Babies and Banana Bread

Happy Day!  My oldest sister just had her baby and we are so excited for them!!  I am already trying to decide what yummy treat to take down for them (sadly it probably wont be for another few weeks).  My first thought was banana bread, but I got my banana bread recipe from her.  Plus I know she already has a ton in her freezer, so that's kind of pointless.  I will have to think of something, but in the meantime I thought I would post the recipe here, this way it's like I made and shared it with somebody.

*Just a piece of fun family trivia...Annali has a cousin 8 months older than her, and now, with this baby she has one 8 months younger than her.  So just like me, she's a lucky girl who will have a few cousins as her best friends.*

Here it is, Banana Bread...yummy, delicious and easy Banana Bread!

Serves: 1 Bread Loaf or 5 Mini Loaves

Ingredients:
1 cup Sugar
1/2 cup Unsalted Butter
2-4 very ripe Bananas, mashed
2 Eggs
2 cups Flour
1 tsp. Soda
1/2 tsp. Salt
1 tsp Allspice
1 cup Chocolate Chips (optional...but not really)

Directions:
Preheat oven to 315 degrees.  Cream butter and sugar.  Add the mashed bananas and eggs and mix well.  Add the allspice.  Then add the dry ingredients.  Stir in the chocolate chips.  Pour batter into a greased bread pan and bake for at least 1 1/2 hours, or divide into 5 mini pans (fill about half way) and bake 1 hour - 1 hour and 15 minutes.


*My Notes*
~First of all, the only way to eat banana bread, is with chocolate chips. I never measure my chocolate chips, but I use about half a bag.  I like to taste the chocolate.  Do what works for you.
~You can use 2 bananas in this recipe, but it makes a weak banana bread.  Three is pretty perfect for us.  Four is kind of BAM! BANANA! But if you like that, then go for it!
~I don't like this recipe in the large loaf.  It always takes WAY longer to bake and it ends up with a really heavy, cake like texture.  I stick with the mini pans.  They don't take as long to bake and it has a really good banana bread texture and consistency.
~So far I have been too poor/cheap to buy real mini pans.  I just use the disposable pans, and just wash them good and reuse...and reuse.  They work great...Someday I will spend the money.

And that's it!  Let me know what you think.  Do you have a favorite Banana Bread secret or tip?  I'd love to hear it!