Banana Bread w/Orange Zest

Yum, this turned out very good and it was so purdy it had to be captured. :)

Recipe follows.







2 3/4 cups all purpose flour
1 Tbl baking powder
1tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking soda
1/2 cup butter or margarine
1 cup sugar
3 eggs
2 ripe bananas, peeled and mashed, about 1 cup mashed banana
2 tsp grated orange peel

Grease and flour 5x9x3 inch loaf pan. Sift together flour, baking powder, salt and baking soda.

In a mixing bowl, cream butter or margarine with sugar until fluffy. Beat in eggs, one at a time, until fluffy.

Stir in flour mixtue, alternately with mashed bananas. Fold in pecans and orange peel (may substitute 1 tsp vanilla for orange peel).

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 325 for 1 hour and 20 minutes, or until golden anbd a wooden toothpick, when inserted in center, comes out clean.

Cool in the pan for 10 minutes; turn banana bread out onto a rack to cool completely. Make this banana bread a day ahead of time for best flavor.

Mine didn't last till the next day before trying. Excellent.
From Diana Rattray, Your Guide to Southern U.S. Cuisine.