Preparation time: 20 minutes. Baking time: 1 to 1 1/4 hours. Oven temperature: 350 degrees.

This handsome cake is moist and has a lovely banana aroma. For best flavor, be sure bananas are very ripe - they should be speckled with brown and feel soft to the touch.

For 1 cake you will need:

1 c. butter, softened
1 c. granulated sugar
1/2 c. brown sugar, packed
1 tsp. vanilla
4 eggs
1 c. mashed ripe bananas, about 2 med.
2 1/2 c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. each baking powder and ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/8 tsp. ground cloves
Lemon Glaze (optional) (recipe follows)

LEMON GLAZE:

1 c. powdered sugar
2 tsp. soft butter
1/2 tsp. grated lemon rind
2 tbsp. lemon juice

GLAZE: Mix powdered sugar, butter and lemon rind. Gradually mix in 2 tablespoons lemon juice, mixing until smooth and well blended.

CAKE: In a large bowl cream butter with granulated sugar and brown sugar until fluffy. Mix in vanilla. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Blend in bananas. Mix flour, baking powder and spices. Blend into banana mixture. Spread in a greased, lightly floured 9 inch (9 to 10 cup) tube pan. Bake at 350 degrees until wooden pick inserted in thickest part comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool in pan 10 minutes, then turn out onto a rack to complete cooling. When cool, drizzle with lemon glaze, if you like.