Banana Bread & Banana Cake

                Banana Bread

1/2 cup shortening
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup mashed very ripe banana
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/4 cup sifted flour
3/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt

Cream shortening and sugar until fluffy.  Add eggs, one at a time,
beating well after each addition.  Stir in banana and vanilla.  Sift
dry ingredients together and add to banana mixture.  Mix well.  Pour
into greased loaf pan or 9x9x2-inch pan.  Bake at 350F for 30 to 35 
minutes.

Note:  1/2 cup chopped nuts can be added if desired.


                Grandma's Banana Cake

2/3 cup shortening
2 1/2 cups sifted cake flour 
1 2/3 cups sugar
1 1/4 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups mashed fully ripe bananas
2/3 cups buttermilk (divided)
2 eggs
2/3 cup chopped walnuts (opt.)

Place shortening in mixing bowl.  Sift in dry ingredients.  Add bananas
and 1/3 cup of the buttermilk.  Mix until moistened; beat 2 minutes at
medium.  And the other 1/3 cup of buttermilk and the eggs.  Best 2 more
minutes.  Fold in chopped walnuts.  Bake in 2 greased and lightly floured
9-inch cake pans at 350F for about 35 minutes.  Cool 10 minutes in pans,
remove from pans and cool completely.