Matthew's No Nut Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 4 bananas, finely crushed
• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 teaspoon vanilla

Preparation:

Grease and flour one 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch loaf pan or two mini sized loaf pans.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Cream together butter and sugar.

Add eggs and mashed bananas.

Combine well.

Sift together flour, soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Add vanilla.

Spoon mixture into prepared loaf pan(s) and bake for 60 minutes, or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of a loaf.

Cool on rack before slicing.

Spiced Banana Raisin Walnut Bread

Ingredients:

• 6 large, very ripe bananas
• 1/2 cup vegetable oil (1/4 cup sufficient)
• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 1/2 cups sugar (one cup sufficient)
• 4 eggs
• 1 teaspoon vanilla
• 3 cups flour
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 2 tablespoons ground cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 1/2 cups raisins
• 1 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Preparation:

Grease and flour two 4 1/2 x 8 1/2 inch loaf pans.  Heat oven to 350 degrees.

In medium bowl, mash bananas and mix with oil.

In separate bowl cream sugar and butter.  Add eggs and vanilla - mix to combine.  Stir in banana and oil mixture; mix well.

Combine  dry ingredients in another bowl and then add to the creamed banana mixture.

Stir in raisins and walnuts.

Spoon mixture into prepared loaf pans and bake for 45 - 50 minutes, or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of a loaf.

Cool on rack before slicing.