BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP LOAF

1 cup sugar
1 stick (1/2 cup) butter, softened
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)
1/2 cup milk
1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 cup semisweet mini chocolate chips*
1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9x5x3-inch loaf pan.

Cream the sugar and butter with an electric mixer until light. Add the eggs and mix well. On low speed, mix in the bananas, milk, and vanilla. Stop the mixer and add the flour, baking soda and salt. Mix until just combined, then stir in the mini chocolate chips and nuts. Transfer batter to prepared pan.

Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, 55 to 60 minutes. Cool in the pan 5 minutes; turn onto a wire rack to cool completely before slicing.

*If you toss the chocolate chips in a little bit of flour before adding, this should keep them from sinking.

Adapted from source: Chicago Tribune Food Guide, June 20, 1991