Banana Nut Bread...Now with a Hint of Lavender

My hubby LOVES a good banana nut bread...yes, he does! I found an extra delicious recipe online (dense and moist) and wanted to make it as a treat for an extra busy weekend. But, how can you own a lavender farm and not want to put lavender into everything? The answer- add a dash of lavender to everything. Please enjoy!

INGREDIENTS-

1 3/4 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon table salt
6 large very ripe bananas (about 2 1/4 pounds), peeled
8 tablespoons (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
2 large eggs
3/4 cup packed light brown sugar
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped

1 tablespoon ground lavender buds

2 teaspoons granulated sugar (grind using a mortar and pestle)

DIRECTIONS-

• Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees.
• Spray 8 1⁄2 by 4 1⁄2-inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray.
• Whisk flour, baking soda, ground lavender buds and salt together in large bowl.
• Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes (you should have 1⁄2 to 3⁄4 cup liquid).
• Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1⁄4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth.
• Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla. Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan.
• Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.
• Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55 to 75 minutes.

It was delicious, by the way!!

The original recipe (sans lavender) can be found here-http://courtneyoutloud.wordpress.com/2013/06/21/recipe-better-banana-nut-bread/