Banana Choco Bits Nut Loaf

Class of 1947

• 1 cup (2 blocks) butter or margarine at room temperature
• 1½ cups sugar
• 4 large eggs
• 2 cups mashed very ripe bananas, beaten until thick and creamy
• 4 cups sifted flour (sift, measure then sift again)
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp salt
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 cup chopped walnuts
• 1 pkg (6-oz) chocolate chips

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease well and dust lightly with flour two 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Set aside.

Beat together butter and sugar at high speed of electric mixer until thick and creamy. Beat in eggs until well blended (mixture will be light and fluffy). At low speed, beat in the mashed bananas and vanilla. In sifter, combine the flour, baking soda, salt and cinnamon. Sift into large bowl. Add the walnuts and chocolate chips; mix well.

At low speed or by hand, blend in the flour mixture with the banana-creamed mixture until just blended. Spoon batter into prepared pans. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour or until tested done. Cool loaves in pans 5 minutes then turn out of pans, right side up, onto wireracks to finish cooling.

NOTE: Wrap in double layer heavy duty foil and refrigerate or freeze, if desired.