Butterscotch Whole Wheat Banana Bread

If last weekend was a work-all-weekend non-weekend (which it was), and the weekend before that one was peacefully and pleasantly uneventful (which it was), this weekend has been, well, simply a whirlwind! I have to work part of the weekend despite the fact that it's a "holiday" weekend here in the states (which is OK, just part of working in the health care field!), and poor Zach has the lingering end of a dreadful head cold. But... unlike last weekend, this time I did, to my ecstatic delight, have at least part of the weekend off from work, and in a flurry of activity we've managed to drive to North Carolina and back,

study for our respective upcoming exams, give the entire house an end-of-summer top to bottom cleaning, organizing, and scrubbing, wash the cats in preparation for their yearly trip to the vet,

and clean our cars. I have to confess, I'm thoroughly proud of us. :-)

While this might not have been the most relaxing of weekends, Zach and I do love weekends of any sort, and while I might not be able to spend the entirety of Labor Day weekend at home, working all of last weekend and part of this weekend simply means I am blessed with a stable job, for which I am continuously thankful. Even more wonderful, my job, much like this weekend, is never boring! During my last shift, while I was processing paperwork for a seemingly incessant stream of newly admitted patients, the majority of my brain was wondering just what I would do if my 6-foot 7-inch tall, 320-pound patient, whose doctor had written instructions for him to "ambulate with assistance only," decided he did want to get out of bed and walk around, and then capsized on top of me in the process... Thankfully, he decided to stay put for the night and I arrived home safely, just in time to add a bit of baking to the weekend agenda!

And really, what could be more perfect to fuel a satisfyingly productive, dizzily busy weekend than butterscotch banana bread?

I adapted this lovely bread from a glorious recipe created by Dr. Adam of Baking with Dynamite... Dr. Adam is a chiropractor, a bodybuilder, a fabulous wit, an incredibly talented baker, an encouraging fitness counselor, a wealth of healthy living information, and an awesome blogger buddy for whose friendship I am incredible grateful. Dr. Adam, thank you for this gorgeous recipe, and for all the wonderful smiles! You rock!

Butterscotch Whole Wheat Banana Bread

(Adapted from Dr. Adam's Recipe)

1 1/2 cups whole wheat flour

1/2 cup raw turbinado sugar

1 tsp baking soda

1/2 tsp salt

1/2 tsp cinnamon

2 very-ripe bananas

2 tsp vanilla

2 egg whites, beaten

1 T canola oil

1/2 cup skim milk

3/4 cup butterscotch chips

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a standard loaf pan with cooking spray.

~ In a large bowl, stir together the whole wheat flour, raw sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.

~ In a separate bowl, mash the bananas (I use a potato masher for this - it works wonders!).

~ Continuing with the potato masher or a fork, muddle in the vanilla, beaten egg whites, canola oil, and skim milk.

~ Gently fold the wet ingredients into the dry until just combined.

~ Fold in the butterscotch chips.

~ Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and bake for 40 to 50 minutes - until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Serve the bread warm, or let it cool in the loaf pan and then turn it out onto a plate... I definitely recommend serving the bread warm, of course... :-)

HAPPY LABOR DAY, Y'ALL!! :-)