Banana Bread
100g butter, softened
1 cup (200g) caster sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla essence
1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 cup or 1 1/2 mashed ripe banana
2 cups (280g) plain flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a loaf tin.
In a large bowl cream the butter and sugar. Add the eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
Stir though the banana, vanilla and cinnamon followed by the flour, baking powder, soda and salt. Pour into prepared tin and bake for 1 hour or until the bread feels firm to the touch. Remove from the pan and cool on a wire rack.
Serve warm dusted with icing sugar and spread with butter, jam or mascarpone.
Note: Banana bread can also be toasted in a frying pan with a little knob of butter for 30 seconds on each side.