Bananas

In case you didn't know, little boys like to touch everything they see. This makes a trip to Target especially difficult, now that Walter refuses to sit in a shopping cart. Nate's solution is to give our little monkey 2 bananas (one for each hand) as soon as we walk in the door. By the end of the shopping trip, we get to buy 2 very bruised bananas which sit on the counter until they are overripe, because no one wants to eat a very bruised banana. But this isn't a bad thing! This gives us an excuse to make banana bread, using my Grandma Martens' recipe. Nope, it's not a bad thing at all.

Gram's Banana Bread
1/3 cup shortening (I use butter instead. It's just as good.)
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs (slightly beaten)
1 3/4 cups sifted flour
2 3/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mashed bananas (2-3)
Beat shortening until creamy and glossy, or 2 minutes at medium speed. Gradually add sugar, beating until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat until thick and pale yellow in color. Sift dry ingredients; add alternately with bananas, blending thoroughly after each addition. Grease bottom only of loaf pan. Turn batter into pan. Bake at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean. Let bread cool 20-30 minutes in pan, then turn onto rack.