COSTCO & BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUIT BREAD

There are many things that I love about shopping at Costco including the many organic foods, the high quality fresh produce and the tasting samples, to name a few of the things.  The thing that I have the most problem with is the portion sizes.  It is challenging for a family of only two to use the fresh produce in a timely manner.  A person has to be proactive and creative!  For example, a large bunch of asparagus can be roasted one day, and the next day a soup can be made out of the remainder which can be frozen for later use.

As you can see in the picture below, I had to find something to do with the very ripe left-over bananas that we bought at Costco.  Banana bread was the logical option.  This recipe is my favorite banana bread recipe as it makes two large loaves (one for freezing), and I can add whatever I have on hand or whatever I choose.  I only had a couple maraschino cherries so I added chopped dried cherries as well.  I had semisweet chocolate chips but I decided to also use bittersweet chips because I like them.  If you make this recipe, feel free to substitute whatever you'd like for the nuts, cherries and chocolate chips.  You will love this recipe!

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP FRUIT BREAD.  Makes 2 large loaves or 4 smaller loaves.

1 c. butter, at room temperature

2 c. granulated sugar

4 eggs, beaten

6 ripe bananas, mashed

4 c. all-purpose or unbleached flour

2 teaspoons baking soda

1 c. chopped nuts

1 c. chocolate chips

10 oz. maraschino cherries, rinsed, drained, dried and halved

Cream the butter and sugar.  Add beaten eggs and bananas.  Sift flour and soda together; stir into butter mixture.  Fold nuts, chips and cherries into batter.  Divide batter into two greased 9- by 5-inch loaf pans or four 7-1/2 by 3-3/4 by 2-1/4-inch loaf pans.

Bake at 350ºF until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean and bread starts to pull away from sides of pan; about 65 minutes for the larger loaves and about 50-55 minutes for the smaller loaves.  Rest in pans for a few minutes, then turn out onto a rack to finish cooling.

Then enjoy with your favorite cup of tea or coffee.

Did I mention that this is a very easy recipe?  It is!