MMMMM----- Meal-Master Recipe via Home Cookin 2.8

      Title: Banana Loaf
 Categories: Home Cookin
      Yield: 6

  1 3/4 c  All-purpose flour; sifted
  2 1/4 ts Double-acting baking powder
    1/2 ts Salt
    1/3 c  Shortening or unsalted butter
    2/3 c  Sugar
    1/2 ts Lemon zest; grated
      2    Eggs
      3    Ripe bananas
           Optional Additions:
    1/2 c  Nuts; chopped
    1/4 c  Dried apricots;
           - finely chopped
           Variation (Substitute Flour):
  1 1/2 c  All-purpose flour; sifted
    1/4 c  Wheat germ.

  Set out ingredients to warm to room temperature. Preheat oven to
  350°F. Grease bread pan.

  Grate lemon rind and set aside. Mash bananas (you should have
  1-1/2 cups). Finely dice the apricots and nuts, if used. Sift
  together the flour, baking powder, and salt. Set aside.

  Blend the shortening (or butter), sugar, and lemon rind until
  creamy, then beat in the eggs and banana pulp.

  With the mixer at slow speed, add the sifted ingredients to the
  sugar mixture. Increase speed to medium and beat the batter until
  smooth. Fold in apricots and nutmeats.

  Scrape the batter into the pan. Bake about 1 hour or until done (a
  toothpick inserted in the center of the loaf should come out
  clean). Turn out on a rack and cool before slicing.

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