Gingered Banana Bread

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour
• 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1/2 cup granulated sugar
• 1/3 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature)
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
• 1/3 cup ginger preserves
• 1/4 cup sour cream
• 3/4 teaspoon lemon zest
• 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional)

Instructions

1. Heat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5 inch loaf pan.
2. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a small bowl. Set the bowl aside.
3. With a mixer, cream sugar and butter together until the mixture is light and fluffy.
4. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.
5. Beat in the bananas, preserves, sour cream, lemon zest and, if you wish, pecans.
6. Spoon in the flour about a third at a time, mixing until the batter is well combined.
7. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake 60 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean.
8. Serve the bread warm.
9. Serve with more ginger preserves for spreading.