Gingered Banana Bread 1 3/4 cups all-purpose flour 2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder 1/2 teaspoon salt 1/2 cup granulated sugar 1/3 cup unsalted butter (at room temperature) 2 eggs 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas 1/3 cup ginger preserves 1/4 cup sour cream 3/4 teaspoon lemon zest 3/4 cup chopped pecans, toasted (optional) Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease a 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Sift together the flour, baking powder and salt into a small bowl. Set the bowl aside. With a mixer, cream sugar and butter together until the mixture is light and fluffy. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in the bananas, preserves, sour cream, lemon zest and, if you wish, pecans. Spoon in the flour about a third at a time, mixing until the batter is well combined. Pour the batter into the prepared pan, and bake 60 to 65 minutes, or until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean. Serve the bread warm. Serve with more ginger preserves for spreading.