Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

I guess you could say my nesting has been baking sprees... anything and everything that can be baked is good, but the Chocolate Chip Banana Bread has been the biggest hit with friends. At this point I've lost count of exactly how many loaves I've made - dozens, and our freezer is full- but the Banana Bread doesn't last long. This post is for Erin... who goes back to Buffalo this weekend. We'll miss you friend- bake some bread!

Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Have all ingredients at room temperature. Position oven rack at bottom 1/3 of oven. Preheat oven to 350. Grease bread pan. (I always double this recipe to make two loaves at a time.)

Whisk together:

1 1/3 c. flour

3/4 t. salt

1/2 t. baking soda

1/4 t. baking powder

In a large bowl, beat on high speed until lightened in color and texture, 2-3 min:5 1/3 T. unsalted butter

2/3 c. sugar

Beat in the flour mixture until blended and the consistency of brown sugar. Gradually beat in:

2 large eggs

Fold in just until combined:

1 c. mashed very ripe bananas (about 2)

1/2 c. chocolate chips (I like the mini ones, Justin prefers the regular ones - and don't feel like you have to limit yourself to 1/2 c.)

Scrape the batter into baking pan and spread evenly. Bake until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, 50-60 minutes. Let cool on a rack in pan for 5-10 minutes before removing unmolding to cool completely on the rack.

(Taken from "Joy of Cooking, by Irma S. Rombauer")

Don't let the length of this recipe scare you. It really doesn't take very many ingredients and it's quite simple, but it does work best if you follow the steps as written. Enjoy!