Banana loaf cake

I've had issues in the past with banana cakes. Mostly to do with getting carried away with the amount of bananas in the mixture which in turn, the flour can't support and the end resulting a banana flavoured lump of stodge. Then there are the politics of the differences between banana cake and banana bread, although I think I've come to the conclusion that they're pretty much the same thing and all turn out the same way - more cakey than bready.

This one is essentially a banana madeira cake. It's light and very nice cut into slices and spread with honey. Try making it the night before so you can have it for breakfast the following morning. Just don't tell the people eating it, the state of the bananas when they went into the mixture. And it's probably for the best if you try to forget it as well.

Ingredients
175g unsalted butter
175g golden caster sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
3 large eggs
225g self-raising flour
2 large, very ripe bananas

Cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add the vanilla extract and eggs and beat until combined but don't worry if it curdles - it always turns out fine. Mix in the flour and finally mash the bananas and mix them in. Pour mixture into a lined loaf tin and bake at gas mark 4 for about an hour.