Vegan Banana Bread

I know I haven't cooked in a while......well posted any of my recipes.....I could never not cook for a week but I have just been so busy I was not able to take properly document those recipes.!!!

Last night I had some time to set up some nice photos of a banana bread I made, but as I am fasting, it is vegan. No eggs, no milk and no other animal products.

I was going to make my normal, incredibly indulgent banana bread.......well cake, but I realised I did not have any sour cream, a critical ingredient in my recipe, and since I couldn't be bothered to go to the store, I decided to scrap that idea and make something that did not require sour cream, or in the end, dairy. I also wanted to cook for my friend Sylvia who is also fasting as she just moved into her new house, as a home welcoming present.

Although it is a bit denser than normal banana bread (also since I did not have any soy milk in the house), it is still very nice and enjoyable, especially with the nut crust on top.

Vegan Banana Bread

Ingredients

3 cups plain flour
3 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp cinnamon
pinch salt

4 ripe bananas
1 cup brown sugar
1/2 cup honey
1 tsp vanilla essence
2tsp vegetable oil

2 tbsp water
2 tsps baking powder
1 tbsp vegetable oil

2 cups almonds

Crust
1 cup almonds
1 cup brown sugar
drizzle of honey

Method

1. Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and salt in a bowl.
2. In a seperate bowl mash the bananas and add the brown sugar, honey, vanilla and oil and mix together.

3. In a seperate cup mix together the water, baking powder and oil until foamy, then add to dry mix and stir through.
4. Add the banana mixture to the dry mixture and combine.

5. In an oven or under the grill, roast the almonds until nice and browned and then leave to cool. Once cool crush slightly in a mortar and pestle then add to banana mixture and stir through.

6. Pour mixture into two loaf tins and then make nut crust by mixing together crushed raw almonds and the brown sugar. Sprinkle the mixture over evenly over the top of the mixture and then bake in a 180 degrees pre-heated oven for 45 mins, or until just cooked through.

7. Leave to cool once cooked and then slice and serve with butter. (The bread needs to cool slightly otherwise it will just crumble when you try to cut through the nuts.........so be patient)