Ingredients:
1 cup sugar
½ cup butter (one stick), room temperature and cut into pieces
2 eggs
1 ½ cups mashed ripe bananas (about 3 bananas)
1 tablespoon lemon juice
2 cups flour
3 teaspoons baking powder
½ teaspoon salt

Directions:
Preheat oven to 375 degrees.

In a large mixing bowl, cream the sugar and butter on medium speed until light and fluffy, about 5 to 7 minutes.

Add the eggs one at a time, beating hard after adding each. Stir in the mashed bananas and lemon juice.

In a separate bowl, mix the flour, baking powder and salt together and then add to the banana mixture. Mix on medium speed until well combined.

Pour into one large, greased bread pan or two smaller loaf pans. Bake at 375º for one hour, or until toothpick inserted into middle comes out clean. Allow to cool before removing from pan.

Tips:

• Take time to properly cream the sugar and butter as this will allow enough air to be incorporated in the batter, resulting in a lovely, dense texture.
• Add other ingredients like toasted nuts, dried fruit or chocolate. I prefer to chop up a bar of good, dark chocolate, but chocolate chips will work well, too.