Surprise Banana Bread

Denise Fitzgerald, The Gardening Gourmet

½ cup shortening

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

2 cups sifted flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1/3 cup chopped nuts

1/3 cup maraschino cherries, halved

1/3 cup chocolate chips

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.

Cream shortening. Add sugar gradually. Beat in eggs. Sift flour and baking powder together. Fold into first mixture. Add bananas and stir until evenly blended. Fold in nuts, cherries and chocolate chips. Pour into greased 9x5x3-inch pan, filling half full.

Bake for 50-60 minutes or until toothpick comes out clean.