While I was looking for this week's recipe,  I found a stack of recipe cards from family and friends.  These recipes were given to me at my bridal shower at the end of last year.  I remember getting them and being super excited to try each and everyone of them!  However with life taking over and my tendency to gravitate toward routine, I haven't explored as many of them as I thought I would.  

     With my enthusiasm for these recipes reignited I've decided to create a new one each week for the next 42 weeks (~10 months yikes!)  If nothing else, the variety should make my husband happy.  :)

     The first recipe I've chosen for this endeavor is one for Banana Bread given to me by my new cousin Mitzi.  I LOVE banana bread!  But I have never attempted to make it on my own.  I stayed true to her recipe, with only one addition, crushed walnuts.    

     This recipe was super easy and I am excited to say that I actually busted out my new KitchenAid stand mixer for it.  It is amazing.  This may have been over kill but it was fun to use nonetheless.    

     The banana bread turned out deliciously!  I will enjoy it for breakfast for the next few days.

Banana Bread by Mitzi

Yields: 2 Loaves

Ingredients:  4 eggs, 2 tsp vanilla, 3/4 C shortening or margarine, 2 C sugar, 3 C mashed bananas (about 6 bananas), 3 C flour, 2 tsp baking powder,  1 tsp baking soda, 1 tsp salt, 1 1/2 C of crushed walnuts (optional) 

Instructions: 

Preheat oven to 350*,   Coat bread pans with non-stick stray

1. Sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt and sugar; set aside

2. Combine mashed bananas, egg, and melted butter in large bowl (I used the stand mixer for this)

3. After the ingredients in Step 2 were mixed, I added the dry ingredients from Step 1 to the stand mixer bowl.  

4. Mix all ingredients together until mixture is smooth.  

5. Pour mixture evenly between 2 bread pans

6. Bake in preheated oven for 60-65 minutes.  

Enjoy!

"Go confidently in the direction of your dreams.  Live the life you have imagined." H.D. Thoreau