Ingredients:

  Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
--------  ------------  --------------------------------
   2      Cups          flour
   1      Tablespoon    baking soda
     1/4  Teaspoon      salt
     1/2  Cup           butter or margarine (1 stick)
   1      Cup           sugar
   2                    eggs
   1      Teaspoon      pure vanilla extract
     1/2  Teaspoon      powdered allspice
     1/2  Teaspoon      powdered cinnamon
     1/2  Cup           buttermilk
   2      Large         *very ripe* bananas -- mashed (a bit over
   1                    cup)
                        Optional additions (especially good for
                        muffins)
     1/2  Cup           chopped nuts
     1/2  Cup           raisins
     1/2  Cup           chocolate chips
     1/2  Cup           granola

Preparation:

Preheat oven to 375 degrees Fahrenheit. Grease and flour 2 small (4 x 7 inch) loaf pans, or line muffin tins. Combine flour, soda and salt, sift into medium bowl. In a large bowl, cream butter and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, vanilla and spices, beat well. Blend in buttermilk, then alternate adding bananas and flour mixture until batter is smooth and well mixed. Spoon into pans and bake on center rack in preheated oven until done, about 50 minutes for bread, 25 minutes for standard muffins and 20 minutes for mini-muffins. Let cool in pans for a few minutes, turn out onto wire racks, dust loaves with powdered sugar when cool.