A miracle would be great right about now. The past six months have been stressful because of my hounds. It started back in September when Tiger was sick and had his spleen removed. Then Lexie collapsed and we discovered she has heart disease. Now Trixie is very sick. She has mitral valve disease plus a severe immune-mediated disease which is causing autoimmune hemolytic anemia. I've spent lots of time at the vet and waiting for tests to be done. One time while waiting on an ultrasound, I went to a store to pass the time. I spotted something I had not seen before and bought it to give it a try. It's been in my pantry until I finally got a chance to use it. Amaranth Banana Nut Bread is what I made with the package of tiny seeds.
Amaranth seeds are considered a superfood. They are loaded with nutrients, protein, lysine (amino acid), rich in fiber, and gluten-free. Most of the time they are cooked by either boiling in water or popped like popcorn. The boiled type is what is used in the bread. The seeds never totally soften on the outside when boiled so they still has a bit of pop or crunch when eating them.
How is the bread? It's moist and dense. There are two crunch factors, one from chopped walnuts and the other from amaranth seeds. Banana flavor shines through in each bite. My favorite way to eat a slice is to warm or toast it lightly and drizzle honey on it.
Trixie's illness has caused her to have no appetite. We try everything to get her to eat. Your probably would not believe what all we have tried. Some days we have to feed her liquid food with a syringe. Other days she eats a few bites of food on her own. She will eat a little of something then turn her nose up and won't eat it again. She did eat some of this bread. Thank goodness it has the healthy seeds, whole wheat flour, nuts, honey, eggs, and banana in it.
Each day is a fight for Trixie's life. She is very weak. We are doing everything we can to get her well. She's had a couple of blood transfusions and is on several medications. All we can do is keep at it and have plenty of hope. She's such a sweetie and I want only to see her happy, healthy, strong, and playing again. So a miracle really would be great. Send one my way if you can.
Bread Bakers theme this month is seeds. It is what gave me the opportunity to use my amaranth. Our host is Karen of Karen's Kitchen Stories. Scroll down to see the list of breads baked for the theme. Also check out Purple Snow Peas with Sunflower Seeds for a quick and easy side dish featuring seeds, and this Sorghum Flour Banana Bread for another ancient grain option.
Amaranth Banana Nut Quick Bread
Ingredients
- 1 cup white whole wheat flour
- 1 cup unbleached cake flour
- 2 teaspoons baking powder
- ½ cup chopped walnuts
- 1 cup mashed ripe bananas about 3 bananas
- ½ cup honey
- 2 large eggs at room temperature
- 3 tablespoons unsalted butter melted
- 1 teaspoon vanilla extract
- 1 cup cooked amaranth at room temperature
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350°F. Lightly grease a 9- X 5-inch or 8- X 4-inch loaf pan.
- Whisk together whole wheat flour, cake flour, baking powder and walnuts in a large bowl.
- Whisk together bananas, honey, eggs, butter, and vanilla in a medium bowl. Add amaranth stir or whisk until combined.
- Pour liquid ingredients into dry ingredients. Stir until dry ingredients are moistened.
- Pour batter into loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out mostly clean. It is a moist bread so there may be a little that clings to the tester.
- Cool bread in pan for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
Recipe adapted from Amaranth Banana Walnut Bread on the Whole Grains Council website.
It's getting mighty seedy with Bread Bakers. It's because the bakers have been busy baking bread with seeds. Take a look at these wonderful recipes:
- Amaranth Banana Nut Quick Bread from Magnolia Days
- Anadama Bread from Baking in Pyjamas
- Bird Seed Bread from Culinary Adventures with Camilla
- Crunchy Seed Braid from A Shaggy Dough Story
- Eggless Multigrain Bread from Cooking Club
- Everything Dutch Oven Bread from Chef Mireille's East West Realm
- Hearty Seed Dinner Rolls from A Day in the Life on the Farm
- Khobz Mzaweq - Moroccan Decorated Bread from Food Lust People Love
- Lemon Chia Quick Bread from Basic N Delicious
- Lemon Curd Poppy Seed Bread from A Baker's House
- Lemon Poppy Seed Bread from The PinterTest Kitchen
- Makowiec - Polish Poppy Seed Bread from Sweet Cinnamon & Honey
- Multigrain and Seed Bread Extraordinaire from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Pain Petri - Moroccan Challah from Passion Kneaded
- Seeded Club Soda Bread from Hezzi-D's Books and Cooks
- Sesame Studded Grissini (Breadsticks) from Ruchik Randhap
- Simit - Turkish Ring Bread from Spiceroots
- Six Seed Soda Bread from Bakers and Best
- Sunflower Seed Bread from My Catholic Kitchen
- Sunflowers Seeds Bread from Kids & Chic
What is Bread Bakers? It's a group of bread loving bakers who get together once a month to bake bread with a common ingredient or theme. You can see all our of lovely bread by following our Bread Bakers Pinterest Board. Links are also updated after each event on the Bread Bakers home page.
How is the monthly theme determined? We take turns hosting each month and choosing the theme/ingredient.
Would you like to join in the fun? If you are a food blogger, send an email with your blog name and url to Stacy at [email protected].
Bless that sweet face! Trixie has been on my mind and in my prayers, Renee. This super food amaranth loaf sounds perfect to boost her energy. Not that she'd care but it's also a beautiful bread.
I am sending prayers for your Trixie. I feel your pain. We had to have our Buddy Boy put down last week. He was 14 years old and had cancer. It is so hard when one of our beloved pets are ill.
Glad she enjoyed that wonderful looking bread.
I'm sorry to hear about your dogs, here's to hoping you have good news to share about Trixie soon!
What a beautiful and unusual banana bread. I am sure it tasted as good as it looked.I am so sorry to hear about your hound. My prayers are with you and your sweet hound.
I am sorry to hear of your heartache as you care for your dogs. They are lucky to have you and I am sure the joy shared goes both ways. Thanks for showing me how to bake with amaranth. I've read about its healthy benefits but have not baked with it.
I looove banana bread, and I've never tried amaranth before. This looks like a recipe I have to try! I am so sorry to hear about your furrbabies. I am sending all my hope and good vibes to you and Trixie! <3
Sending lots of healing thoughts for your fur babies! And many many more for Trixie. And some warm comforting thoughts for you as well, Renee.
I was really waiting to see this bread. Incredible and beautiful. You taught me how to bake with amaranth.
Oh Renee, I wish I had a miracle for that sweet girl. Just said a little prayer.
Sending you happy thoughts for your puppy.
Sending prayers to your sweetie!! Get well soon, Trixie. I love amaranth. This is definitely my kind of bread.
yummy bread.I never heard of amarnath seeds lovely..............
although baked with the flour a few times, never really use amaranth. this bread looks so moist and delicious
That months you've been with your dogs, I hope Trixie is better.
The bread looks delicious, I must find amaranth seeds to test your wonderful recipe
I hope your pups are doing better! I love the addition of seeds in this tsty bread.
Beautiful bread! I hope I find amaranth seeds soon so that I could give this bread a try. Sorry to hear about your dogs and I hope Trixie feels better soon. Sending her my prayers and to you too!
Your post made me choke up. I will definitely send good vibes your and your dogs' ways. I hope you get that miracle you're looking for.
I tried amaranth once and didn't love it. But in banana bread I have a feeling I'd change my mind.
Hi Renee, thanks for sharing your recipe and using amaranth as an ingredient! 🙂 We are promoting the health and environmental benefits of amaranth. If you have 5 min., please read our recent press release:
http://www.5-am.co/blog/2015/4/24/5am-provisions-inc-press-release
Please consider lending your voice to health and sustainability by RT/FAV our posts ❤️