Banana Bread

This Banana Bread recipe was given to me by a co-worker in 1974.  I worked at Kings County Hospital in Brooklyn with a very sweet lady, Sally Rubinstein.  I was a young mom...she was about ready to retire.  Sally gave me such great advice about marriage and children.  She loved to bake and one of her specialties was Banana Bread.  

I haven't made it in years.  Recently, my granddaughter's boyfriend, Michael, asked if I knew how to make Banana Bread. I automatically thought of Sally.  I found the old recipe and made it for him.  He loved it.  

So here's to you my friend Sally Rubinstein.

Ingredients:

• 1 stick of butter or margarine, melted
• 1 cup sugar
• 2-3 mashed ripe bananas
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 2 eggs
• 2 cups of sifted flour
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• cinnamon sugar (about a 1/4 cup sugar with desired amount of cinnamon)
• 1/2 cup of chopped walnuts and/or chocolate chips (optional)

1. Cream shortening, sugar, bananas, vanilla and eggs.  Add dry ingredients a little at a time. Mix well.
2. Pour half the batter into a greased loaf pan, sprinkle with cinnamon sugar.  Add remaining batter and again top with cinnamon sugar.
3. Bake at 350 degress for 55-60 minutes or until toothpick in the center of bread comes out clean.
4. Let stand for 10 minutes. Remove from pan.

Enjoy.