Banana and passionfruit loaf
I’m very strategic about my seat choice when I travel.
Some people like to sit by the window so they can admire the view.
Not me. I like to sit in the aisle. I like to be able to get out of my seat easily without disturbing anyone and I also like to be able to sticky beak at all the other passengers.
Last weekend I flew to Melbourne and was lucky enough to have a baby sitting a few seats ahead (on his mother’s lap of course) so I had stories read to me for part of the flight.
Pop up books make reading so much more exciting.
Why don’t they make them for adults?
Banana and passionfruit loaf
Where I wasn’t lucky was in my row choice.
Somehow I ended up in the very back row right near the galley.
While you have quick access to the bathrooms and exits in case of emergency, you are last to get your food and also right within ear shot of the stewardess’ gossiping.
After their quick dash up the aisle to sell their food and drink offerings, the two young girls set in for a yapping session.
I got to learn all about one of them giving up on sugar last week and how tired it made her.
The other regaled tales of her most recent exercise regime before the moved on to discuss their thoughts on Kristen Stewart cheating on her Twilight co-star boyfriend.
I couldn’t get off that plane sooner!
Maybe if they’d had a slice of banana and passionfruit loaf they could have talked about delicious food rather than avoiding it.
The ingredients
I think of this loaf like a jazzed up banana bread.
It’s perfect for breakfast dessert or a nice tasty morning tea but not too sweet and it’s really easy to whip up.
The recipes, from The Goddess’s Kitchen, says to strain the passionfruit but I like to include the seeds when I bake with it.
It’s like an extra surprise in every bite.
Butter and sugars
I like to use a bit of brown sugar whenever I bake with bananas.
It gives it a hint of caramel flavouring which goes rather nicely in my opinion.
Start by beating the two sugars together in the bowl of an electric mixer until they are nice and smooth and fluffy.
Eggs
Add the eggs and beat them in until they are just combined.
Flour and bicarb
Take the bowl off the stand and sift in the flour and bicarb then stir it through.
Passionfruit pulp and mashed banana
Then add the stars of the show – the passionfruit and banana and stir them through.
I must admit I was a little bit worried that relying solely on the fruits for flavour might not have a very tasty result but I was wrong.
Ready for baking
Spread the batter into the prepared tin.
Yes I also made a few mini versions for my taste testers.
Bake the loaf at 160C fan-forced for 55 minutes or until a cake tester comes out clean.
Cooling
Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
Banana and passionfruit loaf
Serve thick slices warm or at room temperature with a smear of butter.
Enjoy!
What about you?
Where do you like to sit on the plane?
Have you ever been stuck within earshot of a very annoying conversation?
Banana and passionfruit loaf
Banana passionfruit loaf
A fancy twist on traditional banana bread.
Ingredients
- 225g (8oz) self-raising flour
- 1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
- 100g (3.5oz) butter, softened and cubed
- 100g (3.5oz) caster (superfine) sugar
- 75g brown sugar
- 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
- 3 passion fruit
- 3 very ripe bananas, mashed
Instructions
- Pre-heat the oven to 160C(320F) fan-forced.
- Grease and line a loaf tin so that the paper extends over the long sides to make handles.
- In the bowl of an electric mixer, beat the butter and sugars together until light and creamy.
- Add a the eggs and mix until just combined.
- Take the bowl off the stand and sift in the flour and bicarb then stir them through until there are no dry bits.
- Add the passionfruit and mashed bananas to the bowl and stir them in until just combined.
- Spread the batter into the tin and smooth out the top.
- Halve the passion fruit and scoop out the pulp into a sieve over a bowl.
- Bake the cake for 55 minutes or until a cake tester inserted in the middle comes out clean.
- Leave the cake to cool completely in the tin.
Yum! This sounds delicious. I only have two bananas and two passionfruit… would it still work?
Hi Kristy-lee. It will definitely still work but might be a bit dry. Maybe add a bit of yoghurt or something like that in place of the extra banana and passionfruit?
Fantastic receipe have made it a few times now – it’s also really good with crushed walnuts – yum yum!
Great idea Sandra!
My kids are all grownup and gone on holiday so I have. Passion fruit,banana and pear I will combine all this and since I’m diabetic I will only put 1 table spoon of brown sugar and serve with cranberry juice. What do you think?
That sound pretty perfect to me Vickie!
I KNOW it was very yummy cos I got to eat it all!!
Mum xx
Glad you liked it! x
Your jazzed up banana bread sounds delicious! I’ve decided I like the aisle seat better too. :)
It seems to be the most popular seat. I’m lucky because in the past I’ve nearly always traveled with my sister or my now husband who both like the window.
Oh that airplane gossip would have made me nuts – sitting in the very last row really is the worst! I never would have thought of this twist on banana bread, but what a great combination. I would definitely keep the seeds in from the passion fruit as well – love that little crunch.
It was seriously annoying! The crunch is essential in my books.
What a shame the gossip wasn’t more entertaining. Pity their lives are so dull. I love the look of this banana loaf and served warm with that smear of butter it would be so good – and nothing like what you get served in the back row of an economy budget airline flight with your seat backing on to the galley! xx
You’re right Charlie, nothing like it! Although I hate to admit I did enjoy my cheese and crackers.
I know! No juicy gossip at all.
Absolutely delicious sounding Claire, what a wonderful combination. I love banana bread but passion fruit would be a whole other experience!
Thanks Chris! Yes it does add a nice summery fresh burst.
Oh yeah, include the seeds! Nothing better than biting into one of those crunch seeds.
I’m an aisle person. It’s on my airline profile. I get barfy by the window and that’s all I have to say to ensure I’m on the aisle. I hate the back rows unless I MUST travel internationally in cattle class. The last two rows have only 2 seats in them and there’s room down the side for more stuff.
I don’t understand people who throw them out personally.
Ahh yes it’s good to know where the two-seaters are if you’re in cattle class although being near the toilet isn’t a good thing on long-haul. I’ll have to remember the ‘barfy’ line.
Snap! I’m an aisle seat gal myself. I can’t stand being blocked in by other people.
I’m glad I’m not the only one Kirsty. I get a bit claustrophobic if I’m wedged in too!