#40-Feb. 9th

Our family just loves banana bread, so when I found this recipe in a cookbook from my grandmother about eight years ago, it quickly became a family favorite. I made some today, and the pan is already half gone!

Can't share without providing the recipe. :)

Black Bottom Banana Bars

1/2 c.butter
1 c. sugar
1 egg
1 tsp. vanilla
1 1/2 c. flour, sifted
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 1/2 c. ripe bananas, mashed (abt 2 bananas)
1/4 c. cocoa

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in the vanilla and egg. Sift dry ingredients and blend with creamed mixture alternately with bananas. Divide batter in half; blend cocoa into one half. Turn this into greased 9x13 pan. Spoon banana mixture evenly over chocolate batter, covering completely. Bake at 350 degrees 25 to 30 minutes or until cake tester comes out clean.

I tend to cheat and just spoon half the batter into my pan, and then stir the cocoa into what is left and put the chocolate mixture on the top. I do this to dirty one fewer dish, pretty silly, but it tastes the same. Just serve them upside down if you do this so they are still "black bottom" banana bars. :)