Banana Bread Recipe

This is lovely for afternoon tea.

Ingredients

1 and 3/4 cups sifted flour
2 Tablespoons baking powder
1/4 teaspoon soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/3 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, well-beaten
1 cup (2 to 3) ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 cup broken walnuts
1 cup dates or raisins

Directions

Preheat oven to 350°F. Grease a loaf pan and set aside.

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt.

Cream shortening, then add sugar and beat until mixture feels light. Add eggs and beat well.

Add flour mixture alternatively with bananas, beating after each addition. Stir in nuts and dates or raisins.

Pour mixture into prepared pan and bake 60-65 minutes, until a toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean. Let pan cool for 10 minutes, then turn bread out onto a wire rack and let cool completely.