I have another Banana Bread recipe on this blog.  Its perfect and amazing and I have made it no less then fifty times.

But then my dear hubby brought some other woman’s banana bread home from work.  And then he said… get this…

“I like this better.”

I Faint.

I Sob.

I Throw myself on the floor in a fit of justified hysteria.

And then I decided to see if I could replicate it. Cause he was right, it was fabulous.

I found a recipe that was a bit different, tweaked it a bit, and boy am I happy.

Its amazing.  Delicious.  Moist. Full of wonderful banana flavor.  I would never have known this banana bread bliss had another woman’s baked goods not threatened to capture my hubbies heart.

But remember I have some news?

Well, turns out that a fabulous publisher thinks I have a book in me.

I will be writing a book based on the creations like you see here on iambaker.  Most of the book will be new ideas, but there will also be some revamped old favorites. (Like the Rose Cake.  Its probably my favorite cake ever!)

So I had this big “surprise” moment planned out in my head.  A year or so from now I would announce, “I’ve written a book!  Here it is!”

But something just didnt feel right about that.

See, this blog wouldn’t be much without you.

Without your feedback and comments and participation.

We have teamed up nicely to do Cake Challenges.

We have succeeded in making baked goods for people across the country.

We have brainstormed ways to give baked gifts to people in need.

Did you catch the important word in all those things?

We.

I would not be writing a book if it weren’t for us.

So, dear friends, it just doesn’t seem right to not have you be a part of this process.

I want to include you and share secrets and behind the scenes happenings with you.  I want you, my friends, to get more then the person who just picks up a copy of the book on a bookshelf.  (Right now I am just hoping that someone gets the opportunity to pick one up on a bookshelf!  It still seems like an impossible dream!)

We have come this far.  Now lets take it to the next level.

You may have noticed that my blog posting has slowed down considerably and that I have started a “Baking With” feature.  This is because I have been busy with  (having four kids and a husband whom are my first priority!) book stuff and just cant bake three treats a week like I used too.

Its a bummer to me that I cant post as often right now, but it is my hope that you will understand.  That you will embrace the people that have graciously agreed to join the iambaker baking family through guest posts.  That you will do what friends do… tell me if an idea needs work or if I buttercream frosting in my hair or if I am just nuts.

And now for the recipe: (Adapted from Allrecipes.com)

Perfect Banana Bread

2 eggs

1/3 cup vanilla yogurt

½ cup vegetable oil

1 cup ripe mashed bananas

1 ½ cups white sugar

½ cup brown sugar

½ tsp vanilla extract

1 ¾  cups all-purpose flour

1 tsp baking soda

½  tsp salt

 

Directions

Preheat oven to 325 degrees and prepare chosen pan.

Blend together the eggs, yogurt, oil, extract and bananas in mixer with low speed.

Add in sugars and fully incorporate.  Then add flour, baking soda, and salt and mix until just combined.

Pour into prepared pan and bake 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

I have doubled this recipe with great success.

(Be sure to start checking your banana bread at 45 minutes.  I have had it be done in 50 minutes or heard that it can take as much as 75 minutes.  It just depends on the accuracy of your oven.)

Enjoy!

In case I forgot to mention, I am hoping for a fall release for the book, which means I will need to get it done very early on in 2012.  This tight deadline is tough, but good.  I am excited!  Nervous.  But mostly just grateful for this amazing opportunity.

I hope you know how thankful I am that you are willing to come along for the ride.