Small Things Are Big Things

I really wanted to an amazing low carb Keto friendly banana bread recipe. I know I’ve been MIA. If it’s any consolation, I’ve been writing beautiful blog posts in my head… finding the time time to type them onto the computer… not one of my greatest skills.

So, I started the Keto diet three weeks ago. It’s going…um…OK. The first week was golden! I lost 5 pounds and felt amazing. The second week I got the Keto flu, gained the 5 pounds back (even though I was sticking to 20 carbs a day), and I thought I was going to die.
Seriously.
You know I escalate quickly.

Getting rid of the Keto Flu was a process. I started getting leg cramps, all my muscles were throbbing and in pain. Like after the hardest workout of your life but the muscles weren’t getting any less sore. I added lots of water and salt to my daily meals, and thanks to a tip from a friend, I now start my day with a shot of pickle juice (weird, I know) and I take electrolyte supplements. I don’t feel like I’m going to die anymore and I’m losing weight again. But I don’t have tons of of that promised Keto energy… yet. I’m going to stick with it for 2 months and then reassess.
I better be skinny by then.

We love baking around here and after making a triple batch of banana bread for the kids I needed to find something for me! Unfortunately a lot of the recipes out there called for ingredients that I just don’t have in my pantry yet. (What the heck is Xanthan gum anyway?) So I made up my own recipe and it turned out amazing. Each slice is 6.8 net carbs… now this is a lot of carbs if you are trying to stay at 20 net or fewer. But sometimes mama just needs some banana bread! And this is “cheating” without actually ruining your ketosis.

Low Carb Keto Friendly Banana Bread Recipe

This will fill 2 loaf pans (I never do small recipes… big family problems) and you’ll be cutting each loaf into 10 slices.

Each slice is 11 total Carbs, 15.5 Fat, and 6.9 Protein, 4.2 Fiber
Grand total of 6.8 Carbs!!!

• Butter to coat the 2 loaf pans
• 3 medium to large bananas
• 6 eggs
• 4 Tablespoons extra virgin olive oil1/4-1/3 cup of water may need to be added to get it to the correct batter consistency and amount. (See directions.) Follow your heart.
• 4 cups almond flour
• 3 Tablespoons Anthony’s Organic Psyllium Husk (affiliate)
• 2 Tablespoons baking powder
• 1 teaspoon salt
• 2 teaspoons cinnamon

Note: I guess the Psyllium Husk is bit of a unique ingredient. I got it on amazon while I had the Keto Flu because it helps with keeping a girl regular, if you know what I mean. It only has 4 total carbs AND it has 3 fibers so it’s only 1 net carbs! I’ve been sprinkling this on all sorts of things and adding it to baking. Trust me… if Keto is messing with your #2, you need to order this stuff.

Another Note: Next time I make this I’m going to add a few tablespoons of chia seeds too!

Directions:

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees.
2. Coat 2 loaf pans with butter (beautiful butter)
3. Use a potato masher to mash the bananas.
4. Add the eggs and oil and then keep on mashing.
5. You’ll want about 4 cups of the wet ingredients total. I mash in a quart size pyrex measuring dish and then fill up the 4 cup line with water. It’s about 1/3 of a cup-ish.
6. In a separate bowl whisk the almond flour, baking powder, salt, and cinnamon.
7. Add wet banana mixture to the dry ingredients and stir just enough to combine.
8. Pour the goodness into the loaf pans and bake for 45 minutes. Or until a toothpick comes out clean.
9. Remove from loaf pan and let cool for a bit before digging in… but if you can’t wait, just slather on the butter and try not to eat the whole loaf. Or just eat it. This whole loaf is less carbs than I would have had in a meal before keto.
10. Seriously. Carbs are so freaking good.