bob’s banana bread – the road runners favorite snack

Rate this post

“I run because I really like food.”

Hi there,

My friends, Vicki and Bob, truly epitomize the meaning of this quote. Every weekend they can be found off on a run somewhere in the area and afterward found at a local craft brewery.

This couple truly know how to have fun and live life to its fullest. They are the culprits that introduced me to my latest downfall, craft beer. In addition to being a smart, fun, and a beautiful woman, Vicki is an excellent cook. She shared this recipe with me for Bob’s favorite fuel.

“Here is the recipe that I promised.  I make it every week so I know the recipe by heart. I was inspired to start making it by a recipe in a runners magazine about 15 years ago.  It is quick and easy — no electric mixer required. Your granddaughter may enjoy making it with you.

If I do not have bananas, I use a can of apple pie filling or about a cup of thinly sliced apples, and it is like a Jewish Apple Cake. I will call it “Bob’s” because he loves it and sends me photos of his slice when he eats it at his desk with his mid-morning coffee!  Delicious room temperature or toasted in the oven on a cookie sheet with melted butter.”

Bob’s Favorite Banana Breakfast/Snack Bread

Ingredients:


1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour (can use whole wheat)
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 – 2 (depending on taste) teaspoons of cinnamon
1/2 teaspoon salt
½  cup sugar (or more if you prefer a sweeter bread)
2 eggs
1/2 cup vegetable oil
3 to 3 1/2 bananas, ripe, mashed very well

½ cup of apple sauce—preferably unsweetened (I use one of the individual serving sizes they sell in six packs)
2 tablespoons low-fat or regular sour cream
1 teaspoon vanilla
2/3 cup walnuts, toasted and chopped (you can use pecans, almonds or any other finely chopped nuts you have/like) 

Directions:


Preheat oven to 350°

Sift together first four ingredients and the nuts and set aside.

In separate bowl–beat sugar and eggs with a whisk until light and fluffy.

Add oil, bananas, applesauce, sour cream, and vanilla.  

Add wet mixture to flour and nut mixture. Mix well.

Pour batter into a batter (or use baking PAM) 9″ x 4″ loaf pan (I prefer Pyrex).  Sprinkle come chopped nuts on top (optional).

Bake for 60 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Makes about 12 slices.

I hope you enjoyed meeting Vicki and Bob and maybe give them a wave if you see them running.

Talk soon, ❤️💕 Bernadette

22 responses to “bob’s banana bread – the road runners favorite snack”

  1. Sandy – Reformed techie. Street photographer. Writer, reader and foodie. I blog about travel, culture and food. I write about people. Find me at TheSandyChronicles.com
    SandyL says:

    My favorite quick bread. I like mine with semi-sweet chocolate chips. It puts the fun back in healthy 🙂

  2. Dorothy's New Vintage Kitchen – I'm a writer, cook, gardener, photographer, poet, quilter, and accomplished daydreamer. I'm also a wife, mother, grandmother, sister. cousin, aunt, and friend, no particular order on any given day. I've been a writer all my life, newspaper reporter and columnist, radio news writer, and magazine contributor, and poet and short-story writer as the spirit moves. Now, I turn my attention to my cookbook, the blog, and a cooking column "Memorable Meals," which runs in our county newspaper. Besides my family, I love dogs, cats, good coffee, and my never-dwindling pile of books I intend to read. Our family ran a small Vermont Inn for 18 years, with our focus on local, organic ingredients. After many years of daily serving up of our local delicacies, cooking classes, and catering, we are now only open for special events, and the odd cooking class as the spirit moves me. We also host musicians and artists, having helped produce a musical festival and other musical events for nearly 20 years. Many incredible artists have found a place at our table. Wonderful experiences, we will treasure always. My family and friends are my practice subjects. With a family that includes nut, peanut, tree fruit, and vegetable allergies, gluten intolerance, dairy intolerance, vegetarians, vegans, heart conscious, and a couple of picky eaters, there has to be a few quick tricks in the book to keep everyone fed and happy! Personally, I do not eat red meat or most dairy (usually) for health reasons, making the occasional exception at Thanksgiving and Christmas or our anniversary if the duck is locally raised. I do eat fish and seafood, so I try to come up with alternatives and substitutions when available. I serve local organic eggs and cheeses to my family who can tolerate dairy (My husband recently had a heart attack, and I need to watch my own cholesterol so I am careful, but have been known to let a little piece of really good cheese accidentally fall on my plate!). I believe strongly that eating in a way that is good for our planet is also good for our bodies! I cook by the seasons and draw on inspiration from the strong and talented women in my family who came before me, as well as the youth in the family who look at the world with fresh eyes. Food links us all, whether sharing a meal, cooking it together, or writing about it for others to enjoy. I love taking an old recipe and giving it a modern spin, especially if I can make it a littler healthier and use foods that are kinder to the Earth and to our bodies. I believe strongly in sustainable, delicious eating of whole foods, and the wonderful flavors we have at our fingertips! And finally, I love conversing with all the talented cooks and chefs out there who dot the globe! It's a wonderful, world full of culinary pen pals, and I cherish them all! XXXOOO Dorothy
    Dorothy’s New Vintage Kitchen says:

    What a lovely loaf! Walnuts are so good in banana bread!

  3. Time Traveler of Life – Where my Motor Home is! – Biography Creating worlds, characters, and wielding power like a madwoman, making my characters happy, sad, angry, and some of them with no redeeming qualities. I probably shouldn’t admit this, but I sometimes laugh out loud when I am writing a scene, and I have been known to cry when one of my favorites has to die. I am a left-handed Gemini, what do you expect? Reading bedtime stories to my two children until they fell asleep or until they just told me to go away, was fun. Making up wild stories for my grandchild, and creating Halloween costumes from Cowboys to a Dragon, was another favorite thing to do. I missed that so much when they were grown, that I started writing. My yearly newsletters frequently were drafted third-person by my Love Birds, Miranda our motorhome, and by Sir Fit the White Knight, our faithful Honda. Throughout the years, some of my creative talents centered around writing letters of complaint expressing my displeasure with services or products. One crucial, at least to my Son, was a note to our local school bus driver petitioning her to allow him back on the bus. He was kicked off for making an obscene gesture at his buddy. I reminded her that it was not directed at her, and that “obscenity can be in the eye of the beholder,” kids use that gesture as a greeting. He rode the bus until he graduated. I loved driving my English teacher crazy. Leaving a “continued next week” at the end of my five handwritten pages required each week. He was one of many people that suggested I “do something about my writing.” I graduated from the School of Hard Knocks at the top of my class. After 30 years, in the trenches as a Real Estate Professional, I have found that truth is stranger than fiction. My books are filled with characters I met in that profession. Their names were changed to protect the guilty. Others were from people we met traveling around the country in Miranda, our Motorhome. I am married nearly 60 years to the love of my life, Shirl, and partner-produced two exceptionally talented children, and one grandchild who is our pride and joy.
    Time Traveler of Life says:

    We both LOVE Banana Bread! I make it often. The latest thing I added was blended blueberries. I tried black Berries but you have to NOT blend them because the seeds are awful. I guess if I had thought to strain them it would have worked. I like the idea of apples or pears cut into small pieces. Will compare your recipe to mine. Mine is from an Amway cookbook!

  4. That sounds delicious. I’m allergic to walnuts, but I like the idea (above) of adding chocolate chips to it. Banana bread and craft beer – a great combination. Sweet photo of Vicki and Bob.

      • I’m e-mailing it to you now! -)

  5. the Painted Apron – Life is all about creativity for me, as long as I'm creating something I am happy! I hope I will inspire your daily life and give you ideas for your own wonderful creations!
    the Painted Apron says:

    I would love to try this with apples, sounds yummy….

  6. I roasted my bananas per a recipe from Cooks Illustrated; then a few years later King Arthur Baking said “not to bother”. Two very reliable sources with two different opinions! Banana bread is delicious no matter how you make it!

  7. What a fun couple! And I’m happy to know who it was that turned you on to the fun of craft beers, too. It’s funny, because Les and I have a few favorite craft beer joints in our city, and we frequently see groups of runners or cyclists gathering after a race for some cold brews! Now I will think of your friends and this healthy-sounding banana bread!

  8. I love Bob & Vicki’s mantra – that is essentially the reason Loving Husband and I run too … so that we can enjoy our eating to the fullest! I love that this banana bread has apple sauce too.

      • It’s quite a treat to find couples who run together (and enjoy eating!) – so I definitely did enjoy the post!

  9. cheriewhite – Covington, TN – Published Author, Writer, Blogger, and Advocate/Activist for bullied children and teens. I'm also a wife and mother. I love God, spending time with family and friends, reading personal development books, swimming, inner tubing, camping, hiking and skydiving
    cheriewhite says:

    That looks delicious, Bernadette! I’ve always been a big fan of banana bread! Thanking Vicki for sharing her recipe! <3

      • cheriewhite – Covington, TN – Published Author, Writer, Blogger, and Advocate/Activist for bullied children and teens. I'm also a wife and mother. I love God, spending time with family and friends, reading personal development books, swimming, inner tubing, camping, hiking and skydiving
        cheriewhite says:

        You’re very welcome, Bernadette. You have a delicious week as well. 🙂

  10. How can you resist banana bread that looks that delicious!!!

Any comments or suggestions are appreciated. If you like this recipe, please give it to your friends. Cancel reply