Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze

So it turns out that having only 1 job leaves me with a lot of free time. I haven't had free time in 3 years so this is new for me. Basically I'm just trying to figure out what I like to do... and that is a crazy concept. I've been cooking, which means you guys get lots of nom nommy recipes to try. I started doing Yoga 5 times a week which is really good for my back, and for my mind that never stops. It's helping me relax and just be present, something that doesn't come naturally to me. I've been shopping, but trying not to. I started painting again. I read Jayne Eyre, Tinkers, The Help, and Franny and Zoey, which would be more novels than I've had time to read since I started college. Moral of the story, expect a lot of hobby blogs coming your way.

Now for the bread:

This bread is AMAZING. I loved the contrast of the lime glaze to the sweet bread. I used the plain yogurt instead of sour cream, and milk rather than apple juice. I found the recipe on Our Best Bites, and they have tons of other good recipes as well. I love this because it's very simple, but different than your traditional banana bread. Enjoy -

Coconut Banana Bread with Lime Glaze2 C flour

3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 C sugar
1/4 C (4 Tbs) real butter, softened
2 large eggs
1 1/2 C mashed ripe bananas (about 4 large bananas)
1/4 C sour cream or plain yogurt
3 Tbs apple juice or milk*
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 C coconut

Topping: 2 Tbs additional coconut
Glaze: 1/2 C powdered sugar whisked with 1 1/2 Tbs fresh lime juice

*as in: don’t go buy apple juice just for this recipe. If you don’t already have some, just use milk!

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.

Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together and set aside.

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until blended. Add eggs and beat to combine. Add banana, sour cream or yogurt, apple juice (or milk), and vanilla. Beat until blended.
Add flour mixture and beat at a low speed until just combined. Stir in 1/2 C coconut.

Pour batter into a 9×5″ loaf pan that has been sprayed with non-stick spray. Sprinkle additional 2 Tbs coconut on top.

Bake in the oven for about 1 hour or until a knife or skewer inserted in center comes out clean.Note: Check bread after about 40 minutes. If the top has browned and the coconut pieces are looking toasty, cover top of bread lightly with a piece of foil. Continue baking until done.

When done, remove pan from oven. Let cool on a cooling rack for about 10 minutes and then carefully remove from pan. Whisk powdered sugar and lime juice together for the glaze and then drizzle over top. Cool for another 15 minutes before slicing.