Chocolate Chip Banana Bread

1 cup shortening
2 cups white sugar
2 eggs
2 tablespoons mayonnaise
6 very ripe bananas, mashed
3 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS
Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Lightly grease two 9x5 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, cream together the shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Stir in the eggs one at a time, beating well with each addition. Stir in the mayonnaise and bananas. Stir together the flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. Blend the flour mixture into the banana mixture; stir just enough to evenly combine. Fold in the chocolate chips and walnuts. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean, about 50 to 75 minutes. Cool loaf in the pan for 20 minutes before removing to a wire rack to cool completely.

Chocolate Chip Pumpkin Bread

3 cups white sugar
1 (15 ounce) can pumpkin puree
1 cup vegetable oil
2/3 cup water
4 eggs
3 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tablespoon ground cinnamon
1 tablespoon ground nutmeg
2 teaspoons baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons salt
1 cup miniature semisweet chocolate chips
1/2 cup chopped walnuts (optional)

DIRECTIONS Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour three 9x5 inch loaf pans. In a large bowl, combine sugar, pumpkin, oil, water, and eggs. Beat until smooth. Blend in flour, cinnamon, nutmeg, baking soda, and salt. Fold in chocolate chips and nuts. Fill cans 1/2 to 3/4 full. Bake for 1 hour, or until an inserted knife comes out clean. Cool on wire racks before removing from cans or pans.

Makes 3 large loaves

Hint: To keep the chocolate chips from sinking to the bottom, either use miniature chocolate chips, or sprinkle regular chocolate chips with a very little bit of water then add them to the flour mixture before adding the flour to the wet ingredients. This will ensure you get even distribution of chocolate chips in the bread.

Chicken Fruit & Pasta Salad

1 pkg of bow tie pasta
1 pkg Rainbow spiral pasta
8 oz. crushed pineapple
2 cans sliced water chestnuts
4 green onion
Sliced green grapes
Chicken pieces
1 pkg. raisins
1 cup cashews
(Instead of raisins and cashews you can use a trailmix)

Cover with at least 2, maybe 3, containers of Cole Slaw dressing from the dairy department. Chill overnight. Might need to add some dressing before serving. May also add apples, mandarin oranges, etc.