1/2 c. shortening or oil
1 c. sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe bananas, mashed
1/2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 c. sour cream
2 c. flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 c. raisins (optional)
1/4 tsp. salt
1 c. nuts
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Cream shortening and 1 cup sugar until light. Beat in eggs; mashed banana and vanilla. Add sour cream and blend on low speed. In a separate bowl, measure the flour, baking powder, soda, and salt. Gradually add this to the banana mixture and blend. In another bowl mix the sugar, nuts, and cinnamon. Save this for later.

Generously grease a 6 1/2 cup ring mold or tube pan. Spoon half of the nut mixture around the pan's bottom and add half of the batter. Sprinkle the remaining nuts on this layer and add the raisins, if you wish. Cap with rest of batter.

Bake at 350 degrees for 45 minutes or until done. Cool about 5 minutes and remove bread from pan.

This recipe can double as a cake. If so, you may want to frost it with 1/4 cup butter, 1/2 cup mashed bananas, 1/2 teaspoon lemon juice, and 1 pound of confectioners sugar.