Banana Bread & Banana Cake

I love banana bread. I sure hope everyone else does as well since I think this is an impossible and sad food to miss out on.

Banana Bread Ingredients

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup mashed very ripe banana
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup sifted flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

1. Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy.
2. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Stir in banana and vanilla.
3. Sift dry ingredients together and add to banana mixture.
4. Mix well.
5. Pour into greased loaf pan or 9x9x2-inch pan.
6. Bake at 350F for 30 to 35  minutes.
7. Note: 1/2 cup chopped nuts can be added if desired.

Grandma’s Banana Cake

2/3 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups mashed fully ripe bananas
2/3 cups buttermilk (divided)
2 eggs
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (opt.)

1. Place shortening in mixing bowl. Sift in dry ingredients. Add bananas and 1/3 cup of the buttermilk.
2. Mix until moistened; beat 2 minutes at medium. And the other 1/3 cup of buttermilk and the eggs.
3. Beat 2 more minutes.
4. Fold in chopped walnuts.
5. Bake in 2 greased and lightly floured 9-inch cake pans at 350F for about 35 minutes.
6. Cool 10 minutes in pans, remove from pans and cool completely