What can you do with a half dozen (or less) very ripe bananas? I asked myself that question as I began to search for a different banana bread recipe. I found recipe at About.com that I liked, but I decided to make a few adjustment (see their recipe ). But I think it’s a keeper!

Banana Spice Bread and Muffins
Ingredients

5 very ripe bananas
1/2 cup light olive oil
1/2 cup butter
2 cups sugar substitute
4 eggs
3 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoons ground cloves
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 cups dried cranberries
1 1/2 cups chopped walnuts

Topping

3/4 cup sugar
3/4 tsp cinnamon

Preparation

*Preheat oven to 325°.
*Spray 3 loaf pans (or 2 loaf pans and 12-count muffin pan).
*Mix sugar and cinnamon for topping in small bowl.
* Dust sprayed pans with half of sugar/cinnamon mixture.

*Mash bananas (in a medium bowl).
*Pour olive oil over bananas; set aside.

*Cream butter and sugar substitute (separate bowl from bananas/oil mixture).
*Add eggs (one at a time) to butter/sugar, beating well after each addition
*Stir in banana/oil mixture; mix well.

*Combine dry ingredients (separate bowl); add to creamed mixture.
*Stir in dried cranberries and walnuts; blend thoroughly.

*Spoon mixture into the prepared loaf/muffin pans.
*Sprinkly remaining sugar/cinnamon mixture over the top.
*Bake loaves 1 hour; muffins 20 (or so) minutes (or until browned and a toothpick comes out clean when inserted in the center of a loaf).
*Cool on racks before slicing.

Photo/KarenJordan