banana cake for the soul

Pity parties don't typically make the list of themes I post, but I hope you'll forgive my whining just this once.   I have been sick for over a week now... over a WEEK! For you veteran parents this is probably nothing new, but I almost never get sick and this is the worst, most annoying cold I've had in living memory... is this just the shape of things to come with a child in daycare?  Oh the joys of parenthood.

When I'm feeling cruddy like this, comfort foods are pretty much key.  So you'll have no fancy recipes from me this week.  Just a simple, old fashioned banana cake.  Good for the soul if not the cold.  All that aside, if you are inclined to dress it up a bit for a birthday celebration, I highly recommend this chocolate sour cream frosting.  

{image via allotment 2 kitchen}

Basic Banana Cake


Ingredients
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp kosher salt (or 1/4 tsp table salt)
1/2 cup butter, softened
3/4 cup brown sugar
2 eggs, beaten
2 1/2 cups mashed overripe bananas (about 4 bananas)

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Lightly grease a 8" cake round.
In a large bowl, combine flour, baking soda and salt. In a separate bowl, cream together butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture; stir until well combined. Pour batter into prepared cake pan.
Bake in preheated oven for 60 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of the cake comes out clean. Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes, then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.