Banana Bread

2 c. flour
1/2 tsp. soda
1 tsp. baking powder
2 eggs separated
1/2 c. buttermilk (or sour milk made with milk and vinegar)
2/3 c. shortening ( margarine also works fine)
1 1/2 c. sugar
3 bananas (2 large or 3 med.) mashed with fork
1 c. pecans chopped, optional

Cream shortening and sugar. Beat in egg yolks. Sift flour and soda and baking powder together. Add alternately with buttermilk to the sugar mixture. Add mashed bananas. Fold in beaten egg whites. Add nuts.

Use one regular (greased) loaf pan and one small loaf pan, filling 1/2-3/4 full. Bake 1 hour at 325.

Makes good muffins as well. I have sometimes not separated the eggs and beaten the whites and it has turned out fine. I think beating the whites makes it lighter. (more air in the dough).