BLACK WALNUT BANANA CAKE

1 1/2 cups sugar
1/2 cup softened margarine or shortening
Beat in:
1 cup thinly sliced bananas
3/4 cup sour milk, combined with 1 tsp baking soda
2 eggs
1 tsp vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 cup black walnuts, ground or finely chopped

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour a 9x9-inch cake pan.

Cream together sugar and margarine. Beat in bananas, sour milk combined with baking soda, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside.

Sift together flour and baking powder; beat into creamed mixture. Stir in walnuts. Pour into prepared pan.

Bake 45-50 minutes at 350 degrees F.

Servings: 10-12
Source: More-with-Less Cookbook by Doris Janzen Longacre

I grew up with 2 black walnut trees on our farm; when they have a double skin. Outer skin is a softer & green. Dad would gather them and place in the driveway, then run the car over them, to break open this soft skin. They can be placed in a tub of water to determine if good or bad; good float and bad sink to the bottom of water. It takes time to crack open the walnuts, using a hammer and nut picks, but the taste of the black walnut is so wonderful. My mom used the black walnuts in her fudge, either regular chocolate or a white fudge with the black walnuts. It always was a hit. Good luck; hope you enjoy the fruit of your labor.