Protein Banana Nut Bread

~by Nikki

So my kitchen this week has become "Holiday Preview Command Central." If you are coming and haven't gotten your tickets yet, here is a good reason to get them TODAY. Unbeknownst to Jen, I left the $25 pricing up on the PayPal button. Now that I've outed myself I have to fix it, but am willing to take the obligatory flogging if you order some tickets!!! And if you can't come to the party, remember the party can come to you! Order your "portable preview" to get all the recipes and yummy protein shake samples.

On to the day's business. Since I'm so busy this week I am on what I call "fridge lockdown." I am trying to use what I have on hand for food this week. Fridge space is at a premium and I certainly don't need to add to it.

Well Saturday morning I was cleaning the kitchen and discovered three ripe, but still usable, bananas. For me that can only mean one thing: PROTEIN BANANA LOAVES!!! Shouts to Michelle over at "The World According to Eggface" for introducing me to the methodology of baking with protein powder. I whipped up a batch of loaves Saturday morning and guess what? By this morning when I went to snap a pic (on my camera phone unfortunately...long story...) there was only one left!

The divas love these things. So do the people who come out to Pouch Parties. It seems almost too good to be true--banana bread with no flour??? How can this be? Well it can be and it is and I'm going to tell you how!

Nik's (interpretation of) Protein Banana Nut Bread

Ingredients

3 very, very, seriously ripe bananas
5 scoops + 1 tbsp vanilla protein powder (I use this, if you use a different kind this is equivalent to approximately 180g of protein powder so use the nutrition label on YOUR powder to convert!)
3/4 c. Splenda
1/2 c. milk
1/2 c. Egg Beaters (or two eggs)
1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 tsp nutmeg
1/8 tsp salt
3 tsp baking powder (yes I did say 3...trust me on this)
1/2 c. chopped walnut pieces

Directions

In a bowl, mash up bananas and add eggs and milk. Set aside.

In another bowl, mix protein powder, baking powder, Splenda, salt and spices and mix well

Mix wet and dry ingredients. Your batter should be pour-able but not too liquidy (like pancake batter).

In yet another bowl, combine a tablespoon of protein powder and the nut pieces and shake. This keeps them from settling to the bottom of your batter. Add to batter.

Pour into a sprayed mini-loaf pan, (I use this spray...it helps with extraction) and bake in a 350 oven for 15-20 minutes or until a fork inserted into the center comes out clean.

They'll be very puffy out of the oven but will settle down as they cool. I store them in snack-sized zip-top storage bags for grab and go convenience. Obviously it's a little too convenient because two divas discovered my bread and ate it all!

POST-NOTE: I've been asked several times if this recipe works in a traditional loaf pan. Thus far I've been unable to make it work. The outside cooks faster than the inside so you either get perfect insides/burnt outsides or perfect outside/goop on the inside. But who knows, maybe YOU can crack the code!

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