Nut Chopper


           My family loves Banana Nut Bread and I make several batches to freeze and serve to unexpected guests or give as gifts. 

Grease two 9 x 5 x 3" loaf pans or three 8" loaf pans.  Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Ingredients:

2 1/2 c. sifted unbleached all-purpose flour
1 c. whole wheat flour
3 tsp. baking powder
3/4 tsp. salt
1 tsp. baking soda
2 c. mashed, ripe bananas (4 to 6)
2 Tblsp. lemon juice
3/4 c. shortening
4 oz. cream cheese
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 eggs
3/4 c. milk
3/4 c. finely chopped pecans or walnuts

Directions:

• Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and soda.  Stir whole wheat flour with a whisk before measuring, add to the sifted ingredients and whisk together. 
• Mash bananas with fork, add lemon juice and mix.  Set aside.
• On medium speed, cream together the shortening, cream cheese and sugar.  Add eggs one at a time, beating after each for a total of 4 minutes.  Mixture will be very light and fluffy.
• Beginning with dry ingredients, add to creamed mixture alternating with milk.
• Fold in bananas and beat to evenly distribute.
• Fold in nuts and beat to evenly distribute.  The finer the nuts are chopped, the easier it will be to slice.
• Pour into the greased loaf pans.
• Bake for 1 hour.  I generally begin testing after about 45 min. and then every 5 minutes.  You may also need to cover lightly with foil to prevent the top from browning too much.  Cake tester or toothpick inserted in center should come out clean. 
• Cool in pans for 10 minutes.  Remove from pans and cool on a wire rack. 
• Wrap in clear plastic wrap and allow to stand in a cool place overnight before slicing or freezing.

Featured Gadgets:
A stainless steel loaf pan and two non-stick pans were used to see if there would be any noticeable difference in cooking time.  The non-stick pans were doubled to add an air barrier.  From past experience, when single dark loaf pans were used, the bread would burn on the sides and bottom.  Other than that, no noticeable differences were found.  The Nut Chopper used is quick, convenient and dishwasher safe.  It allow you to grind nuts to either a coarse or fine texture.  The removable bottom allows you to grind nuts directly into your dish or onto brownies.  When using cookie dough, it is easy to grind nuts onto a plate and then dip cookie dough onto the nuts before baking.