Did you know today is National Banana Bread Day?
Lockdown loaf: Banana bread making was so popular during the quarantine.
Amidst lockdowns and quarantines, the popularity of banana bread surged (along with shopping for puzzles, novelty gifts, and funny gifts.). The whole universe baked banana bread during that slowed-down time. With baking adopted as a therapeutic pastime, banana bread emerged as a comforting treat for many people.I tried it, not banana bread, but regular bread. It's a long and arduous task, not apeeling :) at all. Kudos to those bakers out there!
Google searches for the fruit loaf increased big time, leading to numerous recipes, thought pieces, and even an article seeking psychotherapists' insights on the trend appearing online. One source humorously referred to the phenomenon as a 'quarenaissance,' though it was from Yahoo!, so it might have gone unnoticed.
Banana bread has a history of gaining popularity in times of crisis, and in fact, its origins are rooted in such circumstances, shaping the modern version we know today.
The roots of banana bread's popularity can be traced back to the 1930s, amid the economic challenges of the Great Depression.
Bananas originated in Asia around 300 BC, spreading to the west with Arab conquerors. Despite typically thriving in warmer climates like Asia, Latin America, and Africa, bananas are the most favoured fruit in the United Kingdom. India stands out as the largest banana producer.
The journey of bananas to the western palate spanned centuries before evolving into the familiar banana bread enjoyed today.
Some historians have claimed that resourceful and imaginative housewives during that era cleverly devised the modern banana bread recipe to utilize overripe bananas, discovering that the riper the bananas, the sweeter the bread. This innovative creation proved to be a delightful and tasty solution.
The first recorded recipe for banana bread appeared in Pillsbury's Balanced Recipes cookbook in 1933. Later, Chiquita Banana's Recipe Book in 1950 further popularized the idea.
While traditionally labeled a "quick bread," banana bread shares more similarities with cake in both texture and flavour. It lacks yeast and skips the rising process.
Banana bread, effortlessly prepared, remains a beloved choice for swiftly creating an APEELING treat in numerous households around the world.
Here's the recipe featured in the 1933 Pillsbury’s Balanced Recipes cookbook, in case you'd like to give it a try yourself:
Banana Nut Bread
Recipe makes 1 large loaf, 8x4x2
Temperature: 350 degrees F.; Time: about 1 1/4 hours
2 cups Pillsbury's Best flour
1/2 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 cup chopped nutmeats
1/2 cup Pillsbury's Wheat Bran
1/4 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons thick sour cream
1 1/2 cup mashed bananas
1. Sift flour, soda, salt and baking powder together; stir in nut meats and wheat bran.
2. Cream shortening and sugar. Add eggs, one at a time, beating thoroughly after each addition.
3. Combine mashed bananas and sour cream; add alternately with flour to first mixture.
4. Bake in a greased loaf pan lines with waxed paper, in a moderate oven.