You can make the same banana bread that Jim Nabors enjoyed!

A recipe so good, you can't help but shout, ''Shazaam!''

November 25, 2019, 11:36AM By MeTV Staff

"Mayberry, with just a winked and a nod, almost seems like a real place. Certainly, no one epitomizes the homespun love in Mayberry better than Aunt Bee. And no one puts more love into a meal than she does."

These are the words that kick off Aunt Bee’s Mayberry Cookbook. Released in October of 2000, this cookbook is a compilation of rare show photographs, bits of dialogue from the show surrounding food, and nearly 300 recipes from the cast, crew and friends of the show.

The authors of this book are serious fans of The Andy Griffith Show; Jim Clark is the Presiding Goober of The Andy Griffith Show Rerun-Watchers Club, and Ken Beck is a journalist who worked on Nashville newspaper The Sunday Showcase. Over the course of his career, he's had the opportunity to interview most of the show's cast at one time or another.

Together, they’ve written a number of books surrounding Mayberry including Act Like Somebody: Special Moments of Parenting from The Andy Griffith Show, The Andy Griffith Show Book, Mayberry Memories: The Andy Griffith Show Photo Album and more.

The cookbook contains recipes that have been brought up time and again on the show — kerosene pickles, anyone?

One of the best gems in the bunch is a recipe that came from the one and only Jim Nabors called “Gomer’s Banana Bread Pyle.” This sweet and sticky dessert recipe is full of mashed bananas and macadamia nuts.

Aunt Bee's Mayberry CookbookGomer's Banana Bread Pyle.

If you were looking for one more contribution to an upcoming event or party, look no further! The book's entire intention was created in the spirit of sharing that Mayberry community spirit that comes with a hot, homecooked meal.

As the book states in its introduction, "In compiling this cookbook, we have tried to capture and preserve the same kind of warmth and love that Aunt Bee has when she prepares a meal for Andy and Opie and her guests."

If you want to whip up a batch of Nabor's banana bread, here is the recipe from the Aunt Bee’s Mayberry Cookbook:

1 cup butter of oil

2 cups sugar

4 eggs, beaten well

6 to 7 bananas, mashed

2 ½ cups sifted all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon salt

2 teaspoons baking soda

½ cup chopped macadamia nuts

Grease 2 large loaf pans or 5 smaller ones. Cream the butter with the sugar. Add the eggs and beat well. Add the mashed bananas, stirring to blend. In a separate bowl sift together the dry ingredients. Fold the dry ingredients into the batter, mixing well. Add the macadamia nuts. Pour the batter into the pans. Bake in a 350° oven for 50 to 60 minutes, or until done.

For muffins, fill 12 muffin cups ¾ full and bake in a 350° oven for 35 to 45 minutes.

Makes 2 large loaves, 5 small loaves, or 12 large muffins.

– Jim Nabors (Gomer Pyle)