Recipe: Chocolate Banana Nut Bread

Chocolate Banana Nut Bread
net.cooks/Holly (1985)
Makes 2 small loaves or 1 large loaf

3 squares (3 ounces) semisweet chocolate (coarsely chopped)
1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
1 cup mashed ripe banana (about 2 medium bananas)
1/2 cup chopped nuts

Melt semisweet chocolate; cool. In a small mixing bowl stir together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a large mixer bowl beat sugar and shortening with electric mixer on a medium speed till light, scraping sides of bowl often. Add eggs, one at a time, and the melted chocolate, beating till smooth and fluffy after each addition.

Alternately add the flour mixture and mashed banana to beaten mixture, beating till smooth after each addition. Fold in chopped nuts.

Turn batter into 2 lightly greased 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2 inch loaf pans or 1 lightly greased 8x4x2 inch loaf pan.

Bake in a 350 degree oven about 35 minutes for the small loaves, or 45 to 50 minutes for the large loaf, or till a wooden pick inserted near the center comes out clean.

Cool loaves in pans about 10 minutes. Remove from pans; cool loaves thoroughly on a wire rack. For easier slicing, wrap the loaves in foil and store overnight.