't have this)
1 cup Cane Sugar
3 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 Almond Milk (or regular milk)
2-3 frozen bananas (thawed)*
1 tsp. salt
3 tablespoons oil
1 egg
1 cup sliced raw almonds
6-7 finely chopped dried figs

*NOTE: Frozen Banana?! yes. I learned on Good Eats that if you freeze your bananas after they go brown, and then re-introduce them after they thaw into banana bread (microwave until not rock solid frozen), this allows the banana flavor to get into the WHOLE loaf... it's true. But you can still use regular ones...just won't be as tasty.

STEP FOUR!
Combine!
I admit it - I'm one of the laziest bakers you will ever meet. I just combine ALL of the ingredients at the same time and then just stir with my hands - Free Handed. I know I know... the riiiight way to do it would be to combine the dry ingredients and THEN add in your wet...then stir all of them together...with a spoon. However you want to do it is really just fine for this recipe. Just make sure all the ingredients are combined.

STEP FIVE!
Prepare the baking Pan!
You want to spray your pan with oil. I use a Canola Oil... Olive Oil Spray tastes a bit funky to me. Using softened butter on a towel will also work...just smear that butter on all of the corners, sides and bottom of the pan to make sure you can get your bread out once it's finished baking.

STEP SIX!
Bake your Famous Bread!
Dump your awesome mixture into your pan...make sure you spread out the batter so that it's even in the pan...
and then just pop that puppy in the oven at 350 degrees for 55-60 minutes.
You should be able to put a toothpick (of knife, as I do...cause my house isn't THAT prepared) in the center without any wet dough on the end of your tool....at that point, it will be finished! YAY!

Let it cool and YUM! Eat it and tell everyone Al Gore knows all about this bread and is a fan. I mean...we don't KNOW that he's a fan of it...but I'm pretty sure he tells people about how hilarious it was when that girl in 2005 made a fool of herself and talked about Banana Bread. I must add though...he did give me a wet kiss on the cheek at the end of the evening...so, yeah...he's a fan. :-)

Additionally!
As a Do-It-Yourself-er, I find the it's a bit hard on my budget and my heart to always go out and buy myself some breakfast on the way to work. Once a week I tackle a bread recipe and cut up slices for myself and friends for upcoming breakfasts at work...or I'll make some delicious muffins and have one for breakfast...and one for snack later in the day...
Do you know how much money I saved last month?! Over $200!!! Would have been more if I wasn't such a sucker for croissants. Every time I make something, I feel pretty crafty...
and going forward, I'll try to share a few more of my "Katy Crocker" Recipes with you!

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