Several of the other Jaunty Quills authors have posted fabulous recipes over the past few weeks.  I love finding and trying new recipes.  Like my kitty Kai on the left, caught snatching cloth ornaments off the tree (and he doesn’t look at all guilty!), I really enjoy the Christmas season, so I thought I’d share a recipe for one of the holiday goodies I make year after year.

Baking is one of my favorite things to do, especially at Christmas.  It’s so satisfying to see all the rows of cookies lined up on the cooling racks.  The house smells wonderful: of cinnamon and chocolate and sugar.  It’s nice to have goodies on hand for when friends drop by and when relatives (my parents this year, flying down from British Columbia, Canada) come to stay.  Christmas is one of the few times of year I pull some of the handed-down family recipes out of my files.

The one I’ve included in this post is for banana bread.  I got the recipe from my mother.  She got the recipe from her mother, and one day, I will pass it on to my daughter.  It’s not a traditional holiday recipe per se, but it’s one I can depend on to produce a soft, moist, delicious loaf every time.  It’s also easy!

I like to bake several loaves, wrap them well, and tie them with pretty wired ribbon and give them to neghbors and friends along with Christmas cards.  I’ve received so many compliments on this banana bread, I know for sure the recipe’s a keeper.

Banana Bread

1/2 cup butter, room temperature
1 cup sugar
2 eggs, room temperature
2 tablespoons sour milk (I usually pour a bit of whole milk into a cup and add a few drops of white vinegar to turn the milk sour)
2 cups flour
1 teaspooon baking soda
Pinch of salt
3-4 overripe bananas

Preheat oven to 375 degrees.  Grease loaf pan.
In a separate bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt.  Mix and set aside.
Combine butter and sugar.  Beat with mixer for 2-3 minutes until well blended.
Add eggs, one at a time.  Add milk, then flour mixture.
Mix in bananas.
Pour into pan and bake for 50-60 minutes.

Do you have a favorite recipe that’s been handed down to you?  What baked treat can you not live without during the holiday season?  Feel free to share your recipe.

If you’d like a taste of Chapter One of my latest medieval romance, A Knight’s Temptation, Book 3 of my Knight’s Series, please click here to read an excerpt.