Chocolate Banana Bread

I found this recipe in an old Quick Cooking magazine when I was looking for something different to do with banana bread. It has almost a cake like texture, and has a nice balance of chocolate and banana flavors. I usually use pecans for the nuts, though walnuts could be used also. It's also good without nuts.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 1  cup  mashed ripe banana (approximatey 2)
• 1⁄4 cup milk
• 1  teaspoon vanilla
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1⁄4 cup  baking cocoa
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon salt
• 1⁄2 cup  nuts (optional)

Directions

1. In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, bananas, milk, and vanilla, mix well.
2. In separate bowl, combine flour, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. Add to banana mixture and mix just until combine. Fold in nuts.
3. Pour into a greased 9x5x3 inch loaf pan.
4. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-65 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.