Banana Bread

This recipe is from a cookbook, that was given to me Feb 10, 1988, and was actually the second copy of the same book, so Mom got one too!  The cover automatically opens to this recipe and the one I used to use for waffles.  Enjoy!

Preheat oven to 350F

Spray a 9x5x3 loaf pan with cooking spray or grease.

Combine

2 cups flour

1/2 cup sugar

3 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

(Optional: stir in 1/2 cup finely chopped nuts, I have never added them)

Beat together

1 egg

1/4 cup milk

1/4 cup vegetable or canola oil (if all else fails, you can also use melted shortening)

1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (approx 3-4, I never measure this)

Add liquid to dry ingredients and beat for about 30 seconds.  The batter will be lumpy, and look like too much!

Turn into prepared pan, and bake for 65-70 minutes.  I have had to increase that by up to 10 minutes, at times, so try the toothpick in the centre trick.

As soon as this comes out of the oven, I always brush it with margarine, to keep the crust a  little more moist.