Kylie's Ugly Banana Bread

I'm not always fond of banana bread, but I've realized that (as with many things) banana breads vary significantly depending on individual tastes. When Chris and I moved in together, he always wanted to buy bananas but refused to eat them after they'd gotten a little ripe. As a result, we were constantly throwing out ripe bananas until Chris suggested that we try making banana bread.

Remembering my mother's advice that everything tastes better when you make it yourself, I decided to take a crack at it. This was cobbled together from a few different recipes and has become a winter standby. The inside always looks ugly even when cooked through properly (hence the name), but I like to think that adds to the charm. Right?

Kylie's Ugly Banana Bread
3 or 4 ripe bananas
1/3 cup melted unsalted butter
3/4 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tsp. baking soda
pinch of salt
1 1/2 cup of flour
Handful of chopped walnuts (optional, to taste)
Handful of semisweet or bittersweet chocolate chips (optional, to taste)

- Preheat oven to 350 F and grease 4 x 8 baking pan.
- Peel the bananas and mash them in a large bowl with a mixing spoon or a potato masher.
- Melt butter (using a Pyrex measuring cup in a microwave is fine) and mix in with the mashed bananas.
- Mix in sugar, egg, vanilla, baking soda, and salt in order.
- Add flour slowly and mix in (I usually do a 1/2 cup at a time).
-Mix in walnuts and chocolate chips (if using).
- Pour batter into greased pan and bake for at least one hour.
- Cool on rack.