Viola's Banana Bread

Duke has made no secret of the fact that he loves banana bread. In Daughter of Deception he calls it the perfect apology food. Later in the series, he mentions that Viola gets revenge on him by lacing the banana bread with cayenne pepper.

Here is Viola's banana bread recipe:

Ingredients:
1-1/2 cup flour
1-1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/8 teaspoon salt
1/8 teaspoon each: ground cloves, ground nutmeg, ground ginger
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
(Or if you'd like, use 1 teaspoon pumpkin pie spice - this recipe is spicy, alter to your tastes)
1 egg
3/4 cup sugar
1/4 cup vegetable oil
1-1/2 to 2 cups mashed bananas (about five or six very ripe ones)
1/8 teaspoon vanilla

Directions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease 9x5 loaf pan
- Mix flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, and spices in a large bowl. Make a well in the center of the ingredients and set aside.

- In a second, medium bowl mash the bananas - I find it's easiest to put the peeled bananas in the bowl, cover them with the sugar, and then use a fork or potato masher to mash them. The sugar works as an abrasive to break up the bananas.

- Add the egg, vegetable oil, and vanilla to the banana and sugar mixture. Combine.
- Dump the wet ingredients into the well in the dry ingredients. Fold until just moistened. I usually try to keep it to under 30 strokes.
- Pour into loaf pan. Bake at 350 for 50 - 55 minutes. Let cool.

- Enjoy.
Actually, I find that banana bread tastes best after it has been sitting for twelve hours or so. (If you make it at night, it makes a wonderful breakfast).

Now, if you'll excuse me, I think I need a late night snack!