Maxine Saar's Banana Cake

1-3/4 cups sifted flour 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 teaspoon baking powder 1/2 teaspoon baking soda 1-1/2 cups sugar

1/2 cup shortening 2 eggs 1 cup mashed bananas (2 or 3) 1/4 cup buttermilk or sour milk 1 teaspoon vanilla

Directions:
Preheat oven to 350°. Sift flour. Measure, then sift again with salt, baking powder and soda. Cream shortening and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs and beat well. Add dry ingredients alternately with milk, stirring well after each addition. Add mashed bananas and vanilla; beat until smooth. Bake in a greased and floured 9x13-inch cake pan for about 30 minutes or until cake tests done.

Notes:
Maxine Saar contributed this recipe to the Jolly Neighbors Extension Club of Rose, Nebraska, for a hand-written cookbook that they made during the early 1960's. I have expanded the directions a little because all the recipes were greatly condensed to fit on one side of a 3x5" recipe card. Marion and Maxine Saar were neighbors who lived in the Duff Valley and Maxine was my mother's first cousin. I attended country grade school through 4th grade with their children: Mark, Gary, Gwen, and Mike.