Poppy Seed Banana Mini Loaves Recipes

Steps:

• Mash bananas with a potato masher until all large pieces are broken down (or you can use a blender and puree the bananas) - you should receive about 1 cup of banana total. If not, then add enough banana to equal one cup.
• Cream together the sugar and butter until light and fluffy.
• Beat in eggs and grated lemon peel until blended.
• Combine the flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.
• Beat the bananas into the wet ingredients alternately with the dry ingredients -- repeating twice ending with dry ingredients.
• Hand stir in the poppy seeds.
• Pour into a well-greased (or sprayed) 9x5 inch loaf pan.
• Bake at 350* F for 50-60 minutes until pick inserted in center comes out clean. (The original recipe called for 60-70 minutes but mine is usually done before 60 minutes).
• Cool in pan for 10-15 minutes before turning out onto a wire rack to completely cool.

Steps:

• 1. Heat the oven to 375 degrees. Grease and line the bottoms of 2 (8 1/2 - by 4 1/2 - by 2 1/2 -inch) loaf pans with parchment paper. 2. In a medium bowl, whisk together the flour, wheat flour, baking powder, baking soda and poppy seeds. Set aside. 3. In the bowl of a stand mixer, or in a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream together the butter, three-fourths cup sugar and salt until light and fluffy, about 5 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, until incorporated. 4. In a medium bowl, mash the very ripe bananas. With the mixer running, add the mashed bananas and vanilla to the butter mixture until incorporated. With the mixer on the lowest speed, add the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Gently fold in the yogurt and dates. Divide the batter evenly between the 2 pans. 5. Slice the remaining 1 1/2 bananas crosswise into one-eighth inch slices. Top the batter in each pan with the banana slices, arranged in rows. Sprinkle the remaining teaspoon of sugar evenly over the sliced bananas, then place in the center of the oven (leave a few inches between the loaf pans). 6. Bake until a toothpick inserted comes out clean, about 1 hour, rotating halfway through for even baking. Check the pans after 20 to 30 minutes and periodically after that to see that they do not darken too quickly; if they do, lightly cover the tops with aluminum foil and continue to bake. 7. Cool the pans and unmold the loaves. Sift the powdered sugar evenly over the 2 loaves. Cut the loaves into 1-inch slices and serve. Each of 16 servings: 286 calories; 6 grams protein; 45 grams carbohydrates; 4 grams fiber; 10 grams fat; 6 grams saturated fat; 63 mg. cholesterol; 244 mg. sodium. Total time: 1 1/2 hours