Ellie's Banana Bread

As per Tina's request, here is the recipe for the banana bread that I brought in to work last fall, which I haven't baked since. This delicious recipe belongs to Ellie, my dear friend who is an exceptionally talented baker and cook. I owe a lot of my early baking skills to her; she taught me how to make dough by hand and how to make cakes, loafs and breads without a kitchen aid (yes, it is possible). This recipe always hits the spot when you're feeling kind of blue, so long as your bananas are VERY ripe. If they're not spotted and discolored, there's a good chance the banana bread will come out dry.

1/3 cup butter

1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 + 3/4 cup all purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup chocolate chips or bar of bitter sweet chocolate, chopped into chunks

Preheat oven to 350F.

Cream butter and sugar.

Add eggs and beat till fluffy.

Put all dry ingredients in 1 bowl, then mix together. Mash bananas in another bowl.

Alternate folding in banana and dry mixture into butter mix, beginning with dry ingredients.
I like to use Meiji Dark Chocolate.

After, fold in chocolate chips or chunks.
Butter loaf pan, pour in mixture and bake for 40 minutes.