Banana Bread

Ingredients:

Butter or Margarine - 1/2 cup
Granulated Sugar - 1 cup
Eggs - 2
Mashed very ripe bananas (approx 3 medium) - 1 cup *
* note * I actually use frozen bananas now. When they get too ripe to eat, toss em in the freezer, and they're waiting for when you have enough for a batch or two! Simply thaw them out, slit them open and push the banana out, it will all slide right out into your bowl!

All-purpose Flour - 1 3/4 cups
Baking Soda - 1 tsp
Baking Powder - 1/2 tsp
Salt - 1/2 tsp
Chopped walnuts - 1 cup (totally optional, we almost never do this one)
For Banana Chip Bread add 3/4 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips (this is our favourite!)

Method:

Cream butter and sugar together. Beat in eggs one at a time, beating until smooth. Add mashed bananas and blend in.

In a second bowl, stir flour with baking soda, baking powder, salt and nuts. Add to banana mixture stirring only to moisten. Transfer to greased loaf pan (9 by 5 by 3 inch). Bake in 350 F oven for about an hour until inserted toothpick comes out clean. Let stand 10 minutes (I let stand longer for the banana chip bread, otherwise it falls apart). Remove from pan and place on cake rack to cool. Wrap to store. Makes one loaf.

This recipe easily doubles (or triples!), just be careful the bowls you use, you'll need a much larger one for a double recipe!