French Women and Quick Breads

Last night I was talking to a French woman........

I truly wish I could start every Blog post off by saying that.

Anyways, I was actually on Facebook when I noticed my friend Yvonne had posted that she was so pleased that chocolate had returned to her diet.

She had given it up for lent.

I went on to explain to her that God was certainly glad that she didn't give up Scotch or bread....after all, we are not expected to turn savage are we?

Then I remembered how just a few hours earlier we had made chocolate truffles (thanks Hennessy) earlier that day at work.

So now Yvonne asks if I have the recipe, and I do...at work, but now as I am typing this, my mind flashes back to my last French "Girlfriend" named Vanessa.

Have you ever noticed French woman never have plain names like Beth or Sue?

I mean look....Yvonne - Vanessa

Vanessa - Yvonne --------------LOL.

Vanessa turned me on to maybe one of my top 5 recipes of all time, and i swore I had posted it to you Lab Rats earlier but.....................

The recipe is for a Banana - Chocolate / Curry - Pecan quick bread, and I swear to the Saint of Paris......this recipe is to die for.

So Yvonne, submitted to you is a gift that was bestowed unto me by a fellow French colleague.

I hope you enjoy this 1/2 as much as I do.........................

BANANA CHOCOLATE - CURRY PECAN

2/3 CUP AP FLOUR

2/3 CUP WHOLE WHEAT FLOUR

1 TSP B-SODA

1 TSP CINNAMON

1/2 TSP GROUND GINGER

1 TSP CURRY (this really depends on strength and preference)

4 OUNCES OIL

2/3 CUP GRANULATED SUGAR

2 LARGE BANANAS (RIPE AND MASHED)

2 EGGS

1 CUP CHOPPED PECAN

1 CUP CHOCOLATE CHUNKS

GLAZE (OPTIONAL)

1/2 CUP OF POWDERED SUGAR

3 TBSP OF LEMON JUICE

Klecko mixes together all the dry ingredients, and then he throws in the wet. I just "incorporate" the ingredients. I don't want to over mix this. It will create unwanted gluten.

Then I pour it into a foil form, usually 66%-75% full.

Then here is the bonus clue..........

Forget everything you have ever heard about quick bread baking temps. Most cookbooks advise you to bake at 325 or 350 degrees......Cretans I tell you.

Quick breads are best baked at 400 degrees for the first 8 to 10 minutes and then after that.....drop the oven temp to 350.

How long does it bake?

Until it's done.....ba-bum-bum......

But seriously, you can use a cake pin and poke the middle of the cake at or around the 40 minute mark (400 for 10 minutes and 350 for 30) if it pulls out wet....place it back in.

Also when a loaf is about to be done...you will notice it pulls away from the foils walls. Their will be a little gap.

OK enfants, c'est tout ce que j'ai le temps pour aujourd'hui, mais nous allons tous en mémoire ..... quand vous arrivez à parler avec une femme de la France, vous pouvez très bien parier qu'il va être une bonne journée.

Klecko est outta ici en trois-deux-un