BANANA SPLIT BANANA BREAD

1 cup sugar

1 large egg

1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 large bananas)*

3 Tablespoons milk buttermilk works well also

2 cups flour

1 teaspoon baking powder

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1/2 cup chopped pecans

In large mixing bowl, cream sugar, egg and butter with electric mixer until mixture is fluffy, about 3 minutes; set aside.

In small bowl, mix bananas and milk; set aside. 

Sift together flour, baking powder and baking soda onto paper plate.  Add dry ingredients to creamed butter mixture alternately with banana mixture, stirring together with rubber spatula until dry ingredients are blended, about 1 minute.  Stir in chocolate chips and pecans.

Spoon batter into a 91/4-by 51/4-by 2 3/4-inch greased and floured loaf pan.  Drop pan twice. from height of six inches to counter, to remove any air bubbles.  Bake in preheated, 350-degree oven 1 hour, or until wooden toothpick inserted in center of crack comes out clean.  cool in pan on wire rack 10 minutes.  Remove bread to wire rack to complete cooling.  Makes 1 loaf.

*Note:  The riper the bananas, the more flavorful the bread.      Umm--mm good.