Banana Muffins and Banana Bread with Variations

These banana muffins are good. They're best using the slightly over-ripe or bruised bananas that no one wants to eat otherwise.

• 3 large bananas (about 2 cups mashed)
• 3/4 cups sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 tsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1-1/2 cups all purpose flour
• 1/3 cup vegetable oil OR melted butter OR melted margarine

1. Preheat oven to 300 degrees F for bread OR 375 degrees F for muffins.
2. Mash bananas with sugar.
3. Beat the egg and stir in.
4. Mix in melted butter or oil.
5. Sift together the dry ingredients, then fold into the banana mixture just until blended. Don't over-stir.
6. Fill greased muffin cups 2/3 full and bake for about 20 minutes at 375 degrees F OR
7. Fill greased and floured 9 x 5" bread pan and bake about 1 hour at 300 degrees F.

Variations:

• Increase the fibre content by adding 1/2 cup bran OR add
• Add 1/2 cup raisins OR
• Mix 1/2 cup coconut into the batter and poke some drained pineapple wedges into the top of the bread (I did this recently and it was delicious)