Barefoot Contessa and Banana Bread

I love the food network. My husband teases me about it, and always turns it on in bed for me.  I constantly have it on as background noise even if I can't sit down and watch it in bliss (which is usually never).  I love cupcake wars, At home with Giada, 5 ingredient fix, and a myriad of other shows.  One that I really love is Barefoot Contessa.  Everything is "fabulous" in Ina Garten's world and her fresh white Hampton's kitchen is just too die for.  She always has celebrity friends and the freshest ingredients.  Today I actually had a few extra minutes since the boys had scouts so I decided to make  some banana bread for my cousin who just had surgery.  I turned on Barefoot Contessa as background noise while cleaning and baking.  Her show today featured Alek Baldwin (30 rock anyone? My FAV!, sooooo hilarious).  Alek was helping Ina with a charity lunch and did all the grocery shopping at a local farmers market.  It was so funny, and I adore his witty and dry sense of humor.  Mariska Harghitay of Law and Order also was helping with the table settings.  If you missed it then go online and watch it, such a good episode, and it has an wasy recipie for (Eaten Mess, a dessert) MMM!  But I digress... The recipe I made is my favorite banana bread recipe, and I have tried MANY!  I don't like the ones that call for Crisco, nor do I like ones with white sugar.  I think the brown sugar and melted butter in this recipe give a brown butter, nutty taste that is exquisite and refined due to the spices..  I wanted too share it with you all after trying so many others.

Spiced Brown-Banana Bread:

• 6 ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup of butter
• one 4 oz. cup of applesauce
• 1 1/4 cups of brown sugar
• 1/4 cup of agave nectar (I use the light kind)
• 2 eggs
• 2 tsp. vanilla
• 2 tsp. Baking soda
• 1/4 tsp sea salt
• 2 tsp. cinnamon
• 1 tsp. nutmeg
• 1/2 tsp. cloves
• 1 1/2 Cups white flour
• 1 1/2 Cups of wheat flour

1. Mix the bananas in mixer till mashed, then add melted butter and mix on speed 2 till blended
2. Mix in sugar and agave, eggs, vanilla and spices.
3. Sprinkle soda and salt on top of wet ingredients and then mix in.
4. mix in flour, half at a time, until mixed, scraping sides with a spatula while mixer is running.

Use 2 loaf pans that are greased and fill a tad more than 1/2 full and bake for 1 hour at 350. (Don't overcook)!
immediately remove and cool for an hour before slicing with a serrated knife.
Then keep on for yourself and give one to someone else.  Happy Wednesday Everyone!