Banana Coconut Walnut bread

adapted from http://kitchenrunway.com/coconut-banana-bread/

Banana Coconut Walnut Bread

On tastespotting.com (my daily addiction) I found this intriguing Coconut Banana Bread recipe. I'm always looking for a way to bake, but modify the recipe and make it healthied. Since i enjoy anything breaded, cheesy, nutty, or dark chocolaty; I decided to try this one out.

2 C Whole Wheat Flour

3/4 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1 C Sugar

1/4 C Oil ( I like to use olive oil)

1 tbsp flax seed oil omega 3 and omega 6 fatty acids-which reduce inflammation, and help prevent chronic diseases such as heart disease.

3 egg whites

1 C Plain Greek Yogurt ( I use Fage 2% or 0 %)

1 tsp vanilla extract

1/2 C toasted coconut flakes

1/2 C coconut flakes

1/4 cup halved or crushed toasted walnuts

1/4 cup crushed walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees, spray loaf pan with cooking spray and dust with flour.

Place flour, salt, and baking soda into a medium bowl and mix ingredients together. In a separate bowl, add sugar, oil's, eggs, yogurt, and vanilla extract together, and mix. Next, in another small bowl, mash up bananas, and combine with toasted walnuts and toasted coconut flakes( See below for toasted walnuts and coconut directions). Then transfer banana mixture to bowl of wet ingredients, and mix well with a rubber spatula.Gradually add dry flour mixture to wet ingredients and stir to incorporate all ingredients. Do not over mix.

After dry ingredients are mixed well, pour batter into prepared loaf pan and sprinkle top with coconut and walnuts.Bake for 30-35 minutes (depending on oven's heat capacity). Once it is cooked for the time needed, then cover with foil to prevent top from burning and bake for another 30 minutes or until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Cool completely and transfer to wire rack and enjoy!

Toasted Coconut:

*remember to keep an eye on the coconut because it can burn easily.

-Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cover a cookie sheet with parchment paper, and place shredded coconut evenly spaced out on paper. Toast for 7-12 minutes or until desired level of golden brown is reached. Use a spatula to occasionally turn the coconut to prevent burning.