Last night I wanted to bake something that was delicious, easy to make and appealing to everyone. Then I remembered the Banana Cake recipe that was a staple on our kitchen counter growing up. Once the yellow bananas lost their squeaky yellow peels to freckles, my mother would whip up a batch  either that night or midday and there would be banana cake for dessert- but more likely for breakfast. I found a banana cake recipe on Foodista that is pretty similar to my mother’s own recipe.

Lovely on it’s own or with a chocolate cream cheese frosting, this banana cake is a hit!

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I wish I could have shared this dessert with you. If you are lucky enough to be in Seattle, then head over to Monsoon for your own taste. Their menu changes daily, so if it’s not listed, then beg – literally, get on your hands and knees and beg – them to make it for you. And if you have to muster up the alligator tears, then do so. It’s worth it, my friend. This dessert tastes as good as you feel when someone tells you your new jeans make you look skinny. Pretty-Darn-Good.

The banana cake is so moist and chunky it’s almost bread pudding. To balance the sweetness they brilliantly serve it on top of a savory coconut cream, creating the perfect salty-sweet treat.

My belly thanked me, my thighs aren’t speaking to me.

Below is my best attempt at recreating this fantastic dessert.

Banana Cake

1 1/2 cups bananas, mashed, ripe
2 teaspoons lemon juice
3 cups flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
3/4 cup butter, softened
2 1/8 cups sugar
3 large eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 1/2 cups buttermilk

Preheat oven to 275°. Grease and flour a 9 x 13 pan. In a small bowl, mash banana and add the lemon juice; set aside. In a separate bowl, mix flour, baking soda and salt; set aside. In a large bowl, cream the butter and sugar until light and fluffy. One at a time, beat in the eggs, then add the vanilla. Alternating between the two, beat in the flour mixture and the buttermilk. Stir in the banana mixture. Pour the batter into your prepared pan and bake in a preheated oven for one hour, or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.

Savory Coconut Sauce
The sauce at Monsoon was slightly thick and salty, not sweet. Simmer the ingredients below over medium high heat until sauce begins to thicken.

1 14 ounce can of coconut milk
1 cup of heavy cream
2-3 pinches of salt

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