National Banana Bread Day

February 23 is National Banana Bread Day!

To celebrate, here are some facts, courtesy of HealthDiaries.com, about the #1 fruit of the USA!

• An individual banana is called a finger.  A bunch of bananas is called a hand. 
• The word banana comes from an Arab word banan, meaning finger. 
• The banana "tree" is not really a tree, but a giant herb.  The banana is the fruit of this herb. 
• It is believed by many experts that bananas were the first fruit cultivated by humans.
• Alexander the Great first came across bananas in India in 327 B.C.
• Bananas were introduced to the United States at the 1876 Philadelphia Centennial Celebration, where they were sold wrapped in foil for 10 cents each.  
• Worldwide, bananas are the fourth largest fruit crop. 
• About 50% of people who are allergic to latex are often also allergic to bananas.
• In Uganda, bananas are such a big part of the diet that the same word, matooke, is used for both "food" and "banana."
• The banana split was invented in 1904 by 23-year-old David Evans Strickler, an employee at the Tassel Pharmacy soda fountain in Latrobe, Pennsylvania.  

...And to celebrate, here's a recipe for to make on Saturday - National Banana Bread Day!
 

Banana Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup butter
• 3/4 cup brown sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 2 1/3 cups mashed overripe bananas

Preparations 

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.  Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan. 
2. In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar.  Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended.  Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir just to moisten.  Pour batter into prepared loaf pan.
3. Bake in preheated oven for 60 to 65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out clean.  Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack.  Makes 1 loaf.  

Note: Try adding cinnamon or nutmeg to spice the banana bread up.  Or, try some add-ins like chocolate chips, nuts, or dried berries!

Recipe courtesy of AllRecipes.com

Images: Bananas, Banana Bread