going bananas!

I love baking…I think it really helps me to change my pace if I’m stressed or busy with lots of the same. It’s nice because it’s different than what I’m usually doing all day, I end up with a treat in the end (hopefully to share), and if you can follow directions, you usually can’t screw up!

Banana bread is one of those things I like making a lot. I don’t like bananas but tend to buy them and then don’t eat them. So when they’re about to go bad, like pretty brown, I make them into bread. It’s pretty easy, uses most things you have around in general (i.e. no uncommon or weird or expensive ingredients) and makes good bread out of otherwise wasted bananas.

YUM!

So here’s the recipe I use straight out of the 1976 Better Homes and Gardens Cookbook that my mom handed down to me when I left for college. Let’s just say I made this recipe a LOT in college and my roommates loved having me around!

1/3 cup shortening
1/2 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 3/4 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed ripe (and I use very ripe) banana
1/2 cup walnuts (if you like them, mine are nut free)

Cream together shortening and sugar; add eggs and beat well. Sift together dry ingredients; add to creamed mixture alternately with banana, blending well after each addition. Stir in nuts. Pour into well-greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pan. Bake in moderate oven (350 degrees) 45-50 minutes or until done. Remove from pan; cool on rack.

And that’s it!!