Banana Bread
1-3/4 cups flour, sifted
1/3 cup shortening
2-3/4 tsp. baking powder
2/3 cup sugar
1/2 tsp. salt
3-4 ripe bananas
2 eggs
Sift together flour, baking powder and salt. Beat shortening in mixer bowl until creamy. Add sugar and eggs. Continue beating at medium speed 1 minute or 150 strokes by hand eater. Peel bananas, mash, add to egg mixture alternately with dry ingredients. Mix until blended. Do not overbeat. Scrape bowl and beater once or twice. Turn into greased loaf pan and bake in a moderate oven 350 degrees about 1 hour and 10 minutes, or until bread is done.
Variations: To egg mixture, add either: 1 cup coarsely chopped nuts; 1 cup seedless raisins, or 1 cup finely chopped dates.
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