Up until now we’ve kept our banana breads on this quest pretty traditional, using all-purpose flours, white and brown sugars and even excluded nuts. Today, however, we’re going against the grain by going with the grain! Whole grain that is. Kelly over at Inspired Edibles was gracious enough to put together a recipe on our behalf that is entirely composed of whole grains and raw sugars. In case you didn’t know – Kelly is awesome (and so is her banana bread)!
Now, you can bet Miss A was excited to make this new recipe, especially when I told her that it had oatmeal in it. She loves oatmeal. So she and I gathered our dry ingredients including whole wheat flour, ground flaxseed, whole grain oatmeal, ground allspice, walnuts (just for you Kelly), baking powder, baking soda and turbinado sugar.
Miss A then mixed it all together for us.
Then we got to work on the wet ingredients which included orange juice, plain Greek yogurt, eggs, olive oil, vanilla and bananas.
Miss A was our masher as usual. This time she even added a little dance to her routine.
Next we mixed together the dry and the wet ingredients.
Then Miss A mixed together our topping of oatmeal, turbinado and cinnamon and sprinkled it over the bottom of the loaf pan. This particular loaf pan has leaf imprints on the bottom of the pan, so we sprinkled the pan versus the top of the loaf since we’ll be flipping it after it bakes.
We also sliced some bananas across the bottom of the pan for the topping.
We baked the banana bread at 375F for 50 minutes. Then we turned the oven off and let the bread sit in the heat for another 15 minutes. The result was a beautifully browned bread that smelled amazing.
Finally we turned the bread out so that the leaf imprints were on the top of the bread. The oatmeal topping outlined the leaves beautifully, but the banana topping is probably more visually appealing when you’re not flipping the loaf. Ours disappeared into the loaf, but it did make for fun banana bite surprises.
Kelly’s whole grain banana bread sliced wonderfully and came out of the oven just as Mr. N got home from school.
We were all anxious for that first warm slice and it was a hit! Now if we’re being completely honest here, and we always are, this did taste like a healthy loaf of banana bread. BUT, and this is the truth, it is by far the best tasting healthy banana bread we’ve eaten. Most of the healthy versions we’ve had have been either dry or bland – sometimes both. This bread, however, was moist and full of flavor.
You out did yourself Kelly. Thank you! And in January we’ll see how it stacks up to the others in the taste test.
Now since we’re feeling grateful for Kelly, grateful for Karen at the Back Road Journal who passed us the Leibster award (more on that in a minute), grateful for all of our readers, and since it’s Thanksgiving next week and we’re just being generally grateful, here’s a little giveaway for you.
I came across this “recipe rock” in Cooking Light magazine this month and knew I had to giveaway a few. It comes in completely handy for all the recipes I’ve been printing from many of your blogs and has kept them from getting covered in food. So if like us, you print of a lot of recipes on-line or clip them out of magazines, we hope you’ll find this as useful as we do.
To enter the giveaway, leave a comment below. For additional entries, follow us on Facebook or subscribe to the blog and let us know about it in another comment. The drawing will be held and we’ll announce the two winners on Thanksgiving Day. Good luck!
Now back to the Leibster award for a moment. The Leibster is awarded to blogs with fewer than 200 followers that deserve more, many thanks to Karen who passed it along. Her blog is a delight to read as it’s full of delicious recipes and wonderfully colorful adventures both around the world and in her own backyard. Thanks Karen! We’re humbled and grateful. The rules are simple, pass the award along to five blogs you think are worthy. Now we have no idea how many followers anyone has, but here are a few of our favorites and also some of the most recent blogs we’ve come across and find highly enjoyable:
Baker by Nature, A Dash of Sugar and Spice, Smart Food and Fit, Just a Smidgen, and Misadventures in Cooking.
Now for those of you that want to try Kelly’s amazingly healthy banana bread (which isn’t a bad quick bread option during this indulgent time of year), here it is…
Print this recipe: Kelly’s Whole Grain Banana Bread
OH, I am definitely working too much and ALMOST missed this giveaway, and the wonderful recipe designed by Kelly – I am very fond of her blog, so it’s nice to “see’ her over here, indirectly
Not sure I still made it for the giveaway, but here is MY COMMENT:
YOU ROCK!
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Thanks Sally! You’re in. 🙂
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We’ve been looking for a new AND different banana bread recipe. Can’t wait to try this one.
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Great! Hopefully it works out for you. 🙂 We’ll do our final taste test after the New Year. It should be interesting to see which one is the winner.
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Very cool domestic quest to embark upon!
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Thanks! We’ve been having a blast with it. 🙂
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I don’t know how I missed commenting on your latest banana bread experiment … maybe because banana bread isn’t something I make or eat on a regular basis (once ever 3-4 yrs is plenty). It’s HEALTHY too which usually makes me give recipes a pass. I’m glad you’re doing all this experimenting and I look forward to the final verdict.
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Glad you found this one and didn’t miss out on the giveaway. 🙂 And we are the same way, at least with banana bread, we usually pass on the healthy versions. But I have to say, this one made me a convert.
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Can I win a slice of the banana bread?? It looked yummy!!
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I’ll bring one with the next time we’re in Phoenix. 🙂
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The bread looks very well baked and the girl is so cute!!
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She just gets cuter every day. 😉 Thanks Eftychia!
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That looks fantastic! Great mouthwatering pictures.
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Thanks! It’s certainly in the running for best banana bread on our quest. Thanks for stopping by and commenting. 🙂
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I mean it that picture with the slice of bread could not be any more tempting and irresistible if you tried. Seriously, it looks like heaven and perfection. Plus healthy? Now way- I must try this
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I like Kelly’s word for how it looks – “rustic.” Great looking isn’t it?! So much color and texture. 🙂
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this looks so tasty! I love the texture oats can give to a nice simple recipe. yumm 🙂
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Me too Casey! I’m particularly partial to oatmeal cookies. 🙂
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Oh yummy! I love banana bread! Such nice pics too.
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Thanks! We love banana bread too. 🙂 Thanks for stopping by and commenting.
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What a fun twist on banana bread! It has changed my thinking on banana bread. I am loving this quest for the perfect banana bread Kristy!
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Thanks! We liked the twist on this one too. Who knew?! 🙂
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That’s a great idea placing those dry ingredients on top and that looks good for me, I never had done it that way.
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I hadn’t either Raymund, but it made for a nice little crunch on the bread. Good stuff!
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Two things here totally won me over – the sliced banana at the bottom and the fact you guys tried a healthy one. I always am trying to get my recipes a little healthier so a total win over for me!
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If it wasn’t for Kelly, I don’t think we would have tried a healthier version. But I have to say, she’s won me over! I seriously didn’t think a healthy bread could be good. 🙂
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Molly loves a good give away, so we had to leave a comment!
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Mr. N is thrilled! 🙂
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Such nice photos! Love to see your little one:-) It really looks like you took this banana bread to the next level. It looks great!
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Thanks! We love experimenting with our banana breads. 🙂
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What great looking bread! And such a cute little helper! Very nice post!
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Thanks so much! She is the best little banana bread helper. 🙂
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Fantastic recipe – so nice to have a healthy loaf that is so tasty and moreish.
What a brilliant giveaway!
🙂 Mandy
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Thanks Mandy! I just loved this little gadget when I saw it. 🙂
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Kelly’s recipes are amazing and your recipes are also amazing :). I never knew a healthy bread could be so delicious looking. And Miss A looks like she’s ready for her close up :). She’s too cute for words..
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Thanks Kay! I know – who knew right?! Well, it’s all thanks to Kelly. She has a way of making healthy things look and sounds amazing. She even got me to eat peas (and like them!). 🙂
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I loove banana bread and am definitely not put off by a healthier tasting one. Funny, sometimes I crave that “healthy” taste of whole grain, other times it’s all-purpose flour all the way. This is a recipe I’ll save to try:)
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LOL. I know just what you mean. I usually crave the healthy taste after a vacation! 😉
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Kristy! What a pleasure to read this post. Thank you for all of your kind words; you did such a beautiful job with the banana bread! The leaf imprints are so pretty and the slices… I know I’m partial to whole grains but don’t you find they look rustic and full of richness? (all of those nutrients – I like to think! :)) Thank you so much for featuring this whole grain loaf on your blog – Miss A is beyond adorable… my boys can’t get enough of her – it was a total jostle scene on the way down to Toronto this afternoon in the car – “It’s my turn to see Miss A!!!” If your contest is open to your northern neighbours, you know I’m in! Love the rock… have not seen it before. Enjoy the rest of the weekend – xo.
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Thanks Kelly! I owe it all to you. 🙂 Glad you enjoyed it. I know we did. And I do think that this bread looks the best of all of them. The rustic look has a lot going for it. Glad your boys enjoyed the post too. They would have gotten a kick out of her today too. She was performing her rock show – complete with rock star jumps off the fireplace mantle and fists in the air “woo’s!” LOL. I hope you’re enjoying your weekend!!!
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As always – I love the action shots of your little cuties in the kitchen! Banana bread is one of those things I can never get enough of… so a healthy version here and there could definitely be a good thing.
Love the recipe rock – fun gift idea, too!
xx
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Yep – I didn’t feel at all guilty about not giving half of this loaf away. 😉
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I really enjoy all your cooking adventures.
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Thanks so much! 🙂 We do too.
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I am following you on ze Facebook! 😉
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Merci Charles! 😉
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“This bread, however, was moist and full of flavor.” – Well, I always did have a sneaking suspicion that Kelly’s recipes were filled with awesome 🙂 It looks really great, and it’s cool that it’s a “healthy” version too. I love your cake tin by the way… looks really cool. Don’t suppose you got it somewhere “generic” like Amazon did you, so I can buy one myself?
Re you “recipe rock” – I’ve seen those around recently – nice to finally know what it is… couldn’t work it out at all 😀 Also, if you’ll ship to Europe, count me in!
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You know I picked up the tin at a craft store. I’ll look around and see if I can find one online. If not, let me know and I can pick one up and ship it to you. 🙂 And of course I’ll ship to Europe!
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Always nice to see a new recipe for banana bread. Next time you should try putting some chai mix in there too. Yum yum.
Crossing my fingers to win this rad recipe stone….we shall see… 😉
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Oh! Now chai mix would be interesting. I love chai! My fingers are crossed for you too. It’s a fun little gadget. 🙂
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Miss A looks so happy making this banana bread. I think it might have the same smile making it as well. I am looking forward to reading the blogs of those you have passed the award on to.
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Thanks again for the award Karen! It was so nice of you. 🙂 I know I certainly enjoy reading your blog as well. (My vacations!)
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Seeing the sliced banana in the pan was IT for me! Tastes healthy? It it tastes anywhere near as good as it looks, that will be plenty good for me!
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I have to say, those little banana bite surprises were fun! 🙂
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I am already a fb fan~
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Thanks Liz!
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My kids would probably noticed this bread was on the healthy side, but I LOVE that it has some extra texture and nutrition. YUM.
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You know I thought my kids would, and they did, but they didn’t seem to mind at all. They even requested some for breakfast one day. 😉
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This is much, MUCH healthier than the banana bread I just made! And it looks just as delicious. Kelly whipped up a great recipe. Miss A looks so sassy in that photo, I love it. She’s a natural. Congrats on the award! and I’m already following you on FB. 🙂 x
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She is a natural isn’t she! Maybe someday you can rep her when she hits it big as a rock star (her latest obsession!). 🙂
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Love your blog. I stop to read it whenever it is in my email!
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Thanks Kath! Love ya!
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What a lively recipe, Kristy. I’ve not heard of Turbinado sugar before, but am assuming it’s healthier than regular processed sugar. The giveaway looks cool.
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Of course, I meant lovely. darn auto correct!
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LOL!
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Yep – Kelly introduced me to it. It’s a raw sugar. She can give you all the nutritional info…I just know it’s healthier. 😉
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and I have subscribed to your wonderful blog a long time ago and I am in loving each and every post
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Thanks Sawsan! I’m so happy we “found” each other’s blogs. 🙂
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Same here Kristy
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I already follow you on facebook
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I love the idea that you tried a totally healthy one.
Congratulations on your award, you totally deserve it.
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Thanks! We figured a healthy one should be thrown in the mix. It’s definitely different than any of the others and there’s some definite fun in that. Plus it tasted great!
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I like you on facebook.
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Thanks Ashley!
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This recipe looks so good. Thanks for the giveaway.
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Absolutely! I know how often I spill or stain my recipes. This little thing will come in handy – and it’s just cute!
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I can definitely see how excited Miss A is over making this batch of bread! Terrible 3s…oh no, just the absolute cutest!! I think I’m going to have to squeeze in another quick bread recipe for next week. I love how full of good ingredients this one has!
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LOL. It is the age of Jekyll and Hyde. 😉 This one is packed full of goodness! Kelly is amazing. 🙂 Hope that you’re enjoying having your daughter home!
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Yummy!
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Thanks!
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You should add a Facebook share widget. I just shared on Facebook BTW.
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Good call Greg. Now just to figure out how… 😉
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And here i thought i’d be getting some yummy bread!!!
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Well that can easily be arranged. 😉
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Best picture EVER of Miss A. And there are ALOT of good ones. She’s just a kick…you can just tell from her photos. This banana bread sounds very yummy AND healthy which I am trying to do more of lately. Take care!
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Me too Geni! Me too. I’m not going to let the holidays get me this year!!! LOL. And you’re right – she is an absolute kick. Every day!
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Kelly has such great recipes. I already like you on Facebook and subscribe, but count me in.
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You’re in! It’s a fun little thing – it will save me from spilling and smudging all of the recipes I print off your site. 😉
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Sounds and looks like great banana bread – and super give away –
Mary x
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Thanks Mary! It’s a fun little gadget. 🙂
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Awww, thanks Kristy! And I love that you tried a healthier bread – and I can’t help but laugh about your bananas disappearing. I had that happen once when I made Pinapple Upside Down cake and decided to replace cherries with fresh strawberries. 🙂 Can NOT wait to hear the best banana bread recipe you find.
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LOL! Glad I’m not the only one. I love your style in the kitchen Courtney. 🙂 And you totally deserve the award. I love reading your blog. I’m anxious to see the best banana bread too.
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