Ingredients

• 2 cups mashed banana
• 2/3 cup chopped walnuts
• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 3 1/3 cups flour
• 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
• 2 teaspoons baking soda
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 teaspoon cinnamon
• 1 teaspoon ground cloves
• 2/3 cup water

Preparation

1. Preheat oven to 325˚F. In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Beat in eggs and bananas.
2. In a separate bowl, sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon and cloves. Add dry mixture to bananas. Fold in nuts and water, blending well.
3. Grease 8 widemouth pint jars. Using a large-mouth funnel, fill jars halfway with batter. Wipe any excess batter offf rim. Do not put lids on jars for baking.
4. Place jars on a large baking sheet, place in oven and bake for approx 45 minutes.
5. Sterilize lids and rings in boiling water.
6. When bread is done, quickly remove 1 jar at a time from oven and clean its sealing edge with a dry towel to remove any residue or oil. Immediately apply and firmly tighten a 2 piece wide-mouthed canning lid. Lid will form a vacuum seal as jar cools.

Jars of cooled bread may be stored on pantry shelves with other canned foods or in the freezer. Bread is safe to eat as long as jars remain vacuum sealed and free of mold growth.