Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups all purpose flour – I’ve used whole wheat too

2 teaspoons baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 and 1/2 sticks of unsalted butter – softened

2 cups granulated sugar

3 cups mashed bananas – about 8, but I’ve gotten away with 5

4 large eggs, well beaten

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 cup mini semisweet chocolate chips – any chocolate works great!

Directions:

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Lightly butter or spray two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans.

*In a bowl, whisk together the flour, baking powder, and salt.

*In a medium bowl, cream the butter and sugar. Add the bananas and eggs, beating well until blended. Beat in the vanilla.

*Add the dry ingredients to the banana mixture and blend well. Stir in the chocolate chips. Do not overmix.

*Pour batter into the prepared pans and bake for 55-60 minutes, or until golden brown and a cake tester is inserted in the center and comes out clean – but because of the bananas, the tester may not look clean even when it is done, so don’t overcook.

*Set pans on a rack for 15 minutes. Then turn out of the pans to cool completely.