Banana Bread

What is a girlfriend to do when the boyfriend is engrossed with the World Cup?

1) Internet shop but budget is a little limiting this month
2) Look around the flat - a little dusty yes but can I be bothered to clean it? No
3) Watch the game - that takes up 5 minutes
4) Pull funny faces at him - "stop that you're so annoying!" (that also takes 5 minutes)
5) Hunt snails - more of that later
6) Saw 2 sad brown banana that will end up in the compost bin then "light bulb moment" banana bread!

I love this recipe - so easy and always turn out perfect. Done this 4 times and it hasn't disappoint. Must try as guaranteed success :)

This recipe is obviously not mine - something I nicked off Waitrose recipe online.

Ingredients
1 Large egg (I have used medium egg - it still turns out fine)
75ml Vegetable oil
125g Caster sugar
3 Bananas, or 2 bananas and a handful dried banana chips
30g Rolled oats (any oats will do really - my favourite is those 2 min microwave golden syrup oats Scott has for brekkie. ok - maybe favourite is a bit of a stretch, it's a favourite because that's all I have)
150g Plain flour
½ tsp Baking powder
½ tsp Bicarbonate soda
1 tsp Ground cinnamon
40g Dark chocolate, finely chopped (always run out of choc so I replace it with a handful of raisins - turns out fine)


Method
1) Preheat the oven to 180°C/gas 4. Line a 1 litre (15cm x 7.5cm) loaf tin with buttered, non-stick baking parchment or silicone paper. Whisk the egg, oil and sugar together until thick. Slice 2 bananas finely and whisk into the mixture. Set aside 1 tbsp of the oats; fold in the remaining ingredients until the mixture is smooth.

2) Pour the batter into the prepared tin and sprinkle the surface with the reserved oats.

3) Slice the remaining banana and arrange the pieces on top, or use the dried chips.

4) Bake for 40–50 minutes or until golden.

5) The cake is done when a metal skewer inserted into the centre of the cake comes out clean. Allow the tea bread to cool in the tin, then transfer to a wire rack to cool completely.