Polaris can be found almost directly above the North Pole and is, therefore, nicknamed the North Star or Pole Star. It can be easily located as it is the brightest star in the constellation Ursa Minor (the Little Bear), and is the last star in the handle of the Little Dipper. As the Earth turns, Polaris appears to remain stationary and all the stars appear to rotate around it. It is the only star in the sky to have this unique characteristic, and since its stationary position points due north, Polaris can be used for navigation in the Northern Hemisphere. For centuries, explorers need only look to the heavens, and to Polaris, to find their way safely home.

Ingredients

• 1 cup mashed over-ripe bananas (about 3 large bananas)
• ¼ cup white sugar
• ½ cup light brown sugar (packed)
• ½ cup (1 stick) melted butter
• ½ cup sour cream
• ½ cup peanut butter (smooth works best, but I’ve also used crunchy) – don’t forget the lick the spoon…after all – it’s peanut butter! 🙂
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 2 large eggs
• 1 ½ cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• ½ tsp kosher salt

Directions:

• Preheat oven to 350 degrees
• Grease a 9x5 loaf pan
• In a large bowl, add the bananas, sugars, butter, sour cream, peanut butter, eggs, and vanilla
• Whisk until combined
• Add the flour, baking soda, and salt
• Stir until just combined (when you can’t see any more of the flour) – do not over mix
• Pour batter into prepared pan
• Bake for 50-60 minutes (check it first at 50 minutes as oven temps differ), until a toothpick comes out dry (can have moist crumbs, but no wet batter)
• Cool for 15 minutes in pan before removing the bread

Do NOT offer any to Captain Marsh – he doesn’t like peanut butter!