Escape to Hawaii on a Thursday Night

Last night, I decided to make some banana bread to use up a bunch of overripe bananas.  While it was baking Michael ran to the store to pick up a video for us and a few grocery items.

The video he chose was Soul Surfer, based on the true story of a teenaged girl in Hawaii who was attacked by a shark while surfing and lived to tell about it.  It was a pretty enjoyable and inspiring story and movie.

He also picked us up some dark chocolate macadamia nuts (from Hawaii) as a treat to go with the movie.

And the banana bread that I made was a recipe called Hawaiian Banana Bread.

After the movie, we went to bed in our palm tree (Hawaiin themed set) sheets to the sweet sounds of a ukulele playing gently in the background (ok, I made up that part).

So not even planning to, we got to escape to Hawaii on a Thursday night.  Perhaps making up for the fact that we didn't get there for our 10 year anniversary as we had originally planned.

And for those of you that want to try a delicious treat from the islands, here is the recipe for my moist banana bread!  I made some changes this time which I will also include.

Hawaiian Banana Bread (or Pina Colada Bread)

Ingredients:

1. 2 cups sugar (half brown) (I used Turbinado or sugar in the raw instead of white)
2. 1 1/4 cup oil (I used applesauce instead).
3. 3 beaten eggs
4. 2 cups mashed banana (5 medium)

Blend these first 4 ingredients together in a large bowl.

In another bowl, mix together the following:

1. 3 cups flour (I used 1/2 whole wheat, 1/2 all purpose)
2. 1 tsp. soda
3. 1 tsp. salt
4. 1 tsp. cinnamon

 And the dry mixture gradually to the above.

Fold in a drained 8 oz. can of crushed pineapple and 3/4 cup of shredded coconut (this was a new addition and is optional).

Pour into 2 greased loaf pans.  Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes or until tester toothpick poked in the middle comes out clean/dry.

Aloha and enjoy!