Banana Bread with Nuts

This is such an easy Banana Bread Recipe from my Aunt's collection. Talk about a comfort food, it can be eaten as a dessert or a great coffee cake. This Banana Nut Bread falls under the category of Breads, but it is more of a sweet bread.

It's a great way to make use of those bananas in your kitchen that are just getting a little too soft to eat with your cereal. I like to eat bananas on my cereal, but the soft ones deserve a place in your Banana Nut Bread Recipe.

Try adding different ingredients in your Banana Nut Bread for a variety, such as apples, raisins, some even like peanut butter.

**For Tropical Banana Bread add crushed pineapple, coconut and maybe some macadamia nuts. Wonderful!

Ingredients:
First Cream together:

2/3 c. shortening
½ c. sugar
2 eggs
1 c. mashed banana
½ c. nuts (try walnuts)

1 3/4 c. flour
2 t. baking powder
¼ t. salt
¼ t. baking soda

Gradually stir dry ingredients into banana mixture 1 cup at a time.

Finally, mix batter real well. Place in greased loaf pan. Bake at 350° for 1 hr. or until wooden pick inserted comes out clean.

Banana Nut Muffins

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 teaspoons baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
4 ripe bananas
1 cup brown sugar
3/4 cup butter, melted and cooled
2 eggs
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
1/2 cup pecans, chopped

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, and salt; set aside. Mash 2 of the bananas with a fork in a small bowl. With an electric mixer whip the remaining bananas and sugar for 2 to 3 minutes. Add the melted butter, eggs, and vanilla and beat well, scraping the bowl. Mix in the dry ingredients just until incorporated. Fold in the nuts and the mashed bananas into the batter. Spoon the batter into the buttered muffin tins to fill them about halfway. Remember, for your muffins to peak right, don't overmix the batter.

Bake at 375°  for 18 to 20 minutes or until pick inserted in muffin comes out clean. Cool on wire rack before turning the muffins out.