February 23 is National Banana Bread Day, honouring one of the most comforting creations to ever come out of a kitchen. Few things compare to walking into a house filled with the smell of a freshly baked loaf — warm, sweet, and just a little bit nostalgic. It’s no wonder banana bread has earned a permanent place in so many recipe boxes.
Bananas first arrived in the U.S. in the 1870s, but it wasn’t until the 1930s — when baking powder became widely available — that banana bread recipes began appearing in North American cookbooks. Some food historians believe the loaf was born out of the Great Depression, when thrifty home bakers refused to waste overripe bananas. Others credit corporate test kitchens looking to promote flour and baking soda. Either way, the result was a classic.
Banana bread has reinvented itself over the decades, even enjoying a massive resurgence during the 2020 lockdowns, when it became the unofficial comfort food of quarantine kitchens. And around the world, variations continue to thrive — in the Philippines, for example, banana bread is known as banana cake, introduced during the American colonial period when the country became a major banana supplier.
Whether you like yours plain, studded with chocolate chips, or loaded with nuts, today is the perfect excuse to bake a loaf… or at least enjoy a slice.
Before you preheat the oven, here’s your Tillsonburg fuel update:
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Pioneer: $122.9
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Esso: $121.6
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Shell: $123.9
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Petro Canada: $122.9
And if your bananas are already turning brown on the counter, consider it a sign — the universe wants you to bake today.
