Banana Chocolate Chip Cake

I was going to give the blog a rest today, but my friend Ilene has a Situation with some over-ripe bananas, something that I absolutely relate to. It goes like this: "Mom, I really really want bananas. Can you get bananas when you go to the supermarket?" And so Mom purchases a lovely large bunch of bananas. One gets promptly eaten. The rest of them languish there on the banana hook. And as soon as they develop one infinitesimal speck of brown on them -- well, that's all she wrote. This recipe is a great one since it can be assembled from stuff I usually have on hand. I made it this afternoon out of three well-aged bananas, and believe me, this cake will NEVER languish for long. However, the bunch of bananas in our house was a large one, so I have three more to go. Send me your banana suggestions, please! In the meantime -- Ilene, this recipe is for you.

BANANA CHOCOLATE CHIP CAKE

• 1 1/2 cups flour
• 2/3 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1/2 cup melted butter
• 1/4 cup milk
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 3/4 cup chocolate chips

1. Preheat oven to 350. Grease an 8x8 inch baking pan.

2. In a large bowl, mix flour, sugar, baking powder and salt

3. In a separate bowl, combine bananas, egg, melted butter and milk.

4. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture until just blended.

5. Stir in chocolate chips

6. Pour batter into pan and bake until toothpick inserted into center of cake comes out clean, about 30-35 minutes. (It may have some melted chocolate on it but no crumbs)

7. Vow not to listen to children who swear they will eat all the fruit you buy. Until the next time they ask.