Aunt Sophia was not my “real” aunt, but for all intents and purposes she could have been. She was entrusted to me by my dear friend Joan – it was an honor for sure.
She cooked, she baked and she was unique. She probably could have made this recipe blindfolded. I think I could too – I know the ingredients like I know my name.
Many of the people that she touched have made this at least once or twice. When I make it, and I do often, I always think of her and feel her presence, and miss her.
I have made one change in this recipe. When I first started making it, my son didn’t like the walnuts, so I substituted them with chocolate chips (I prefer the minis). I’ve also doubled the quantities in the recipe because I make it in 2 loaf pans, or I make it into muffins. You can also make it in a Bundt pan, but it may need to bake longer.
Ingredients
- 4 ripe bananas, mashed
- 4 eggs
- 2 sticks butter or margarine (I use Blue Bonnet)
- 8 Tbsp sour cream (I use light or fat-free, but feel free to use the real stuff)
- 2 tsp vanilla extract
- 2 tsp baking soda
- 3 cups sifted flour
- 2 cups sugar
- 1 bag Nestle mini chocolate chips
Method
- Keep 2 loaf pans greased and ready.
- Mix the butter, sugar, eggs, mashed bananas, vanilla and sour cream in a bowl until it turns into a smooth cream.
- Sift the baking soda with flour and add them to the bowl of wet ingredients.
- Stir in the chocolate chips and divide the mixture between the 2 loaf pans.
- Bake in the oven at 350° for 35-40 minutes.
- Test with a cake tester and cool on the racks before taking the cakes out of the pans.
I wrap the cakes with plastic wrap to put them away, and they freeze well.
Tip: Lately, I have been baking this another way: I pour the batter onto a greased cookie sheet and bake it for about 35 minutes. When it’s cooled, I cut it into squares.
Back to Aunt Sophia’s recipe, though – use 1 cup chopped walnuts instead of the chips.
Some words of wisdom to go along with this delicious treat from my dear Aunt Sophia:
“Always remain optimistic. Life is never so bad that you can’t fight for the right to survive. Never allow jealousy or envy to rule. As each day enters, may your lives be filled with Joy and Laughter, from your first day on earth and forever after. But if by chance a Caterpillar should cross your path, refrain from wrath. Remember always as times goes by, it becomes a lovely butterfly.”
