Blue Ribbon Banana Bread

         This is an amazing recipe from my subscription to Cooks Illustrated All-Time Best Recipes magazine. I thought at first that all of these extra steps were pointless and time wasting, but I tried it anyway, and believe me, it was worth it!  So don't let the extra, seemingly pointless steps, scare you away, it still doesn't take long.  After making the batter, simply bake for an hour.

Blue Ribbon Banana Bread:

Servings: One loaf, about 8 slices 

Time: 20 minutes of prep, 55 minutes

    Ingredients:

• 1 3/4 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 3/4 teaspoon salt
• 6 very ripe bananas
• 8 tablespoons (1/2 cup) melted butter
• 2 large eggs
• 3/4 cup light brown sugar
• 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
• 1/2 cup pecans (optional, I don't use them)
• 2 tablespoons granulated sugar

    Instructions:

1. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a large bowl
2. In another bowl, place five peeled bananas and microwave until juice cooks out of them (about four minutes):
   
3. Strain bananas in a fine mesh strainer over a bowl until all juice comes out:
   
4. Pour juice into a small sauce pan and boil for about five minutes, or until juice has reduced by 50%
5. Stir back into banana mash and add butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla 
6. Pour wet ingredients into dry and stir just until combined, add pecans if using
7. Preheat oven to 350 degrees Fahrenheit and oil one loaf pan.  Pour batter into pan 
8. Slice the remaining banana into circles and lay in two lines across the edges of the batter, then sprinkle evenly with sugar:
   
9. Bake for about 55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted comes out clean,  Enjoy!