In creating my last writing on “decorating your kitchen in a Mary Engelbreit style,” I decided that this delicious, happy, crowd pleasing and felicitous bread would be the perfect recipe to put within the blog…something that Mary herself would bake, but I used my own recipe. (Again my husbands and families favorite!) 🙂
Mary Engelbriet, also M.E., is a brilliantly talented artist who not only creates her own fabrics, but is a sensational graphic artist, winsome home decorator, cook, painter, author, wife and mom as well as the creator of an abundance of playful, chromatic and nostalgic home decor items. Her designs bring forth an ambiance of laughter, cheerfulness, smiles, and pure happiness. Her decor is certainly at best, a non narcotic mood-changer! 🙂 Here are a few examples of her talented artwork!
Mary’s two dining rooms in her lovely home! All I can say is WOW! 🙂
My ‘Punahele,’ Hawaiian Banana Nut Bread. Punahele means “Favorite ” in the Hawaiian language! 🙂 This would be a choice, delicious and welcoming confection to serve for your guests and family with a pot of tea, in your newly decorated M.E. Kitchen… 🙂 (or any kitchen for that mater!) 🙂
YOU WILL NEED:
3 cups of all purpose flour, 3/4 tsp. salt, 1 tsp. baking soda, 2 Cups of sugar, 1-2 tsp. of cinnamon, 1 cup chopped pecans or walnuts, 3 eggs, beaten, 1 cup of vegetable oil, 1 cup of coconut, 2 Tbsp. of vanilla extract, 2 cups of ripened and soft bananas, 1 ( 8 oz.) can of crushed pineapple, drained.
Directions:
Preheat your oven to 350. Grease two 9×5 baking pans. In a large bowl, combine all of your dry ingredients. ( The flour, salt, sugar, baking soda and cinnamon. ) Stir together. In a second large bowl add all of your moist ingredients… (The 3 eggs already beaten, oil, mashed bananas, vanilla and coconut. ) Mix well until blended.
Fold your moist ingredients after blended into your dry ingredients, stir until blended. Fold in nuts and pour into your two greased pans… Bake for 55-60 minutes or until a toothpick or knife inserted into your bread comes out clean. You do not want to over cook this bread… so watch and test it carefully from 45 minutes on… Every ones ovens are different. 🙂 When done, allow to cool for about 15 minutes and then remove from the pans. I always give the first slice to my husband, hot, with melted butter…He loves it with his lattes. 🙂 It’s a delicious, healthy and felicitous bread!
ENJOY!