Banana Bread French Toast

 

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour
1-1/4 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3/4 tsp. salt
2/3 cup sugar
1/3 cup shortening
2 eggs
2 tbsp. half-and-half
1 cup mashed ripe bananas

      Heat oven to 350ºF (175ºC).  Banana Bread:  Stir flour, baking powder, soda and salt.  Set aside.  Using a mixer, beat sugar and shortening until light, scraping sides of bowl often.  Add eggs, 1 at a time, and half-and-half, beating until smooth after each addition.   Add flour mixture and banana alternately to creamed mixture, beating until smooth after each addition.  Turn batter into a lightly greased loaf pan.  Bake 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Cool in pan before removing.  Makes 1 loaf. 
French Toast:  Beat eggs, milk, vanilla, cinnamon and nutmeg in an appropriate amount for number of slices needed.  Add a splash of orange juice, beat into batter.  Slice banana bread into 1/2" slices.  Coat with egg mixture, cook like regular French toast.  Make sure toast is hot all through.  Cut slices in half, arrange on plate, garnish with confectioners' sugar and banana slices.  Serve with hot syrup.  Makes 18 slices per 9x5" loaf.