Gluten Free Cheeky Cherry Banana Loaf

Full of fresh local cherries and packed with many healthy benefits! Cherries are a summer favourite and the texture and flavour of this cherry loaf will make you forget that it is gluten free!

The last month has been jam packed with visiting, travelling, and endless fun back home in Saskatchewan! The trip home was long overdue, I have not been back to Saskatoon for over two years. It was great to catch up with family and friends, and to visit all the places that I found comforting and that offered me a piece of silence when I lived there. It was busy, but I managed to eat healthy while away. I did not gain any weight. However, I did not lose any either. Now that I am back I can get back onto weight watchers and continue on my journey to a healthier lifestyle.


Before leaving for Saskatchewan my mom decided that we should take something to eat for breakfasts and snacks in the hotel. This was the perfect opportunity to create a healthy and filling loaf that was gluten free. I was so excited to use all the fresh fruits available to me in the Okanagan! My fruit of choice was cherries. Cherry season lasts from June to mid-July, but you can still find some in the grocery stores and at the fruit stands. If you get a chance, this is a great loaf and I definitely recommend trying it out!

Cherries are full of healthy benefits! They are a great antioxidant and will help keep you looking young and prevent against cancer and disease.  Cherries are jam packed with fibre and can help with weight loss, improve the quality of your diet, and boost the immune system to keep you healthy! Cherries naturally contain melatonin and help regulate sleep patterns, they are also a great source of potassium and many other vitamins! If this isn't enough of a reason to eat cherries I will remind you that they are low in calories and taste amazing! The best part of living in British Columbia is that cherry season comes fast and it lasts long enough to ensure that you indulge in enough cherries (guilt-free) until the next season!

Gluten Free Cheeky Cherry Banana Loaf

Loaf
2 Cups Gluten Free Flour
1 Cup Sugar
1 Tsp Baking Soda
1 Tsp Baking Powder
1 Tsp Guar Gum
1 Tsp Cinnamon
1 Tsp Nutmeg
2 Tsp Vanilla
3/4 Cup Soured Almond Milk
1/2 Cup Apple Sauce
1/2 Cup Coconut Milk Yogurt
1 Cup Banana
1 Cup Cherries

Mix all dry ingredients and wet ingredients separately. Place all wet ingredients in the blender (excluding the cherries) until smooth. Combine both mixtures and fold in the cherries. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. While loaf is baking make the glaze.

Glaze

1 Tbs Butter

2 Tbs Corn Syrup

1 Cup Chopped Cherries

1/2 Cup Chopped Almonds

Boil down slowly and add water as needed to help the glaze boil down. I added rum at the end to add some moisture and flavour. 

I learned a lot about myself while I was gone. Going home made me realize that Saskatoon is not my home anymore. I made a good decision when I moved to Kamloops and I would not change a thing about my life today! I was a different person and believe that I have grown up since leaving. I truly believe that moving away is what helped me grow and change into the person I am today. For that I am grateful. People change and people move on, they leave their comfort zone and the challenge helps them become something great. People grow apart from the ones that they know, and the places that they call home. There is nothing wrong with growing and changing, but it is a easier process when you are surrounded by the ones who love you for who you are and not what you can do for them. I am deeply and truly grateful for my friends and family that give me support everyday to be the best person I can be. Thank you.

Saskatchewan's Provincial Flower

I hope everyone enjoys their long weekend!
k.