The Beach House - Opossum Bay
The beach house was tucked away in a sleepy suburb 45 minutes away from the city center. At first, no one seemed to mind the trek to what would be our home for the next four days. We were all excited about the prospects of an extended weekend, a long overdue family vacation. My first impression was that the house itself was almost like a secret that was too good to be true. It felt like this house had exclusive access to the pristine beach front situated right in front of it. I couldn’t believe how lucky we were NOT to be sharing such a wonderful view with anyone (or at least it seemed that way!).
The Beach
Might as well be upfront and let you know that sometimes vacations sounds more idyllic when you’re thinking about them – than actually going on them. Especially when you are a group of four families, with each family having at least one representative who is very outspoken and stubborn about getting their way. In fact, my brother in law, commented one day after an hour of healthy debate, that it was easier to organize the European Union than it was to organize our family lunch. But somehow, we always managed to resolve things quickly. The easiest way, we found, was to separate during the day – one group would explore the various surrounding towns, driving to the markets and searching for Tasmania’s famous scallop pies. The rest would stay in the beach house, go for a swim, build sandcastles and pass the time playing computer games. When we got back, we’d trade stories about the day’s adventures. We were all very impressed when my nephew found a beautiful seashell which he was planning to keep for a souvenir.
Ben's Seashell
At night however, we’d gather around the lounge room and reminisce – funnily enough – about our old holidays! We’d talk about how we’d go to Baguio, one of the popular holiday destinations in the Philippines every Christmas time. We’d talk about the games we used to play to pass the time (hours and hours of monopoly), the neighbors we used to hang around with. And of course, the dishes we used to eat – the first meal would always be adobo, and lumpia. So one night, in honour of the olden days, we had adobo.
The Blog Monster's Adobo
And then there was the Banana Bread. I had no intention of baking or cooking this weekend. But somehow all resolve vanished when I saw in the general store we passed on the way to the house, a box full of brown, overripe bananas just waiting to be baked. Some people may have turned their nose up at the produce, but I couldn’t believe how lucky I was to get them for 50 cents!
The Beach House Banana Bread
And so, I baked a homely and delicious banana bread made from the goodies I could find from the general store. Chocolate chips, walnuts, dates and of course the 50 cent bananas. As a testament to how good it was (that and of course, as a testament to how many bananas I actually bought!), I made two batches. The first one using white sugar, and the second one using more dates and brown sugar I managed to find in the cupboard. I’m sharing with you the second recipe – which I personally enjoyed more.
I never got to find out if Ben took the seashell… oh well – at least we will always have memories of this great vacation and of course…the banana bread…
Recipe
- 2 cups flour
- 3/4 cup brown sugar
- 3/4 teaspoon baking soda
- 1 teaspoon salt
- 1 cup dark/semi sweet chocolate chips
- 1/2 cup walnuts, chopped
- 1 cup dates, steeped in hot water for 5 minutes and chopped
- 2 large eggs, beaten
- 100 grams melted butter, cooled (I didn’t have a scale so I just eyeballed it)
- 3 large ripe bananas, mashed
Beach House Banana Bread
- Mix the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt in a large bowl
- In a separate bowl, mix the eggs, butter, bananas, chocolate chips, walnuts and dates
- Fold the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and pour into a brownie pan or a loaf pan that has been buttered
- Bake in a 20cm by 20 cm brownie pan (or a loaf pan if you’ve got it) in a pre-heated fan forced oven at 180c for 30 to 40 minutes until you can pierce the batter with a knife and it comes out clean.
Beach House Banana Bread
Trissalicious 
Hey! I found your website again. I’ve been looking for it for a while, this time I’m going to bookmark it.
I was just looking at this post the other day and thought, wow, Opossum Bay is where we used to stay when I was a kid. My parents have been away but they have just came back and I showed them the photos and this is their old holiday house. My grandparents bought it in the fifties and we used to spend a lot of time there. We have photos of me sitting on the ramp outside the boatshed with my mum and nan. Back then it was only a single story “beach shack”. Thanks for sharing your holiday there, it brought back some amazing memories.
The banana bread looks truly awesome! I would love to stay in the beach house for the holiday!
Hi! First time here and love the blog! This banana bread looks heavenly!
That bananabread looks absolutely lovely… To be honest; I do love my family but I would absolutely refuse to go on any kind of holiday with them. That would for sure end in disaster! Too many clashing opinions! My brother is notorious for breaking up the family peace (he’s the youngest of four kids and well, the only boy…so spoiled rotten) and I am sure we would be fighting within a day…lol… It’s better with my in-laws but only just… I guess I am not a real family person!
The beach house looks gorgeous, what a great spot to spend time with your family (and it seems like you weren’t likely to kill each other… well done!). I’m incredibly impressed you baked banana bread whilst on holiday. I am not sure the thought would even enter my mind 🙂
The banana bread was terrific! At first I thought how can you mix choc chips with banana, yuck… But trissalicious proved me wrong!
Btw, I’m glad you’re much better at cooking than you are at identifying seashells 😉
I love how over-ripe bananas make the best banana bread and cake! Definitely a case of the product being so much greater than the sum of its parts =)
Lovely locale, great writing, and yummy banana bread. Great combo.
Hi again Trissa, Just left you an award on my blog to pick up. I don’t mind at all if you aren’t into these things and don’t pick it up, just think of it as an e-hug 🙂
Trissa that looks so delicious. Just the thing I need for afternoon tea!
What a fabulous beach house! Looks like the perfect getaway spot, and the banana bread would make it that much better. Particularly love the addition of chocolate!
Hi Trissa! 🙂
I don’t know which one I love more..that beautiful beach scenery or your yummy banana bread (thanks for sharing it), you and your family are really lucky to be there..
..I love your pollo a la Naranja too, will definitely try it.. 🙂
..I know you already are, but just the same.. I hope you have a really, really fun time on your vacation!! 😉
yum that looks like such a wholesome banana bread
Trissa s banana bread was so good and easy to make. Just any one above twelve could experiment with it in the kitchen… You don t even need a hand mixer, though I saw one in the rented beach house. Did you know that Trissa? You can t imagine how we devoured the banana bread as it came out if the oven pipping hot. I recommend your trying to make this. When I get home to Manila I will try making it with white chocolate chips….
Great holidays with great baking, Trissa!
Hmm….I love the one with chocolate chips, walnuts and dates ^0^
lovely bread for a lovely family. The seashell is amazing. At least there is a memory on this blog.
Your pictures are great. Banana bread is delicious. Its good for breakfast or a snack. I learnt this trick from an old neighbour who used to make the best banana bread. She would put really overripe bananas into the freezer over night and then defrost it to use the next day. The banana bread or cake turns out so moist. What a great trick.
the 50 cents overripe bananas are a steal, and look how you transform them to such a beautiful loaf of bread! What an idyllic place to retreat to, I wish I can find vacation spots like this here.
Nice pictures! The banana bread looks delicious 🙂
It looks beautiful there. I don’t know if I could manage with four families though…
Looks like a lovely place to visit. Looks like there is lots of wide, open and scenic spaces – good for running away from people on a family holiday should one feel the need 😉 haha
Somehow food seems to unite people though – so nice 🙂
That is a great banana bread! I love the addition of the dates 🙂
I need some vacation now 🙂 The place you went seems wonderful!
I’m not a big fan of a banana bread, however, I must admit that yours looks yummy! Seems like you had a nice holiday in the end.
My family is also impossible to organize. Everyone is passive agressive … they won’t exactly say no to a plan but they’ll come up with a lot of excuses why not to do your plan. It drives my husband bananas! But you can make bread out of his bananas.:) The beach looks fab!
No you didn’t!! Baking on a holiday? You’re good! The banana bread’s good! I’m so ashamed of myself. The only thing I baked on my recent hols was reheating pizza.
Adobo is always present wherever we go..hee…
nice photos♥ . my mom always makess banana bread too..
What a gorgeous place for a getaway. Those picturesque cottages always make holidays even more idyllic. And how lucky were you to get those bargain bananas. I would have just bought banana bread, hehe!
Aaah! The good ol’ family vacation! I’m glad you eventually sorted it out..LOL! The banana cake looks delicious! Clever name too!
This just looks amazing. I love banana bread but it’s just one of those things I haven’t gotten around to baking yet!
Love the pictures. You are truly blessed with a great family. Wonderful holiday you had. I love the saying, “A family that cooks together, stays together.”
Wow! This looks delicious! Love the pics. I am going to ask my wife to make this for me.
I often peel and freeze ripe bananas when they are cheap to buy, they still make great Banana Bread along with smoothies that are like banana icecream when you blend them up frozen. Will be making your recipe today, looks delish 🙂
Love the heart……now that the tree is gone :-0
I’ve baked a thing but never in my life do I think I’ve made anything that makes me want smell-o-vision as much as banana bread…………..was so looking for an excuse to make a version over the weekend but all my bananas were in perfectly good shape. I hate it when that happens. Love to the BM 🙂
Beachy Keen! All of it..a favorite place on earth for me the beach..It’s funny that’s what I baked while at the sea..Banana bread and Ju’s cake:)~
Love the pics..thanks for sharing..It’s so not beachy here.
Dates and brown sugar and over-ripe bananas, YUM. The beach house looks like heaven =D.
Your vacation sounds blissful.. Agree with ya.. sometimes the illusions of a vacation are more grandiose than the reality 🙂 still I’d rather take one than not ;-)) .. Right now I wish I was on the sunny beachside of Tasmania than freezing in the NE US! :O.. Btw, does it get very cold there in winter?
Don’t know why people don’t understand how much flavor is in those overripe bananas! That’s the time to bake with them. Great looking banana bread and the cottage looks adorable. Nice to be with family, separate yet together if you know what I mean. Looks like you worked out a perfect plan for living together!
Trissa…I was just about to leave a comment on this luscious banana bread when I saw your comment 🙂 WOW, love the story related to it..and it looks and sounds so yummy. I have some beach house memories myself, but many of them involve baking ourselves rather than ‘baking’..lol
That sure looks like so much fun all of you had. I’m amused at your brother-in-law’s comment. I can identify with him…LOL. Great food all of you had. Love the shell.
The banana bread looks awesome. Enjoy the rest of the trip.
I’ve been telling my husband recently that I want to have a go at some banana bread! I’ve had it before when my grandmother used to make it but was never a really big fan…somehow recently I’ve been getting cravings for it.
Family vaca’s can be stressful and you were right to split up during the day- it’s always nice to be able to go off and do your own thing and then come back with real appreciation for your time together!
Looks like a lovely place.