Salivating Saturday

Ahhhh...good friends, where would I be without the wonderful people in my life? They lift my spirits, make me giggle and give me a shoulder to cry on. Take my friend Becky for example, she made me the cutest cowboy pups and so to honor and thank her-I'm gonna make some tropical chocolate banana bread for her. Here's the only problem, she lives on the east coast and I live on the west coast. I guess I will just have to enjoy it for her-it's the thought that counts right?

Pam's famous friendly coconut, chocolate banana bread or...PFFCCBB for short.
1 cup walnuts or pecans, coarsely chopped (optional)
1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup granulated white sugar
1 teaspoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and cooled
3 ripe large bananas, mashed well (about 1-1/2 cups)
1/2 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon coconut extract
1/2 cup coconut

Preheat oven to 350 degrees and place oven rack to middle position.
Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a 9 x 5 x 3 inch loaf pan.Set aside.
In a large bowl combine the flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon,nuts and coconut.
In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, vanilla and coconut.
With a rubber spatula or wooden spoon, lightly the wet ingredients (banana mixture) into the dry ingredients just until combined and the batter is thick and chunky.(The important thing is not to over mix the batter. You do not want it smooth.Over mixing the batter will yield tough, rubbery bread.)
Scrape batter into prepared pan.
Bake until bread is golden brown and toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 60 minutes

This bread will win you friends and definitely keep the ones you have-even the ones thousands of miles away.