Salivating Saturday

Banana bread is the easiest quick bread in the world to make and what better way to make use of those old bananas that no one wants to eat. I like banana bread but chocolate banana bread-watch out, cause I will fight you for the last crumbs. The chocolate is not overpowering and with a little bit of butter-SO GOOD!

Chocolate Banana Bread
 Ingredients

1/2 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
1 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1/4 cup unsweetened cocoa powder
1 cup sugar
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup chocolate chips (dark or milk, your choice)
2 large eggs lightly beaten
1/2 cup melted butter, slightly cooled
3 ripe or overripe bananas well mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Directions
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (180 degrees C) and place oven rack to middle position. Butter and flour (or spray with a non stick vegetable/flour spray) the bottom and sides of a large loaf pan.


In a large bowl whisk together the flour, cocoa powder, sugar, baking powder, baking soda an salt.


In a medium-sized bowl combine the mashed bananas, eggs, melted butter, and vanilla. 


Fold in wet ingredients into dry ingredients. The batter will be very thick and slightly chunky. Now fold in nuts and chips.


Bake until bread has risen and a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 55 to 65 minutes