1 3/4 cups sifted flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1/4 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/3 cup butter
2/3 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, unbeaten
1 cup mashed, ripe bananas (2 or 3) need not be exact
1 cup raisins or 1/2 cup nuts (Optional)

Heat oven to 350 & greased a normal bread pan

Mix shortening with sugar, then with eggs, until very light and fluffy, then blend in flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt alternately with bananas just until smooth. Add raisins or nuts if desired. Bake one hour until done (toothpick inserted in center will come out clean). Cool in pan 10 minutes, remove, and cool on rack before slicing. Now all that's left is to enjoy.

This can be made in a regular loaf pan or individual serving pans, which take less time.  Also, the recipe can easily be doubled, especially easy to do if you have a stnad mixer.  Freezes well post-baking.