Can I tell you something about me? This has exactly nothing to do with bananas or butter or bread. Feel free to roll your eyes and skip ahead, if necessary.
I used to be a worrier. Like… a professional worrier. I would worry like it was my job to worry, like I was getting paid mad/crazy/rich person dollars to worry. I wasn’t. I was broke. That fact, in itself, made me worry.
I thought that worry would save me from every possible pain in the world. I thought worry would prepare me for bad things, disappointing things, and crazy unforeseeable things. If I worried about it… it either wouldn’t happen or I’d be prepared for it.
Well… let me tell you: worry is no preparation. It took me years.. YEARS, people…. years, to figure out that worry is just wasted energy.
Let’s be real. I still worry about things. It’s human nature. We have big brains… I’m pretty sure a small portion of them are built to worry.
I worry about earthquakes in the middle of the night when I’m wearing no bra, my ugliest possible t-shirt, and the most embarrassing pair of panties a girl has ever owned. What if there’s an earthquake, and my house falls down, and I have to retreat to my neighbors house in this hideous outfit? Those thoughts usually lead me to find a reasonable pair of pajama pants and I slip on a sports bra. See? Worrier.
But I’m changed my expectations. Instead of worry about the worst, I try to expect the best.
Seriously… what would my day look like if I expected great things instead of disastrous things? I’ll tell you… it’s looks a heck of a lot better. It feels better too. I can drink more coffee without completely spazzing out. Less worry frees me up to jump around in the world, and be silly, and thankful, and wear mint green nail polish, and write pen pal letters, and tell people I love them.
I still worry about earthquakes. Those are scary. But I also expect and welcome not just the good… but the great.
(What? Wait… I’m not talking about trashy reality television? No. I know. It’s weird.)
Do you remember when the strawberry/banana combo really hit its stride? I think it was some time in the mid 90’s… in the Snapple era, that the strawberry/banana craze really got going. I blame smoothies.
But… well, there’s something undeniably good going on here.
Let’s not fight it.
Wait. Remember the Snapple lady? That whole thing was always weird, right?
Let’s get down to the real deal. Bread.
This is banana bread. This is banana bread made exactly 17.845 times more delicious with the addition of browned butter and finely diced strawberries.
Brown butter adds depth, nuttiness, and downright deliciousness. The strawberries help this banana bread feel pretty and celebrate the season. The bread is much more banana flavored than strawberry flavored, but the bits of strawberry add sweet little surprise strawberry flavor bits. I especially love how the strawberries on top get roasted during baking. Slice them super thin so they don’t weigh down the rise of the bread or get too watery.
Sweet bread. It’s comforting, simple, and delicious. If you wanted to slather a warm slice with butter or cream cheese… we’ll, I’d consider you a friend.
I can’t cook without these shoes. It’s just a thing I have.
And in completely unrelated news… these sunglasses look uh-mazing on Alison. Major.
Brown Butter Banana Strawberry Bread
makes 1 9×5-inch loaf
inspired by The Amateur Gourmet
1/2 cup unsalted butter, melted and browned
2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 cup brown sugar
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3/4 teaspoon ground cinnamon
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/4 cup plain yogurt (any fat content) or buttermilk
1 1/4 cup mashed banana (from about 3 medium bananas)
1/2 cup diced strawberries plus 1 strawberry very thinly sliced, for topping
Place a rack in the center of the oven and preheat to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9×5-inch loaf pan and set aside.
Melt butter in a saucepan over medium heat. Butter will begin to foam and crackle as it melts. When the crackling subsides, the butter will begin to brown. Swirl the pan as the butter cooks. When the butter browns and begins to smell nutty, remove the pan from the flame and transfer the butter to a small bowl. Taking the butter out of the hot saucepan will stop the butter from overcooking and burning. Set aside to cool.
In a large bowl, whisk together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon.
In a medium bowl, whisk together eggs, vanilla extract, and yogurt or buttermilk. Whisk in the mashed bananas. When butter has cooled, whisk in the browned butter.
Add the wet ingredients, all at once to the dry ingredients. Fold together, making sure to scrape the bottom of the bowl to reveal any hidden pockets of flour. Fold in the diced strawberries. Fold together ingredients, but try not to over stir.
Spoon batter into prepared pan and top with thinly sliced strawberries. Bake for 50 minutes to 1 hour, or until a skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. Remove from the oven and allow to rest in the pan for 15 minutes, before inverting onto a wire rack to cool completely.
Bread will last 4 days, well wrapped at room temperature. This loaf also freezes well.
365 Responses
brilliant! I’ve made banana bread lots of times (as I always buy bananas, nobody ever eats them, and I always freeze them instead of throwing them away just as they are about a day away from me having no choice but to throw them away!). I never thought to add strawberries, which probably is because when it comes to creativity, well – let’s just say – my idea of drawing is paint-by-numbers! I can’t wait to try this! And I love your little essay before the recipe. I for one am a complete, “live in denial” kind of person, which prevents worry, but also prevents me from being proactive in avoiding problems. I just kind of figure that eventually, anything that’s a problem eventually passes. Gotta make room for new problems, right? Anyway, I look forward to reading more of your musings and recipes! Thanks so much.
Hi Joy! I’m planning on making this tonight, I’m just wondering if it’s 1/2 cup of butter or 6 tablespoons? Thank you!
sorry for the confusion. 1/2 cup!
Would it be possible to correct the recipe itself in the blog post? It’s hard to find the answer in the comments since there are over 20 pages of comments. Half a cup is 8 tablespoons, not 6, so the instructions are confusing. Thank you!
you’re absolutely right! all fixed up.
Much appreciated! :D
just made this for the 3rd time, this time with diced farmer’s market peaches instead of strawberries – so delicious!
Confused by your “6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and browned to just over 1/2 cup of butter” instruction. Doesn’t 8 Tbsp make 1/2 cup? Does the butter increase in volume by heating it???
I went ahead and did 6 Tbsp, but since I saw a couple of other comments asking about this, could you please clarify?
Thanks!
I have just found your site and I’m very excited ….. Banana/ strawberry bread ! My family is going to love me ! we Aussies love banana bread. Thank you for your thoughts on worrying , what a waste of time .. I’m a serial worrier but I’m going to change..
Look forward to searching more amazing recipe on your site.
Oh man, oh man this is wonderful. I made this recipe into muffins and just ate two for lunch… and I’m so glad I searched your site for banana bread today! The brown butter, yes yes yes!! I’ve always been too afraid (okay, and lazy) to actually brown butter for recipes, but you finally talked me into it. THANK YOU, JOY!
Hey Joy, just tried this one and… Oh my! Huge success, as every time anyone turns bananas into bread :) thanks for your recipe! https://harinaenlosvaqueros.wordpress.com/2014/02/24/pan-de-platano-y-fresa/
I made this and I’m not sure if I did something wrong, but it was a bit tasteless and didn’t really have a pronounced banana flavor. Perhaps it was that I used strawberry banana yogurt instead of plain, just because that was what I had in the fridgeโฆ I also think it was potentially because I used some REALLY REALLY overly ripe bananas. Not sureโฆbut thanks for the recipe. YOURS sure looks delicious!
I just made this recipe into cupcakes (14 medium cupcakes). Taking them to grandma’s house today like Little Red Riding Hood. ;o)
hi! i am planning on making this bread today and i have a few substitution questions: I only have salted butter at home (sometimes I am a space cadet in the supermarket!) is it okay to use that and just leave out the extra salt?? also do you know how using whole-wheat flour would work?? I am thinking of using half plain and half whole-wheat. I absolutely love banana bread and I am going to pair it with some cinnamon-honey-whipped butter. Oh, butter, how I love thee.
I think you may find that the bread has a grittier texture like most wheat breads do, but I think the taste will be more or less the same. As for salted butter, I think you can leave the salt out. Let me know how it turns out!
I love you
I made this bread as muffins this morning, only swapping strawberries for chocolate . Brought them to the office (after eating mine topped with peanut butter!) and they were a huge hit, all gone within 15 minutes! Thanks a lot for this recipe!!!
So yeah, during the past year I’ve made this like a gazillion times because this is the most amazing banana bread recipe anyone has ever created. It’s my go to recipe whenever we’ve got some overly brown bananas at home.
I’m making it again today.
Made this instantly when I read the words browned butter…and had exactly enough of every ingredient left in my pantry :) This really helped me put my worrying away…and as I baked the grey skies cleared and the sun came out. Thanks for sharing this!
so, i made a modified version of this banana bread this past weekend (added mangos instead of strawberries because … well, that’s what we have in season here in hawaii right now — and, ummm … WOWZERS! delicious!!). so, our 6-year-old little boy has had a crush on you and your recipes for quite a while … now, i think that my wife might be crushing a bit too … yes, that’s what this recipe has done! it has the power to cause crushes!!
i tried to take the credit, but that didn’t fly … oh well! the bread was AHH-MAY-ZINGGGG!!
so im a newbie in the baking department…and i was going to make this into mini loaves for the family for easter….any idea how long i would bake it for mini loaves? i bought a silicone 4 loaf mold, and i really dont want to burn it. anyone have ideas???
I just made this bread (as muffins) and it was A-MAZING!! My 2 year old is eating one right now, and is singing because he loves it so much. I can’t wait until my bananas get ripe again!!!
So, I had these almost-too-ripe bananas screaming at me from my counter. I also have 3 pounds of beautifully ripe strawberries in my fridge. Straw-nana (I think I should trademark this) is such an awesome combo! Solution: web search for bread. And I ended up here, which is totally cool! I made muffins (I do have to sleep at some point), and they just cooled enough to slather on another layer of butter. Seriously amazing; thank you!!
If you lived in Tennessee and wouldnt be freaked out because I would totally stalk you…..you would so be my bestest friend! I just found your blog and have spent the last hour and half of my work day printing recipes and writing my grocery list out. I have 55 more minutes of work and needless to say I must refill my paper for my printer. You rock, girl! And I will be adding your cookbook to my collection which will make the official total 121…….yes I have a problem!
Angie
Love your recipes! Was wondering if you meant 6 T of butter in the brown butter banana strawberry bread? Also, do you recommend any particular type of vanilla extract?
Hi there! You are correct! It’s 6 tablespoons, not ounces. Thanks for pointing that out, I just updated the recipe :)
Joy, I just discovered your blog a few days ago from googling images of banana bread (it’s a long-standing obsession) and when I saw THIS image, I couldn’t resist! I managed to get off work early today and have just pulled this bread out of the oven. It’s breathtakingly beautiful, our house smells like how houses should smell like all the time (homemade goodness and love) and I’m about to snap a few hasty photographs before digging into it.
I love your blog, I love this recipe (browned butter! I would never have thought of it) and I think I may even be falling a teensy bit in love with you.
Thank you!
>>If I worried about itโฆ it either wouldnโt happen or Iโd be prepared for it.>>
Holy crap, me too! In fact, if I’m not worried about something then I start worrying about not being worried, because then whatever I’m not worried about, but should be, is exponentially more likely to happen.
So glad I’m not the only one! I’ve lightened up quite a bit in the worrying department as well. :)
I just wanted to ask you how I would need to tweak this recipe for higher altitude baking. I’m not really sure what the chemistry is behind it, but I know that it would probably come out differently since i’m nearly 6000 ft above sea level.
Oh… My… Goodness….. So good. So so good.
I just tried this with blueberries, since I didn’t have strawberries. And I changed the grains up a little. Great recipe, Joy! Yum :) (And I’m not normally a banana bread person).
https://dessertisinadifferentpocket.com/2011/08/25/brown-butter-blueberry-banana-bread/
I am going to make this. Now. Who cares if it’s almost 10pm? Not me.
Just one question. When you say brown sugar – is it light, dark, sugar in the raw? Does it matter? Do I think too much about brown sugar? Maybe.
light or dark brown sugar… not raw.
Just adapted this recipe into brown butter, banana, chocolate chip muffins. So amazing, and I absolutely love your site. It keeps me inspired.
https://www.twohotpotatoes.com/brown-butter-banana-and-chocolate-chip-muffins/
I live in my dansko’s while in the kitchen! Anyways… I make a strawberry banana muffin for my kids and why I’ve never sliced a strawberry on top before baking is beyond me… wow does it look pretty! I’m making this bread for our Sunday Breakfast. This will be my 2nd recipe I’ve tested this weekend. I’m on a Joy The Baker kick!
Just made this after lusting after it for quite a while.
Delish.
A few notes:
All I had on hand was vanilla nonfat greek yogurt – it totally worked in place of plain.
I think my bananas were huge, because even though I only used three, it seemed overly moist. Next time I’ll have to measure it with measuring cups.
I think I need practice at browning butter. I always seem to be able to do it accidentally when I don’t want to, but can’t quite get there when I’m doing it intentionally!
Next time I think I will add more strawberries. Mainly because I love strawberries.
I also added a sprinkle of cloves and nutmeg.
All in all, my rating is: awesome
Love this recipe! Didn’t have plain yogurt or buttermilk, so I used sour cream instead and it still turned out great! I also used 1 cup regular flour and 1 cup whole wheat flour to make it healthier.
Can’t wait to try. looks delish……. We are trying to get followers on our blog. We are beginners… Having a giveaway contest Please check us out and pass along to your friends… Thank you
desirable-junk.blogspot.com
Holey moley this is the best banana bread that i have ever made! Like, seriously so light, fulffy, nutty. Wow. It’s the brown butter and strawberries. They make a huuuuge difference. Amazing! Oh and I added flax seed to my recipe. A little fiber never hurt anyone. Thank you Joy! <3 <3 <3 <3 you and your blog :)
so i was in a desperate needto bake something and ive been eyeing this recipe waiting for my bananas to rippen up when in a moment of diress i realized i simply needed to bake something in order to keep breathing. i didnt have the strawberries yet and it turns out it didnt matter. this is the best banana bread recipe i have ever come across, and the first time ive ever made it myself. somethingabout mashing bananas made me slightly uneasy. but it is no 2:00 in the morning where i am and the 2011 bakefesthas begun. ill be making your cinnamon sugar pull-apart bread, the meringue shells and my mothers recipe for chocolae chip cookies and sour cream drop cookies. thank you joy for inspiring this yeard bakefest. oh by the way – i love you :)
I made the Brown butter Strawberry banana loaf today; and it was AMAZING!! Every time I make one of your recipes it turns out perfect! I have fresh cherries to pick at the end of the month; any suggestions?
I made this bread recently and it was very tasty, not to mention so pretty! I added a light crumb crust to the top, which made those strawberries even tastier, and posted a photo and simple recipe for the crumb crust.
smiling…. : ) ….. still smiling … : )
I made this tonight and LOVE it! Luckily, strawberries are just ripening here locally so I just have to stock up on banana’s! This is going in my recipe collection – thanks for sharing it!
I made this bread for the second time today because I was not about to give up. The first time I made it, it came out too moist and was more like bread pudding than bread. This time I used half the amount of bananas because the bananas I use are really moist, rich and soft from Jayuya, Puerto Rico. That worked its magic! …and the house smells amazing! I think my dogs might break in… I love you, Joy the Baker <3
“Bread will last 4 days…”
HA!
:) yum.
when i read this recipe and decided to make it, i was thinking: what’s the big deal with brown butter? do i REALLY need to brown the butter? so i browned the butter… and i tasted it… and i kept tasting it. it’s pretty frickin’ good! i get it now. and the whole bread is pretty frickin’ delicious.
also, since i didn’t have a loaf pan, i made this in a pie pan. it took more than hour to bake. is that right or does my oven suck?
This is the 3rd recipe of yours I’ve used in 3 weeks. All have been a ridiculous success!! Thanks for always making the recipes so user friendly for us beginner bakers!
yay!!!
made this last week with my dad! ah-mazing! thank you for the fabulous recipe :) will definitely e making again ~
This is in the oven as I type this, I just so happened to have just the right amount of strawberries in my fridge, the kind that are a little old and not great for eating solo any more. And I had some bananas in my freezer. I love when I come upon a recipe that I love and I have everything for it already!! So excited for this bread!!
Who knew browner butter smelled so wonderful – just made the bread and am patiently……..waiting for it to come out of the oven – it smells divine !!
Just made this for Father’s day and it was a hit! Barely had time for it to cool by the time we ate half the loaf. Delicious and will definately be making this again! :)
Joy- I found your website awhile back and I keep going back to it. You have a way with recipes and with words. I just had to tell you how much I enjoy you. I get your emails regularly now and today I am going to try the strawberry/banana bread today. Keep doing what you do. You always make my day!( ps- for what its worth, I am 66 years young and learn something new from young folks like you every day!) Sincerely, Vicky Walker
This looks so good and I happen to have everything I need for it… but I’m wondering if this can be made into muffins??? Or does it have to be in a loaf pan?
muffins would be lovely. just cut the baking time down.
Well, I think I was meant to stumble upon your blog today seeing that I have seen it linked in 3 other places!! :) I love it: your baking, realness, and just overall coolness! I will definitely be back.
Scrumptious!!! I ate half the loave all by myslef!…wait is that something I should be proud of? Oh whatever I’ll run an extra mile tomorrow and call it even :) Thanks Joy the Baker!
I made this last night, and had to go to bed so I didn’t devour half of it in one sitting. Amazing!!! It even passed the test of my picky 13 year old eater. Thanks Joy!!!
Yes!!
Made this yesterday. Luckily, my bread pan is smaller than average so I am always forced to make one giant muffin for myself since I take the loaf to the office. I bet this would work well with gluten free flours… I’m going to try that next time since I’m supposed to be trying gluten free. I
I loved how you penned your thoughts….it was like our brains are wired the same. I don’t worry as much as I did when my children were at home. Whew… I lived in fear since the time they were in the womb. No ultrasound available in the 80’s. Now, I try to take things a day at a time. My husband helps me realize that worrying will not make the inevitable from happening. Also, regret is a wasted emotion. I think worrying is a wasted emotion as well.
Well, you win! I just threw my banana bread recipe out that I have used for 40 years for this absolutely wonderful, Brown Butter Banana Strawberry recipe, it was delicious. I made it this evening and besides the house smelling incredible, I have a feeling that minus the two generous slices I’ve already had, this won’t make it into tomorrow!!! It is outstanding, thank you!
Will this bread be okay to send in the mail as long as it’s wrapped and covered well?
i think it should be fine!
This banana bread is AMAZING. I’ve never made anything like it! Thank you so much for the recipe!!
https://unhipsquirrel.blogspot.com/2011/06/brown-butter-strawberry-banana-bread.html
So a few things:
Bread – awesome, fills my tab for “what yummy thing do I whip up for Sat AM breakfast?”. Probably throw in some chocolate because it revs hubby’s engine.
Clogs – yes! Dansko? Yes. Do I have them? Yes. Why did I never think to wear them to cook?!
Worry – well, I’ve been married 16 years to a passionately and humbly heroic firefighter who was gravely ill for two years, given birth to four kids (one giant), been in several serious car accidents, lived in the Bay Area through the 89 quake, and watched my mom almost die of alcoholism and come back from the “dead” to be part of our family again. What have I learned through it? That many more things will happen in my life that I can neither control nor want to foresee. I have also learned that if I worry, it doesn’t change the outcome, it only makes myself and others crazy and miserable. Great, awesome, beautiful, unexpected and challenging things happen to all of us everyday, it’s our job to find the blessing in each one.
Viva brown butter!
So the almond flour and agave nectar subs worked out beautifully. So. Tasty.
Joy, I discovered your blog a few weeks ago, and have been completely charmed! You make me want to try this too! I have several friends urging me to do a food blog because I’m so obessed, but until I found yours and how delightful it could be, I couldnt make it a reality in my head. Props!
I was rather upset yesterday because I didnt get the coolest job I’ve ever applied to. Bummer. I went straight home and tried my very first recipe of yours, the Soft Vegan Ginger Cookies. I didnt even open that new bottle of white wine. I just baked, zoned out, and I felt better. True story. PS, the cookies were amazing. So was the New Belgium beer later that evening :) Try it. Thanks so much for becoming a regular part of my week, and being an inspiration!
I only discovered your blog a few days ago and I absolutely adore you! I am a pro worrier, I have this constant flow of worries and anxieties that only fade away when I am in the kitchen. But to here someone else, someone amazing tell me they do it too makes me so relieved. Baking has literally gotten me through high school, and it strips me of my worry. Now I can tell that your blog is going to get me through college next year when I will be away from a real kitchen. so I hope you don’t plan on going anywhere soon, we need you. :)
ps: this bread looks amazing, I am going to the store for strawberries first thing tomorrow morning.
i’ll be here! go to college and be smart!
Just made this bread this afternoon. I was thrilled to finally see local strawberries and knew what my three sad bananas would be doing when I got home with my berries. I made a few changes and was very happy with how it turned out. I replaced one cup of flour with whole wheat flour. I also increased the diced strawberries to 3/4 cup. Another great recipe Joy!
Oh yum! I’m making cake and the foccacia this weekend (Saturday) by getting up super duper early and putting together the bread through the second rise and letting it have that second rise in the fridge so I can go out with friends without the kitty eating my delicious yeasty bread dough.
I made this for my work yesterday and it was completely devoured in about 2 minutes. Thanks for making me a bread hero!
This looks delicious! My best friend loves banana bread and strawberries – she’s been kind of down lately so I am going to surprise her with this deliciousness! Thanks for the great recipe. :)
AGH!!! Ok made this last night and it came out to freaking perfect!! I actually used 1 less banana and a little nutmeg, 86’ed the plain yogurt for “light strawberry yogurtโ and a tap less brown sugar, PERFECTION!! So inspired by you and all of your glorifying recipes!! ??
I just got a bunch of freshly-picked strawberries from my mom-in-law this morning and think this recipe is the perfect destination for them. I enjoy reading your blog.
Wow! This looks really good! :)
You always crack me up! I can totally relate to the worrying thing…I’m always afraid someone’s gonna come into my room at night while I’m sleeping (don’t ask me why) so I’m always wearing an appropriate amount of clothing :) I made this bread yesterday and it was tasty! It looks awesome when it comes out of the oven with the strawberry slices on top. I definitely have to make it again.
I added chocolate chips. Oh yes I did! And I’d do it again.
hero.
Oh my goodness! Let me tell you what is right about this bread…everything!!! So good. Found a new favorite bread. Thanks!
Can’t wait to make this!
Dude. I made this, let it bask in its own tightly wrapped browned-butter-banana-awesomeness for a day, and then put it out in the kitchen at work this morning (on a pretty plate, minus a slice). I put my stuff down, took care of my email queue, and went back to the kitchen for Coffee #1 to find ONE LITTLE GUILTY CORNER NUBBIN left. Aside from being categorically against communal refusal to take the last bite, I was pretty thrilled. I dunno, maybe this belongs in the “Love and Sugar” post alongside your stealthy vegan version?
Joy – this is how I picture your life: You live in Southern California where it’s always sunny. You have no day job to weigh you down. You get up in the morning and think about cooking something. You wonder: Can you put brown butter in cookies? How about banana bread? And then you make it happen. You experiment. You throw things around. Flour gets all over everything but it’s no big deal: all in a day’s work. Your house is well lit, the green leaves of houseplants (not dead ones) dot your tiled kitchen counter. Dear friends (who also don’t have day jobs) call on the phone and you walk out the door to meet one of them for a late afternoon walk on the beach. In the evening, you make cake.
In short: I think you’re having more fun than me. Please don’t wreck the illusion if any of the above is untrue.
I really really like your vision of my life.
I like it too. Am I at all close? ; )
and she puts brown butter in muffins – don’t forget that! Brown butter has changed my baking. I don’t know how I enjoyed anything without it! Thanks Joy!
We have lots of banana’s that are just about to turn so this recipe is perfect. Thanks.
Dear Joy,
You are the best food blogger alive. And the most fun to read. And the one whose food I actually make and want to eat. You rock. It has to be said once in awhile just so you know.
I’ve been making strawberry banana smoothies. And I love banana bread. This recipe is SO mine next week!
~Matt
what a wonderful and delicious web blog
Delphine
I LOVE browned butter! It makes such a big difference doesn’t it?!
I’m a super worrier but baking always seems to take my mind off things and this bread looks perfect for the week I’ve had. I’m excited about this future bread making.
Thank you Joy :)
Have just seen this, awesome! Have bananas that need using and a bag full of strawberries in the freezer that were all daquiri bound until I read this… some will still go into cocktails, dont worry ;) my bf is the banana bread master in this house so I think ill fwd this post onto him and gently plant the idea in his head…. sneaky…
Can you PLEASE make this in gluten-free form?
oh man oh man oh man, it looks SO good!
P.S. I absolutely LOVE your blog! And I have a stash of your recipes that I want to make this summer. Thanks so much for being awesome and posting good and healthy food to eat!!
Made this bread today and it is yummy, even though I had to make a few substitutions and I’m pretty sure I didn’t brown the butter completely (I hadn’t done that before and was worried I would burn it!). I’m looking forward to trying more of your recipes when I find the time. I have a 9 month old son and I was lucky to finish making this during his nap.
Love the podcast too, by the way! I’m always looking for fun ones to listen to during my commute.
Hi Joy – I’m so glad you wrote this post, and so glad that I found it today. You inspired me continue to expect great things instead of disastrous things. Thank you.
i know this is late but i just wanted to say in school recently we had these DREADFUL 15 minute presentations and this one girl HAS an anxiety/panic disorder.. so she passed out homemade (OMG) like 40 flashcards with the printed out saying:
Remember to tell yourself that this is just panic and you have had it before. It will not last long. Just breathe through it and it will go away. :)
i thought it was great advice, and boy if it weren’t for school i would be cooking everyday! but alas, i’s gots to do well or… you see, i worry again! b r e a t h e ….
Somehow in the past few months, I’ve become an intolerable worrier and anxiety sufferer myself! I don’t know how it happened, but suddenly I found myself a Purell-obsessed, control freak mad woman!
I was suffering from a bit of anxiety as I happened on this post, and your advice to ‘Expect the best’ really helped me a lot today. Thank you for that :)
I think I will be brave and try this! Banana bread is a love of mine. However, I tried your browned butter cookies and it did not turn out well for me. Not that there was anything wrong with your recipe, but I seem to be cursed when it comes to chocolate chip cookies of any sort.
And I sorta poured the lovely browned butter into a plastic measuring cup.
It melted.
i am, mostly all of the time, a pro worrier too. you are right, total waste of time and energy…i moved away from earthquake prone areas, but the day after I moved into my new place there were funkin tornado sirens…a whole different anxiety, I’d trade my earthquake riddled west coast for tornadoes any day! i met my neighbors by hiding in their basement until the storm passed. good times. at least i was properly clothed.
strawberry banana bread, how has this not been before?! and browned butter, oh my.
umm.. made this on Saturday.. woke up with the massive urge to bake and eat this bread and knowing i had all the ingredients at home.. (hate going to the store).. I made the bread.. in 90 degree weather.. with no air conditioning.. It.was.a.maz.ing!! I couldn’t wait for it to cool off before slicing into it..
ate it with a bit of cream cheese and fresh strawberries! FANTASTIC! I will probably make this 20 more times this year… mostly because i can’t stop talking about it and now i’m getting request to make more!.. (oh.. and another thing.. made your donuts for a friends birthday party.. made like 5 dozen.. never made donuts before.. go big or go home right!?.. they were a HUGE hit! gonna go make more.. yummmm)
I totally made this last night and It was yummy yummy yummy in my tummy. I was even so nice as to be a good neighbor and to share it (thank God I have neighbors that fully support my baking addiction and are happy to take some sugary goodness off of my hands or else I would be HUGE). The addition of semi-sweet chocolate chips made this even more scrumptious as well. Thank you for the inspiration!
Joy the Baker!
I have been reading your blog for a few (or maybe several) months now, and I was listening to your podcast the other day and you said you would like to know who’s reading/listening to you. So I decided to stop being a creeper, and let you know I’m here!
You always talk about stuff you’re obsessed with, so I thought I’d follow suit, and mention that I am completely addicted to reading your blog. Anyway, you’re pretty much my hero- are you sure you don’t have a cape? The first recipe of yours I tried out was the Cinnamon Pull Apart Bread.. after that I was hooked.
I appreciate your honesty about baking, and life. I especially like how you have fun in the kitchen! It’s not all seriousness and just getting dinner on the table. I also love you photos of your food… so yummy. It’s funny (and awesome) that you just use iPhoto to edit!
I am so happy I have “old” bananas. Do you think it will work without berries? I could go to the store but that would require changing out of my pjs
Love your random or not so random thoughts on worry — you voiced exactly how I often feel: if I worry about something, then when it happens, I’m prepared or, if it doesn’t then I’ll be happy. I could definitely use some of your worry less thinking! And, the bread looks delicious, can’t wait to try it!
PS – do you know I’ve eaten 3 whole roasted garlics in the last week after re-finding your recipe? I think something is wrong with me, but man are they delicious!
Ok I know I can’t bake as well as you do because as I was going through the list of ingredients and how you made the whole process so simple, makes me feel like I’ve got so much to learn about baking. Anyway, I’ve stumbled across your blog for the first time and I’ve got a lot of catching up to do!
you know when something hits the right note and it sounds amazing…it’s like a ball of awesomeness with sprinkles of amazing and incredible and it just works and fits and is the best thing ever.
well…that’s what this post was for me. i worry. i stress. i get overwhelmed and i cry. and i hate those moments. i know that they are fine and normal and totally natural but when it happens, i beat myself up for not being strong enough to handle life. you’re totally right though, worrying is just wasted energy. just like negativity is.
i’m going to try really hard to expect the best AND i’m going to make this bread asap.
thanks joy.
PS – Love the worry advice. I think I need to print it out and pin it up on a wall in my house.
What did ever happen to that Snapple lady?
right!?
I love google! Bummer for Wendy “the Snapple Lady”..
https://www.timessquaregossip.com/2008/05/wendy-snapple-lady-gone-in-snap.html
joy.
you simply make my life better. worst week ever. day off tomorrow. banana strawberry bread in my belly…soon.
worry less? what a concept.
m.
i hope your day off is a dream!
Just made this. Delicious. I’d never browned butter before and was worried I was doing it wrong because there was foam for such a long time and it just kept smelling like butter, not nuts. I was about to scrap it so I went to start mixing the flour, sugar, cinnamon, and then I came back and the butter was actually brown!! Like a mini-miracle! Then husband said “one of your best banana breads yet.” Triumph.
you did it!!
i just baked this bread and it is DELICIOUS. the strawberry slices on top become slightly crispy and sweet. the bread itself is not too sweet, making it perfect to add butter or cream cheese or jam to. i know it is best to use extremely ripe bananas for bread, but i couldn’t wait a few days for them to ripen so i baked medium ripe bananas anyway and the flavor, though not intense, is still there. it looks just as beautiful at home as it does in your pictures. i’ve baked many banana loaves in my day and this is definitely on top. THANK YOU!
I was inspired by this post and made some banana strawberry muffins. My boyfriend ate 3 of them in one sitting. Thanks for the inspiration!
I made this yesterday and it was so yummy! And I had a piece this morning with cream cheese…yum!
Oh em gee. This bread has already changed my life. Why did I never think to put strawberries in banana bread before?! LOVE THIS. Can’t wait for Michigan berries so I can make this.
Joy the Baker I just found you while looking for a lowfat eggplant parm recipe (latest obsession since I live near Italy in uptight Switzerland). You rock. Loved the picture of your baking shoes…..
how the heck did you find me!? i hate eggplant!!
Thank you for this post. I’m at this point in my life where the idea of even leaving my bedroom fills me with this huge and debilitating amount of anxiety. I try really hard to appreciate everything that’s good in my life but all the bad things seems to bust in and take over. I can really relate to what you say here, and it gives me hope that it’s possible for the worry and anxiety to be conquered.
I also wanted to let you know that ever since I stumbled upon your website last October, the time I’ve spent with your recipes, creating beautiful simple things, have been some of my happiest moments in a long time.
ahhh, worrying. I’m a pro myself. Lovely bread and lovely pics!
Love the bread! I think I started worrying too much when I had my son. You couldn’t help but be worried all the time when you have kids of your own.
You’re in great company here. I wonder if worriers are good bakers because it frees their mind from all those plaguing thoughts?
You’re strawberry bread looks incredible. Maybe I’ll make some to take to the beach. Thanks.
This looks fantastic! I can’t wait to try this recipe out, as I have a pretty serious thing for strawberries.
Thank you. I was actually worrying about 100s of different things when I read this. It was strange and now I worry that you are a mind reader and are going to be freaked out how much I actually recommend your site to others.
Wow Joy! Still love your site! It really gives me relief from a stressful day!
That bread looks amazing! Joyofbaking had just posted a video of strawberry banana muffins and I was really hoping that they would put up the bread version of it. I’m so glad that you read my mind and did it ahead.
I really admire your writing style…keeps me reading until the last word!
aw, brown butter makes everything better! i love the strawberry slices on top, too. they look like little flowers.
Interesting! I love banana bread. I love the combination of strawberry-banana. And yet? It never dawned on me to create quickbread with that flavor combo. I will definitely have to try this sometime soon, especially when doing some weekend entertaining. My people will like this, oh yes they will.
Also- I love that photo where you can see that the strawberry started out juicy and big but then shrunk up in the oven, leaving a nice little ghost of its previous self. I would like to pluck that dried-up strawberry right off the top of that bread and EAT IT.
Such a pretty loaf. Brown butter always makes things taste better :).
My momma is a big worry wart….I try best not to be, as what we worry about rarely happens eh!!
Fabulous bread!! Loving the brown butter :)
The thought of strawberry-banana Starbursts still makes me want to gag.
hahahahahaa!
Oh wow. This looks amazing!
LOVE the new header.
K
That is so me. I worry about everything too. Honestly it’s not very easy not to worry, but I’m working on it.
As for the undies…well, my mother always said that you should put on your best pair because you never know when something will happen and somebody might end up seeing you in them. The fear that their will be a fire in the middle of the night keeps me from sleeping nude…no matter how hot it is in the house.
Mmm that looks soo tasty.Making it for My daughter’s sixth birthday party tomorrow..
oh my. That is amazing. I am suddenly extremely hungry and have the urge for baking.
Love the strawberry bread and your new strawberry themed title
You know, all you have to do is start your title with “Browned Butter” and you will have my undivided attention. You had it with the Browned Butter Toasted Coconut Chocolate Chip Cookies (which, by the way, were divine). Now this. And just as strawberries are about to be in season here in upstate NY. Makes me SO happy!
BTW, I am working on a “Things To Do When I Am 40” list, inspired by your list of 30 things to do before your 30th, and due to begin 2 months from today. I definitely think that trying new recipes like this one at least once a week will have to be on my list.
JtB… you are a gem. Love the wisdom. Love the bread. See… this is why I keep you around. Thank you.
I have never been too much of a worrier and sometimes I wish I have –oh well. But I have always been a strawberry lover, and eat them without any worries, because I thought, they are soo delicious and good for you. This until last week, when my face started to be covered with little red spots and my neck started to swollow. That’s how I found out that I have become alergic to strawberries. Should I have worried? Probably not. How would I have known, otherwise? But now I shoudl worry about strawberries. For much that I love them, I should not eat them anymore. That’s too bad. I will copy next recipe :))
I bet this recipe would be good without the strawberries. You should give it a try!
I keep thinking your recipes cannot get any better, but then you destroy that belief with a recipe entitled “brown butter banana strawberry bread.” Quite simply, you are a rock star. I have this baking in the oven as I type and I CANNOT WAIT TO EAT IT. I substituted almond flour and agave syrup for the reg flour and sugar, so I don’t know how that will affect the end result, but I will let you know.
Keep up the positive attitude! I think we definitely have a responsibility to care for our bodies and our minds, and it’s great to read about you doing both. Again, rock star.
Oh did I love your blog entry…I am a worrier as well and I truly needed to read this today to change my outlook for something stressful I have to do today. Thank you for posting this, I love your honesty! I absolutely love your blog, you are my kinda girl!!!
1. This bread is remarkably pretty. Like, let me put my stunner shades on so I’m not blinded by the awesome.
2. There’s something about consuming a combo of fruits, like strawberry banana, that makes me feel like a classy lady. Like I’m really one-upping life by consuming TWO fruits at once.
3. I understand about the professional worrier thing. When I’m in a new place, I scout the nearest exit faster than a flight attendant so I can plot my escape in case a shooter comes in. I don’t know why a shooter; since I live in tornado alley, it would be MUCH more prudent if I located the lowest level away from windows. But alas, my mind goes to shooters. Way to go, brain.
I am so a worrier too, but also trying to kick the habit! And this looks seriously awesome…brown butter…mmmm….perfect for upcoming strawberry season!
Hi-larious. I totally just hopped on over to jtb because i had a whole bunch of slightly expired yogurt that i wanted to turn into bread, and, it just so happens, TODAY’s post is all about it! Per-fect!!
The bread looks phenomenal. …It seems practically impossible to get strawberries in Australia now, but I’ll bookmark it for later and adapt for now. (PS I finally broke down and bought a banana the other day; I was missing 20 cent Trader Joe’s bananas SOOO MUCH when I had to pay THREE FIFTY for a SINGLE BANANA here in Brisbane!!!! Craaayyy-zyyyy!)
xoxox
This looks very delicious….I have a problem and its im alergie on strawberies but i love them hmmm well i will do it for my family and frends im sure they will love it……
I am SOOOOO MAKING this
This recipe looks amazing! I am a banana strawberry lover left over from the 90’s. I can’t wait to try this bread out. Cream Cheese on bread is my favorite~especially pumpkin bread!! Thanks for a great blog!
“Expect the great”. That is a beautiful philosophy Joy and one that I’ll try to take on board.
Smiles
Wow – banana bread~ my neighbor routinely brings me entire grocery bags (paper kind) of ready-to-be- banana bread bananas — for banana bread. Then I bake & bake & bring her loaves & freeze the rest of the loaves. I always have some on hand for when the adult kids come by & they feel so special that I thought of them. :) I’ll have to try this recipe, but I fear my little neck of the woods would implode. As for worry — there is a definition (I think it’s from the ancient Greek – really) that it means to strangle. Choke. So, although I used to worry, I now live on the edge! I drive my kid to school in my ratty jammies & hope my car doesn’t break down…and hope I remember my cell so I don’t have to walk through town if it does~ but then, that’s why I ALWAYS bring a book with me wherever I go, so I can wait for help & be comfy & happy ~
The pic of the batter in the big metal mixing bowl, with the berries sprinkled on top, and the ring of flour around the top is simply GORGEOUS. It’s my new wallpaper…hope you don’t mind me stealing. kthxbye
I always worry way too much too.. I thinks it’s a way we have to try to control everything… Thanks for reminding it to me!
I have some ripe bananas in my kitchen right now, so I don’t have any other option than to make banana bread tomorrow.. No strawberries for me cause it’s winter here!
OH MY GOODNESS. I’ve been a closet-follower of yours for a little while now, but never commented. I CANNOT KEEP SILENT. I worry about there being a fire in the middle of the night if I might have forgotten to blow out a candle, and my worry seriously causes me to change into more neighbor-appropriate PJs.
I’m so glad I have a friend somewhere!
And thank you for your awesome recipes too :)
I love the pretty berry slices on the top of your bread. If I could reach through my screen and pluck them off the top of the bread and pop them in my mouth, I would.And strawberry banana is, indeed a fantastic combo…but I thought for years I hated it. Probably Snapple’s fault. Turns out I just hate the taste of fake banana. Ick. But I do love the real deal.
I’ve been using bananas in recipes a lot, lately, because I always buy more than we can eat before they turn too ripe. Good thing we love recipes with bananas! Well, I have never made banana bread with browned butter and/or strawberries but it sure does look tasty!! It will be next on my list…
I’m such a worrier. I swear sometimes I think I have anxiety issues. This bread sounds delicious, maybe it will help with my worrying
Joy, I’m trying to cut sugar. Do you have any suggestions โย could I replace the sugar with, say, applesauce, or agave or something? Would it maybe be sweet enough without any sweetener besides the fruit?
Thank you!
Replacing the sugar would change the recipe in a way that I haven’t tested yet. I can’t give you any suggestions without baking it up first. I’m sorry!
Gorgeous photos! I especially love the slice strawberries on top.
Joy, will you be my BFF?
Joy, so beautiful, especially with the strawberry slices on top!
And yes, it’s good to realize while you’re still young that worrying IS wasted energy.
Still hard to not do that sometimes though ’cause I think I’d be bored sometimes if I didn’t. ;-)
Looks delicious, and I smiled all during the post. I chronically worry, and my motto is “If you need to worry about something, just let me know, and I’ll do it for you”
So today was a sweet friday due to a) I have all those ingredients in my house, and black bananas screaming to be baked and b) comfort that I am not the only one with the chronic worry!
Wow this looks amazing. I must must try this!
Joy, you are the best. I just thought I’d say that because I lurk on your site wayyyy too often without saying anything about your amazing photos, recipes, and writing. By the way, when is your book getting published?
the book is out in february 2012! thanks for saying hi!
This loaf is very purty, Joy. I do love me some banana bread and I adore strawberries.
This looks so beautiful with the sliced strawberries! Yum!
love the cat banner. and the bread, though I can’t have butter. I have a feeling bananas and strawberries and coconut would also go well together though…
Joy, you are a wise woman. First, for making this bread. It looks amazing. Second, for your words on worry. The problem with worrying is that it seems like the only reasonable thing to do in some situations, but looking back, it is such a waste of our beautiful and precious time. You are keeping it real, with your advice and your tasty bread. Any lady who can do both in one post has seriously got it together! You’re awesome.
Hi Joy and Joy’s readers!
I need your advice. I feel like people who read/write about brown butter banana strawberry bread are the kind of people I would take advice from.
So I went scuba diving this morning. And now I’m kind of in love with my dive buddy. But all I know is his first name, where he went to college, what state he lives in now, and a long list of things he and I have in common. I foolishly foolishly didn’t ask his last name or if we could be facebook friends, because, you know, a guy who isn’t pursuing you isn’t that into you, right?! I mean, why bother asking the last name of a guy who lives 3 states away who you only just met and who isn’t asking your last name?
But I really liked him a lot, and I never meet anyone I like these days. What should I do!? Should I call the dive shop and see if they’ll give up his last name? Should I internet stalk him with the information I have? I feel like that would make me a crazy person. I don’t want to be a crazy person.
I think I need to put this in the fond memories category, but really, would it be insane to try to track him down?
Help a girl out! Thanks!
Sarah
Sarah!
How cool are you? First, I’m kind of confused, I’m assuming you’re on vacation somewhere? Because if you are and he is too, ‘coincidentally’ bumping into him at his hotel would be way easier. Otherwise, yeah, what the heck, track him down on Facebook, and if he thinks you’re a weirdo, uh, oh well, he lives far away and you’ll never see him again!
Or it could be a great story for the grandkids.
Please let us know what you decide!
Heather
Is there any chance you will cross paths again or that you can find out enough to make it more likely your paths will cross? I think that would be more ideal than just skipping ahead to the facebook move. If that’s not possible, I still say go for it! The plus side about him living far away is if it turns out he doesn’t share your feelings or respond to your friend request, it won’t be any big deal or embarrassing and you can move on with no regrets. If it turns out he liked you too and was at home going over the same dilemma, then chances are he will forgive the fact that your stalking had the potential to seem a bit crazy.
I met my boyfriend in L.A. where I live while he was on vacation visiting a mutual friend of ours. He left the next day to go home to Philly. We kept talking, eventually started visiting back and forth and nine months later he moved to California. My friends thought I was nuts at first, but now they get it – sometimes it’s just a crazy crush and I have plenty of stories where I liked a boy and it got me nowhere, but sometimes it just works. You don’t know yet which one of these scenarios will play out with this boy and that’s okay, but it will probably bug you until you find out.
Good luck!
First I have to comment on this because I think you are a brave soul, when you put yourself out there things happen. Things are going to happen. So if it were me, I would call the dive shop and ask whoever answers the phone who he was because you have friends interested in lessons and he was great. It might be a lie…but its a white lie and my mom and gramma always said those were acceptable.
From there you are on your own… good luck!
This looks delish! And I will be making it tonight. We are having snow this weekend here in Lake Tahoe, CA (yes…in JUNE!) & my girlfriend’s birthday is this weekend so we’re bucking the weather, making Sangria and BBQ’ing despite the white flurries that will be floating around us. This strawberry banana bread will be loved, thanks for the recipe!
YUM. i was definitely obsessed with all things strawberry-banana back in the 90s. nowadays we’re all fancy pants with pomegranate-acai and whatnot. i totally support this bread recipe for keeping it real.
Wait, what? How have I never thought to spread cream cheese on warm banana bread before?! My whole life has just changed in an instant.
Come on what is cream cheese NOT good on???? We always put it on our banana bread! YUMMO~
I’m a huge worry wart…just like my mom… I like to blame the gene pool. :) Thanks for the reminder that I need to consciously kick those thoughts to the curb…99% of them never happen…what a waste of time!
Joy – Your words about worrying are a gift to me today. I totally get the professional worrier status — that describes me to a tee. And for you to articulate why I do it makes so much sense – I had never thought about it that way before. I’ve been particularly filled with worry over the last couple of days, and I know I’ve been unbearable to be around as a result. This is my opportunity to turn a new leaf – I’m going to make a huge effort to expect the positive. I’m taking my young daughter to Paris next week and I’ve been worrying about the trip like crazy – not excited at all because I’ve been worried about everything (what happens if we get separated on the Metro, what happens if I get sick while we’re there, what happens if it’s too crowded, what happens if the weather is horrible, etc.). I need to enjoy this trip and I’m going to think positive. Thank you again.
I made your brown butter blueberry muffins last night at like 930 and they are fabulous! Can’t wait to try these….I have been educating everyone at work how to brown butter! ha!
My mom says you shouldn’t sleep in stuff you wouldn’t be caught dead wearing. Never really stops me from wearing fugly shirts and granny panties to bed, though. Perhaps I ought to rethink that. I’m kind of a chronic worrier… I kinda worry about tornadoes now… And Global Warming… I need to get a grip. Your strawberry banana bread looks amazing – And anything with brown butter.. Well hot damn, that’s just the bees knees!
Yeah I know what you mean, I worry all the time, unconciously I think! But I don’t worry about this marvellous bread, it is absolutely gorgeous!
And now I must make banana bread. With strawberries. Or blueberries. Or whatever I can find in my house.
Last night as I was donning my pink & black zebra print flannel night gown with owls on it (yes…zebra print and campy 70’s owl cartoons, thank you Target!) I thought about being forced to flee my house in the middle of the night (fire not earthquake).Would I be interviewed on the local news, forced to shop for necessities all in my obnoxious jammies. What is it about this scenario that effects us so? Too funny. I eased my concern slightly by placing my red dansko clogs by the bed. At least I’d have practical footwear.
Tonight, I am going to bake this strawberry bread and not worry about what I wear to bed. Thanks!!
Great words of wisdom! I’m a worrier and I think I jinx things when I get really happy or excited about something…try dealing with that! LOL Maybe I’ll try yoga?!?.. This bread looks dee-lish by the way :0)
I am a worry-aholic— my fiance says I could come up with the most ridiculous things to be worried about that will never happen. I blame a mild case of OCD. But I’m working on it also– plus things tend to be much more fun when you relax and stop worry about what if.
Thanks for that post- I heard in your 30’s you relax more and become comfortable with who you are. I’m looking forward to that!
I cook in my red(ish) clogs all the time. As a short girl, it’s hard to really chop, knead, stir in my bare feet because the counter is too high to get really good leverage.
Also, this bread looks awesome.
Sometimes a change of attitude can make a huge difference.
This bread looks so great!
Hey! I liked your post today because my most recent worry was about my husband getting a stick figure pirate tattoo on his leg (true story) for his first tattoo, his friends were getting it and he mentioned something about “brotherhood”…..anyways… I like your perspective on the whole issue or worrying and am turning over a new leaf. I will learn to love the pirate…
ps: I LOVE your DANSKOs :)
Hmm, this looks delicious!
(and now I need to hurry because I have to take my cake out of the oven!)
Have you been inside my head lately? It seems we are kindred worrying spirits but I too am changing my ways. This bread looks amazing and I hope to be able to convert it to gluten-free (I have my ways) so I can bake it AND eat it too.
OMG with the strawberries…love them!!
No worries and strawberry banana bread? That sounds like a lovely combination. I like it! :D
Made something just like this last week but my sneaky addition was yogurt, no brown butter. Your version sounds reeeeaaal good! Brown butter something is going on my to-make list ASAP. Thanks Joy! P.S. I am loooving Homefries
I can’t wait to make this.
this is perfect in LA where you can get 3 pints of strawberries for $5 year round!
This is super pretty and looks super delicious. Looks good enough to take away any worries.
Must try the bread.
But even more importantly, I am a recovering worrier as well. I have worried a lot in my day, through raising three boys and living in a generally worrying world, but nothing I have actually worried about has happened. Other bad things, yes, that I somehow had managed to miss worrying about. But not the ones I did. So much wasted energy in all that unrequited worry. And it didn’t help me deal with the unexpected bad stuff that I needed to face, the cancers out of the blue to people I love or the much too early deaths or the bad medical news out of left field. So I am working on being a former worrier, day by day. Seems to be the only option. Too bad it took me 48 years of living and worrying to figure it out! Better late than never, though…
That bread… Omg, it looks amazing.
And I totally agree about the worry thing. Now that I have kids it’s like I worry 10x more. But honestly, I don’t worry about things I have no control over. If I can’t help it, then why worry. And if I can do something about it, then I do. Like changing out of ugly outfits in case of earthquakes because that could totally happen. Then again I worry about little things too, haha.
Sorry if I’m being dense, but how could I melt 6 Tbs of butter and expect to get over 1/2 cup of browned butter? Isn’t 1/2 cup equal to 8 Tbs of butter? Does the melting process increase the volume?
thank you for catching my typo! mucho thanks!
I used to be a hardcore worrier, too, until a sunday school teacher offered up this tidy little thought: worry is only ingratitude in advance. wow! totally changed my programmed-for-worry brain. I still worry about this and that, but not nearly as much as before. you’re right: expecting good brings good. it’s a beautiful thing. (as is this bread! :) )
The title of this post makes my mouth water.
The sunglasses are b’dass.
Do you think the Snapple lady, the PineSol lady and Jared have lunch occasionally and trade products?
I think I need to bake more & worry less. I am a terrible worrier, and it drives my husband nuts. Baking bread would make him happy. Thank you!
this is exactly how i am about worrying- i worry to prepare myself or to ensure that something won’t happen. i am so glad that i read this today- it really resonated with me. and i’m also really glad that you brought up the snapple lady because, for whatever reason, she’s been popping into my head a lot lately. that’s so weird, i know.
Joy, your incredible recipes worry the heck out of me! I worry I’ll lose control and bake everything you’ve posted! I’m really worried I’ll eat every delicious morsel! I am now begining to worry about my jeans being to tight to zip… *sigh*
Love your blog!
Patty *grin*
I totally love your perspective on worrying. I had have a mini-intervention with myself a few months ago and quit my habit of watching the nightly news on TV; between the pharmaceutical commercials suggesting that I was dying from every disease known to man and the actual news I couldn’t sleep at night. My worrying was epic. I kicked my news addiction and adjusted my stance on worrying and now I sleep like a lil’ baby. I totally appreciate your thoughts on worrying.
Thank you for this delish bread recipe – it looks so, so yummers!!
P.S. Totes love the shoes and sunglasses.
Of course I’m only 15 Days away from my wedding and you post on worrying. THANK YOU! You have no idea. It’s who is going to sing what, where are all of these people going to come from and how is this just all MAGICALLY going to come together.
I shared the link to this page on my blog https://bethetomato.adventuresofnateandjen.com/?p=343
Thank you so much.
Oh how I know about worrying… my style was to fret the worst would happen so then in most instances I could end up pleasantly surprised. Wackyness. Anyway, I stumbled on this quote a few years ago and it really turned my thinking around (and since then it’s been a good reminder for the times when my brain takes trips to negativeland):
“Some of your hurts you have cured
And the sharpest you still have survived
But what torments of grief you endured
From the evil which never arrived.”
(Ralph Waldo Emerson)
ps: Hive-five on the bread!
I just love browned butter in just about everything. I made asparagus & lemion ravioli the other night with a brown butter sauce. Last summer was brown butter ice cream which was dangerous to have around- it never lasted more than one day! I just subscribed to your blog- great read!
Best, Sandie
I love banana bread, it is the recipe that got me comfortable enough with baking to start my own experiments. I can’t wait to try this kind though I may have to slip in a little bit of bourbon into mine also a trick I learned from you… bourbon makes everything taste better.
As to the worrying I used to be a champion worrier. To the point where I was often afraid to take risks, I wouldn’t want to go out because what if I didn’t get along with the people I might meet or if I drive to this beautiful spot my car might careen off a cliff. After a long time of living in ridiculous fear of the what ifs I finally decided I needed to face my fears if I ever wanted to be able to live the life I wanted. And being me I don’t do things small… I threw a dart at a map and moved across the country to a new town where I knew no one, had no job and no place to live and than drove there by myself. I won’t say I never worry now, but I will say I trust in the good will of people after my adventures… people are kind and welcoming and caring. They help you out when you need a hand. So I say don’t worry about if they see you in your ratty sleepwear, they’ll help you out of the rubble regardless.
Browned butter seems to be the newest food trend. I’ve only tried experimenting with it a couple of times but I need to try more!
This looks delicious!
I love the Snapple lady and all things banana/strawberry. I am a total worrier and think about my house burning down every time I where my sailor shirt with the holes in it… but I assume that someone out there will have a blanket to cover me up…?
I recently moved into a new place and my oven was on the fritz. As of yesterday, it’s finally fixed and in perfect working order! This weekend I will be making this to celebrate my new place and the oven that finally works. Thanks for the deliciousness :)
Hey, JTB! I have super ripe bananas just waiting to hop in this recipe! Would wheat flour work as well? (trying to prevent a run to the grocery store….)
Why haven’t I ever thought of this before? Strawberries and banana bread is a perfect combo. Quoting from Veggietales…You can’t have any banana’s without stawberries (in an Englishman accent), and you can’t have any strawberries without banana’s (in a Swede accent), lol.
I have been on such a banana bread kick lately. My toddler loves bananas, but we always have some that get brown too fast for us. So I usually make us some banana bread. But strawberries are my favorite, so this is a perfect combo!!!
This bread is so pretty. I love how you cut the strawberries all half-sy like for the top. It’s like that bread is wearing the coolest strawberry polka dotted outfit. I’m just trying to tell you that I love this bread even though I’ve never met it.
You are so funny! I too worry about middle of the night natural disasters in which I will end up outside in my raggedy old tank top and no shoes! It is good to know I am not alone!!
This bread looks amazing!
How did you know that I have all of these ingredients in my house and was hoping to bake something without being forced to go to the store today?? You are smart. Wicked smart.
Quick question: do you have any suggestions on the best “banana mashing” techniques? like just a fork and mash it? sometimes i feel like I haven’t mashed enough.
Thanks for being awesome!
mash bananas in a medium bowl with a fork! easy easy!
“But I also expect and welcome not just the goodโฆ but the great.”
I love this. It’s so wonderful to read something positive and uplifting, especially when there is so much negativity in the world.
Joy, what changed you from a perpetual worrier to an optimist? I think as I get older, I tend to worry more instead of less. I would love to be able to channel your optimism and expect the great in life! How do you do it?
One question… how do you brown butter? Cook it til it turns brown?…..
I worry about tornadoes too…
and all kinds of things in the middle of the night. It’s insane. I choose to pray about it. That usually makes things much better.
Love you Joy!
Trying this bread for sure!
That looks wonderful! Too bad I’m allergic to bananas and can’t even be in the room when they’re being chopped up. :( I have to miss out on this one.
Also, I worry about stuff like that too Joy. Except, being in Texas, I worry more about tornadoes in the middle of the night. Thank God for cute pj’s!
This looks delicious! I do remember the strawberry banana craze. Remember strawberry + kiwi was big too? Every cool kid on the block was carrying around a bottle of pink or green juice. Oh wait just kidding, my hometown didn’t have blocks. Every cool kid on the gravel road had it, okay?
So when the strawberry banana thing was full throttle, I made a strawberry banana pie that was to…die…for….
Maybe I’ll have to dig that out and try it again!!
this looks AMAZING! and i’m glad that i read through the comments and found out i’m not the only chronic worrier in the world. thanks for the food and the food for thought joy :)
Oh my word does this look delicious!!
Wow! Thank you! I have ripe bananas already to make banana bread TODAY, and, yes, I have fresh strawberries too. I just so happened to click on your site to see what you were baking, and there was my recipe..waiting for me.
(p.s.–totally understand the worry thing. But, as you say, it can be such an energy waster. Try this: wear those old undies and ripped t-shirt to bed for a week or so..challenge that worry part of your brain, dare it, if you will. Next thing you know, you won’t be worried about being half-dressed in an emergency. You win. That particular worry loses. I do this when I need to overcome a worry—face it head on. Not always easy, but it can be very freeing. And the worries you can’t control…like worrying about your sick child or parent or friend, your attitude is dead on: keep positive, “expect the best.” Love that.)
I love this!
I’m sure it tastes awesome, but I don’t think I can get past the fact that it looks like it’s got a scabby rash…
Seriously? Ew.
This would be a good time to practice using your Inside Your Head voice. The bread looks awesome.
I want to make this mostly because I think it looks pretty….
Scabby rash, what an imagination! I disagree, I think it looks Yum-town, but every single person is entitled to their own opinion, and this made me laugh :) You could always skip the sliced strawberries on the top… Have a nice day everyone!
Slice the berries sideways so you get those little almost heart shaped strawberry slices instead of the rash-like circles?
Browned butter seriously makes everything better. Love this recipe!
“Instead of worry about the worst, I try to expect the best.” That’s such a GREAT way to look at life. I too, am in the process of quitting my job as a professional worrier. I think it’s coded in all women to worry haha. Thanks for the tips on how you kicked the habit (and great recipe, too!)
I wanna leave work and go home and make this! I have all the ingredients…think I know what I’ll be doing this weekend. I love your strawberry-colored shoes!
I like to think of my obsession with worry as less worry and more preparedness. ;-) But, in all seriousness, there are some things that are ok to be prepared for, but others, you just have to let go. If you spend all your time worrying about what might happen you sometimes lose sight of all the good that is happening around you. Your new attitude is fab! (And so is the bread!)
You are spot on!
I still love the banana and strawberry combo. And I just made your browned butter blueberry muffins last week and now I LOVE browned butter! Definitely will be trying this bread!
I love your blog! I don’t even like banana bread because I’m not a fan of that essential ingredient, bananas. But I still had to read this post because I knew you would be witty, entertaining, and thought provoking. Thank you!
Oh my goodness, it’s not until you said this that I realized the strawberry-banana craze WAS out of control in the 90’s…high school…strange times…I worried a lot then too! No more! Positivity!
That bread is so pretty!
I’m with you on the worrying thing. I know most of the time it won’t help. When I catch myself wasting energy, I try to focus it instead on something I can do about it. If there’s nothing, I try to find something else to think about. If that doesn’t work, I start thinking about joining worrywart anonymous.
The photos are gorgeous and the recipe looks delicious. Congrats on overcoming worrying!
:D Yay for not worrying and looking for a brighter future! ;D You can’t run from your problems; I mean, well, you should run from other people’s problems, but running from your problems is really, really hard cause you always have to live with yourself! :D Thanks for the great post and encouragement and delish banana bread! We all needed it!
This bread looks amazing! I can’t wait to make it.
You’re early comments reminded me of this great quote…?
“Worry does not empty tomorrow of its sorrow; it empties today of its strength.” โCorrie Ten Boom
Oh. Shap.
Joy
YOur very name defeats worry!! joy joy joy. Expect the amazing.
I too was a worrier and raised to be so by a professional IRish mother and grandmother.
Old habits die hard, but expecting joy is far more fun that worrying.
Clearly I need to stop checking food blogs before I have eaten my breakfast. Now instead of my quick bowl of oatmeal all I can think about is making this bread and wondering if I should feel guilty about wanting to eat the whole thing before my fiancรฉ comes home. Maybe I can turn the main components of the bread into oatmeal topping? Yes.
Strawberries and bananas together in one bread! Sounds like a plan.
Isn’t funny/great/heavenly (in all senses of the word) that when you are working/struggling through some aspect of life, that you find words of hope/wisdom/comfort in the most unsuspecting places ( i.e. food blogs). I will be sharing this post with my mom – the ultimate worrier! Thank you!
Oh and the snapple lady was a tad bit strange in my books. Have a great Friday!
This looks wonderful. My daughter is now eating all gluten. Any tricks to turn this into an all gliuten recipe?
i’m afraid it would change the recipe entirely, and i can’t give you any suggestions until I bake it up that way myself.
Joy, I have made a heck of a lot of your sweet breads and have loved LOVED every single one. I am excited to try this one. It looks sweet, like the fantastic red shoes. I couldn’t agree more, we can control how much grief we inflict to ourselves by worrying.
I’m into it! So pretty, so simple. I’d slather it with *salted* butter. (Ever notice how unsalted butter isn’t even worth it, when it comes to toast or slathering?).
I <3 your shoes. Cordovan Danskos? My favorite go-to pair as well.
Nailed it!
I’d bet that I am a major contender when it comes to worrying ~
The bread is so pretty! Looks delicious ~ I’m going to give this a try!
Then I guess we are friends.
Looks so good. I like to add strawberries to stuff this time of year like salads and muffins clearly this bread is on top of my list.
By the way I loved the garlic knots!!
Oh Joy, I am right there with you and all the other worriers out there! However my mom use to say “Expect the worse and hope for the best!” Sometimes that works….
I love strawberry banana bread ( my boyfriend makes it, not me! ) and I love the browned butter idea, yum! I can’t wait to tell him to try it!
Now I absolutely must get off work early to make this. It’s definitely going to be my get me through Friday motivation. Can’t wait to try it!
i absolutely LOVE browned butter…and just made it for myself for the first time a couple weeks ago! so delicious…and the aroma is HEAVEN.
…You’re so dadgum cute. Seriously. When I visit here and read what you have to say and see the photos and these glorious recipes that you post, I smile. Giggle even. And that’s always a good thing, no? ;o)
…Thank you for being you and for posting this recipe! Def’ gonna go on my “things to bake” list! :o)
…Blessings…
That is one pretty loaf! Your photography is really pretty wonderful, too.
Worried is my default setting. I’m trying to be more relaxed, but it’s tough. Then I worry that I’m too worried! I should just bake more, starting with your banana bread. It looks very, very good indeed.
I’m a classic, irrational, worry-about-everything worrier! This post was so refreshing and a great reminder to chill out :) And, of course, the bread looks fabulous!
thanks for the reminder that worrying is useless! And the banana bread, looks delicious :)
Pleased to meet another chronic worrier! Although I’ve never worried about having to run outside in my pj’s…until now ;)
You know, I come here for the recipes, the pictures and your lovely banter, but today I scroll away with something more. I’m also a worrier, and, although I’m not quite ready to give it up, reading this makes me feel just a little bit better. xo
“Bread will last 4 days, well wrapped at room temperature.”
How would that EVEN be possible. I’d be lucky to let the sucker cool for 4 minutes before I dive in. With the scent of bananas + strawberries and bread baking in the house…are you kidding with the 4 days routine? :)
And worry. Ahhh yes, wasted use of precious internal and emotional resources. Have spent the last 12 yrs as a yogi trying to let go of some of it. Or all of it. Mild success, depending on the day. This bread would help, though :)
If only i had this recipe a couple of days ago when i made banana bread….
I do have concerns about what I am wearing to bed sometimes too! What if?
I still love the strawberry banana combo, and would adore this bread! I think all women worry more than enough:-)
I am such a worrier, I’m getting better about not stressing about tiny things and I guess that will have to do for now… And that banana bread looks great – I haven’t made banana bread in too long and it’s one of my favourite things to bake so I need to sort that out very soon.
am i imagining things, or did you, uh, change your site’s banner to match the recipe?
also: i had a lot of fun making the cookie-dough-stuffed-meringue-frosted-cupcakes. and people loved them. and i plugged your blog like crazy. you’re welcome (thank you).
I changed the site banner for the month, and I happen to be strawberry matching.
I’m glad you liked the cupcakes!! Thank you and you’re welcome!
I love your blog. Its making me crazy reading and seeing fresh cut strawberries now!!!!!!- its just the beginning of winter here in New Zealand!
Such a pretty cake. I love the little halos around the strawberry slices where the batter has expanded. I love how you take a good thing and make it better. Yay!
That looks good! I’ve never used brown butter, but it seems to keep appearing on different blogs – time to give it a try I think!
Try it on pasta as your sauce, then sprinkle it with mizithra or fresh grated mozzarella. OMG!
Goodness, that looks so pretty. And I bet it tastes pretty too! THanks for sharing, not only the recipe, but the kick in the butt (am I allowed to say that here?) to stop worrying. Yeah, I can use that too.
haha! I kid you not.
I have thought about the midnight apocalypse scenario sans the bra many times too. And my friends and family do say I think a lot or worry a lot :o
We might really be sisters!
As a fellow worrier I appreciate this post and can so relate.
I once heard that worrying is like a rocking chair, it gives you something to do but doesn’t get you anywhere. Just eat banana and strawberry loaf instead right?
So important to remember that worrying doesn’t solve anything, but it’s difficult! Thanks for the reminder and the lovely recipe.
I have all the ingredients for this. SO EXCITED TO MAKE THIS!
Thank you. As I finish balancing the checkbook and seeing that we netted a big whopping $785.87 this year to date — and we have six kids to feed — and I am tempted to worry — thank you. You make me smile.
As long as there is a + instead of a – in front of that number, you’re better off smiling than worrying. :)
Absolutely. Thanks for a great reminder. :)
I am a major worrier, and this couldn’t come at a better time. Lots of things going on that would make the average person excited but, of course, makes me anxious. Good to be reminded that in the end, it does no good.
btw, is that Three Square i spy??
I adore those strawberry bits in the bread. It just looks so warm and cheerful!
I hate worrying. Sometimes I can’t help myself though. I tell myself not to worry, but I still do. *sigh*. Sometimes I’m more successful than others at not worrying. Others days…well…it’s downright hard to change my thoughts. Glad I’m not alone. I think positive thoughts a lot though. I really do. It’s just that those worry thoughts like to creep in. *sigh*.
Your bread looks wonderful by the way. I’ll definitely make it one of these mornings for breakfast! And I won’t worry about slathering it in butter! :)
This looks amazing. I had a thing about banana bread atm, i can’t get enough.
I love the classic strawberry/banana combo! It’s DELICIOUS in pancakes. And I adore you for adding brown butter to this! :)
1. I am currently wearing mint green nail polish. It is obvi the best color ever (until I find the next best color ever).
2. My mommy used to tell me to wear clean socks and cute underwear in case of events such as that middle-of-the-night earthquake. This is still how I justify buying lots of cute underwear.
3. I’m still kind of a worrier…but I’m going to consider this whole “not worrying” thing. You’re inspiring me to live a happier life!
4. This bread clearly sounds ridiculously awesome. I love the slices of strawberries on top, so pretty! What do you think about blueberries instead, say…if one didn’t have any strawberries on hand?
Thanks for the recipe and life inspiration!!
I’m glad to see that its the same whole thing around the world, in Spain (where I’m from), in the States…everywhere Moms are the same…mine always says “siempre tienes que llevar la ropa interior limpia y sin agujeros por si te pasa algo…” (it means the same you said but in spanish!!) …and passion for awesome and bizarre nail polish colors too (I’m actually wearing “azul Klein” nail polish (I suppose that its Klein blue in english….)…I used to be a worrier too…but I’m trying hard to see life from another point of view!!!
Nice to meet you, girls!!!
kisses from Spain!!
Unrelated, but I just wanted to say that I adore your new podcast. Love love love.
This also looks pretty tasty, and I have a freezer stuffed with a few too many overripe bananas. I know what I’m making this weekend.
Oooooh! What a fun idea! Looooove the brown butter bit. I bet that could enhance just about anything, you know? “Would you like a hamburger?” “why, yes, please, but only with a brown butter sauce.” I clearly need to get some bananas and make this recipe. With a friend. And butter. :)
YUM! This not only looks beautiful… but delicious! Omg… send me a slice?