A Little Slice of Heaven

Banana Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/4 tsp ground cinnamon

2 beaten eggs

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (5 medium)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

1 recipe Streusel-Nut topping

1. Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up sides of one 9x5x3-inch or two 71/2x31/2x2-inch loaf pans. Combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon and 1/4 teaspoon salt. Make a well in the center; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine eggs, bananas, sugar and oil. Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy). Fold in nuts. Spoon batter into prepared pan(s). If desired, sprinkle Streusel-Nut topping over batter.

3. Bake in oven at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes for 9x5x3 pan, or 40-45 minutes for 71/2x31/2x2 pan, or until wooden toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean (if necessary, cover loosely with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning). Cool in pan on a wire wrack for ten minutes.

Streusel-Nut Topping: In a small bowl combine 1/4 cup packed brown sugar and 3 tablespoons all-purpose flour. Using a pastry blender, cut in 2 tablespoons butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs. Stir in 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.

Optional: Add in whatever desired amount of chocolate chips in the batter and/or sprinkle chocolate chips on top before baking.

Yum!