Jamaican Banana Bread Recipe (Peanuts)

Looking for a quick Jamaican themed dessert that can be served  at breakfast, lunch, dinner or in between? Try this easy and quick, mixer free peanut inspired banana bread recipe. Try serving it with your favourite coffee, ice cold milk and with a few slices of cheese. 

Ingredients

3 ripe bananas, peeled (about 1 1/2 cups mashed)

1/3 cup melted butter

1 teaspoon baking soda

Pinch of salt

Pinch of cinnamon 

Pinch of nutmeg

3/4 cup sugar 

1 large egg, beaten

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/2 cups of all-purpose flour

1/2 cup peanuts 

Method

1. Preheat the oven to 350°F (175°C), and butter a 4 x 8 inch loaf pan.

2. In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until completely smooth. Stir the melted butter into the mashed bananas.

3. Mix in the baking soda and salt. Stir in the sugar, beaten egg, and vanilla extract. Mix in the flour.

4. Blend peanuts until slightly crushed then mix into batter.

5. Pour the batter into your prepared loaf pan. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour at 350°F (175°C), or until a tester inserted into the center comes out clean.

6. Remove from oven and place on wire rack or heat resistant counter top to cool in the pan for a few minutes. 

7. When cool, use bread knife to slice and serve with your favourite coffee, a cold glass of milk, slices of cheese or as is!

Jamaican Hominy Corn Porridge

Ingredients

1 Cup Hominy Corn

2 cups Coconut milk 

3-5 cups water

3-6 tablespoons cornmeal (depending on desired thickness) 

6 tablespoons water

½  tsp. salt

Brown sugar to taste

½ cup Condensed Milk

1 tsp nutmeg to taste

1 tsp vanilla to taste

Cinnamon to taste

Method:

1. Put the Hominy corn in a slow cooker and fill with 3-5 cups water and leave for 3-4 hours. The Hominy corn should be completely covered with enough water if you are leaving it overnight. Add a teaspoon of salt to taste.  
2. Once the hominy corn is cooked drain the water and set aside.
3. Pour coconut milk in a large pot.
4. Pour the Hominy corn into the large pot with the coconut milk. Continue to cook on a medium burner for 2-4 minutes.
5. Mix the 2 tablespoons of cornmeal and 6 tablespoons of water together until combined. 
6. Pour the flour cornmeal mixture into the pot and stir
7. Add the condensed milk
8. Add sugar to taste
9. Add vanilla to taste 
10. Stirring constantly to prevent lumping.
11. Sprinkle nutmeg and cinnamon to taste
12. Continue cooking and let it simmer over low heat for 2-4 minutes.

Serves 4

Jamaican Spiced Mocha

My grandparents were coffee farmers and would grow coffee for sale to coffee processing plants; so it's no surprise that coffee would become a family favorite. Here's a Jamaican recipe to warm up the cold Fall/Winter mornings.

Serves 4

Ingredients 

 2 cups freshly brewed strong Blue Mountain Coffee (or any Jamaican coffee brew of your choice)
1 square Unsweetened Baking Chocolate, chopped
4-5 tbsp condensed milk
1-2 tbsp sugar (sweeten to taste)
1 tsp. ground cinnamon
1-1/2 tsp. Vanilla
1/4 cup whip cream pinch of nutmeg
 *pinch of salt
* drop of peppermint essence or pumpkin spice
   for that holiday sensation

Method

1. Mix coffee and chocolate in heavy saucepan; cook on very low heat until chocolate is melted and mixture is well blended, stirring constantly with wire whisk. 
2. Stir in sugar, cinnamon, nutmeg & salt. Bring to boil on medium heat; cook until sugar is dissolved, stirring constantly. Gradually add milk and vanilla, stirring until well blended. Cook until heated through, stirring occasionally. 
3. Pour into 4 large cups or mugs. Top with whipped cream. Garnish with a light sprinkling of additional cinnamon, nutmeg or chocolate, if desired.

Happy Nyaamings! Leave a comment if you tried this recipe.

Jamaican Cornmeal Porridge

Serves 3-4

Ingredients

2 ozs. cornmeal
1 pint water
4 tbsp. brown sugar or
2-3 tbsp condensed milk
1/2 cup skimmed milk powder
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. grated nutmeg or powder
1/4 tsp. salt
*Bay/Cinnamon leaf

Method

1. Mix cornmeal with a little water. Bring remainder of the water to boil with salt and Bay/Cinnamon leaf. 
2. Stir in mixed cornmeal. Continue cooking for about 7-10 minutes. 
3. Mix skimmed milk powder with an additional 1/2 cup water and add to porridge. 
4. Sweeten to taste and add vanilla and nutmeg.

Bonus: Serve with tough crackers (aka water crackers) or hardough bread for dipping.