½ c Shortening (1 stick margarine, softened)
¾ c Sugar
1 Egg
3 T Sour milk (2 T milk mixed with 1 T vinegar) or Buttermilk
2 Really brown bananas, mashed
2 c Whole wheat flour
½ t Baking powder
½ t Baking soda
1 t Cinnamon
½ t Cloves (optional—Mom omits)
½ t Ginger
½ t Nutmeg
Set oven to 350˚. Grease a loaf pan (Pam works well). Combine shortening and sugar with a fork. Mix in egg, then milk, then bananas. Combine remaining ingredients, making sure spices and leavening are mixed throughout. Pour into loaf pan and bake 50 to 60 minutes. You can tell it is done when a butter knife inserted into the middle comes out clean. Wrapped in aluminum foil, this freezes well. I usually double it to make two loaves.
Leon got this recipe from his mother, Anne Farrar, who got it from a friend, Donna.