Banana Bread with Choc Chips

This is a fantastic recipe from my Auntie in Sydney - it's quick, easy, conveniently uses up bananas you've forgotten about and tastes delicious.  Especially with choc chips all through it.

Recipe Source: The 1997 Joy of Cooking

Ingredients - 11 x 21 cm (4 x 8 inch) loaf

185g plain flour
1/2 tsp bicarbonate of soda
1/4 tsp baking powder
75g unsalted butter
65g sugar
2 eggs
2 ripe bananas (best if they're all squishy)
50g walnuts or pecans
Optional: you can use chocolate chips instead of nuts, or just add the chocolate to the mix.

Method

1. Preheat oven to 180 degrees C.

2. Combine butter and sugar.

3. Sift the flour with the bicarb and baking powder, then beat into the butter and sugar mix.

5. Gradually beat in the eggs, one at a time.


4. Roughly chop the bananas and mash them.

5. Fold the banana, nuts and chocolate into the main mixture.

6. Line a loaf pan with baking paper and spread the batter into it.  Try to get the batter as flat as you can.

7. Bake the loaf for 45 - 60 minutes.  When baked, it should be brown and well risen.
Let the loaf cool in the tin for 5 - 10 minutes, then lift it out using the baking paper.

Slice, and eat.  Mmmm.  Look at all that melty chocolate goodness.  And hey, it's got fruit in it, so it's healthy too!