A banana cake recipe with sweet cherries.

Ingredients:

90 g (3 oz) soft margarine, plus extra for greasing
2 mashed, ripe bananas
125g (4 oz) quartered glace cherries
150 ml (1/4 pint) boiling water
90 g (3oz) caster sugar
1 egg
250g (8oz) self raising flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 kg (2lb) loaf tin

Method:

Lightly grease the loaf tin with margarine and line with greaseproof paper.
Put the dates into a bowl, pour over the measured boiling water, and leave for about 15 minutes.
Combine the margarine, sugar, egg, flour, and baking powder in a large bowl and beat until well blended. Add the cherries plus the soaking liquid and stir to mix.

Spoon into the prepared loaf tin and bake in a preheated oven at 180°C (350°F) for 1 ¼ - 1 ½ hours until well risen and firm to the touch. A fine skewer inserted into the middle of the loaf should come out clean. Leave to cool in the loaf tin for a few minutes, then turn out on to a wire rack and peel off the lining paper. Leave to cool completely. Serve sliced and buttered, if wished.