Super-Healthy Banana Walnut Bread

On Monday morning, I underwent a full body bone scan in order to try to conjure some answers for the ongoing saga of Astra's Mystery Hip Injury. In the scheme of medical tests, the bone scan itself was pretty innocuous - although it did involve a dose of radioactive material injected into my veins, at least the process wasn't too painful! After receiving the radioactive isotope injection, I had to wait 3 hours before the actual scan could take place, during which the technicians mercifully allowed me to occupy myself as I pleased... Naturally, I decided to go grocery shopping for at least part of those 3 hours! I was also instructed to drink lots of water, in order to aid the distribution of the isotope throughout my body, and so, type-A diligent student as I tend to be, I proceeded to drink one and a half liters of water during just the single hour I spent in the grocery store... Suffice to say I felt well-hydrated for the rest of the day!

Now I simply await my next doctor's appointment on Friday... In the meantime, I decided the day called for something ultra-comforting to emerge from the kitchen: super-healthy banana bread! I'm a huge banana baked-good fan, and when I first read Michelle's recipe, on her wonderfully and very appropriately named blog Lucky Taste Buds, for a vegan banana bread with no added oil, I could scarcely contain my excitement! Just the simple goodness of applesauce, bananas, whole wheat flour, and walnuts turned into the moistest, tenderest, most tempting banana bread for which one could ever wish!

I changed the recipe a tiny bit, as my pantry usually causes me to do, and overall I find myself yet again enthralled and inspired by a fellow blogger's recipe... While eating healthfully is inherently rewarding, as one feels the satisfying results of fueling one's body with care, being part of a healthy living, delicious-cooking community elevates breakfast, lunch, and dinner even further beyond mere meals, and into a global event of sharing, laughing, and nourishing our souls together.

Super-Healthy Banana Walnut Bread

(Adapted from Michelle's recipe)

1 cup whole wheat flour
1 cup all-purpose flour
3/4 tsp baking powder
3/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 1/2 tsp cinnamon
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
4 ripe bananas
4 oz applesauce
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 cup raw turbinado sugar

~ Preheat the oven to 350 degrees F. Coat a 9X5" loaf pan with cooking spray.
~ Whisk together the whole wheat flour, all-purpose flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
~ Gently stir the walnuts into the flour mixture.
~ Mash the bananas until smooth, then whisk in the applesauce, vanilla, and turbinado sugar until fluffy and creamy.
~ Add the dry ingredients to the wet ones, and stir until just combined.
~ Pour the batter into the loaf pan, and bake for around 45 minutes - until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
~ Allow the bread to cool in the pan, then serve toasted for breakfast, or with vegan whipped cream or vegan ice cream for dessert!

On the blog this time last year... Gooey Mocha Brownies!