Half Walnut, Half Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I'm hoping you can figure out which side is which :)

So, this brilliant light-bulb idea came to me all because of a swimming pool. Or lack thereof, as the case would be. See, although I pay $1000 bucks a month to live in my beautiful little studio apartment, in the city I live in (hint hint it's listed on the NYC area page on Craigslist), that doesn't get you a pool. Or anywhere to lay out and tan. There's the beach, but that's a whole 2 1/2 miles away. At least I've got a parking spot. A block and a big road crossing away, which on rainy days when you forget your umbrella and are too lazy to turn back, makes you real attractive for work.Oh the joys of being 20-something.

But I digress. So, I had 5 brown bananas. My friend who loves banana bread (the one who proposed marriage to me) has a pool at his complex. So, needless to say, I bribed him to spend the day with us at the pool in exchange for banana bread. However, he has a thing for walnuts (whereas the only nuts I'm willing to eat are pecans), so I half and halfed it. Longest explanation ever? Possibly. Anyway, it's basically the same recipe as my regular chocolate chip banana bread, but with some extra special steps thrown in. Enjoy!

Ingredients:

• 2 cups all-purpose flour (or whole wheat, which is what I used)
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon baking soda
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 5 mashed bananas (As brown as you can handle)
• 1 cup sugar (I used brown sugar)
• 1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine (I used a stick of melted unsalted butter)
• 1 cup + (optional) a little more (for topping purposes) of chocolate chips (This makes it incredibly chocolatey, I wouldn't use any more)
• 1 cup of walnuts + (optional) a little more (for topping purposes) (Feel free to substitute with other nuts FYI)

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
• Grease bottom and sides of bread loaf pan.
• Mash bananas in a large bowl. (Don't need to be 100% smooth).

• Combine with eggs, sugar, and butter/oil/margarine.

• Combine with flour, baking powder, and baking soda.

Stir both batters until moistened. (Should still be lumpy)

How it should look

• Grab a second bowl. Split the batter evenly between your two bowls.
• For bowl one: mix in walnuts.

See how my hand is see-through? That
was AFTER spending all of Saturday at
an outdoor bar. POOL IS NEEDED

• For bowl two: mix in chocolate chips.

Sorry it's kind of blurry

• Here's the fun part: find something to block off one side of the loaf pan. (I used a drinking glass b/c it fit perfectly)
• Pour in one of the batters, only getting it into one half of the loaf.

• Pour in the other half slowly, gradually pulling out your "blocker," making sure to keep the batters on their separate sides. 
• Sprinkle the excess walnuts and chocolate chips on top of their respective sides.

• Cook for 55 -60 minutes in the oven. (I put them in for 55 minutes then let them sit for ~5 minutes while the oven cooled)

Prep: ~15 minutes
Yield: 1 loaf, many compliments, and 1 marriage proposal

I love her. Best running partner/snuggle buddy. (I babysit for her owners)