Banana Cookies

    * 1/2 cup of unsalted butter, room temperature
    * 1 cup of sugar
    * 1 egg, room temperature
    * 1 cup of mashed bananas (about 2 ½ large bananas)
    * 1 teaspoon of baking soda
    * 2 cups of flour
    * pinch of salt
    * 1/2 teaspoon of ground cinnamon
    * 1/2 teaspoon of ground mace or nutmeg
    * 1/2 teaspoon of ground cloves
    * 1 cup of pecans (walnuts and chocolate chips are fine alternatives)

1 Preheat the oven to 350°F. Cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Add the egg and continue to beat until the mixture is light and fluffy.

2 Mix the mashed bananas and baking soda in a bowl and let sit for 2 minutes. The baking soda will react with the acid in the bananas which in turn will give the cookies their lift and rise.

3 Mix the banana mixture into the butter mixture. Mix together the flour, salt, and spices and sift into the butter and banana mixture and mix until just combined.

4 Fold into the batter the pecans or chocolate chips if using. Drop in dollops onto parchment paper-lined baking sheet. Bake for 11-13 minutes or until nicely golden brown. Let cool on wire racks.

Makes about 30 cookies.