Banana bread (with pineapple)

Makes 1 loaf, serves 6

1 ½ cups sifted plain flour; 1 cup sugar; 1 tsp baking powder; ½ tsp salt; 2 large ripe bananas; 1 egg; 4 tblsp butter, melted; ½ chopped dried or crystallised pineapple; 1 cup coarsely chopped walnuts; 1 tblsp butter, softened; ¼ cup chopped candied peel and ¼ cup walnut halves for topping

Sift the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into a mixing bowl. Mash the bananas with a fork in another bowl, stir in the egg until well mixed, and stir in the melted butter. Add this mixture and the chopped walnuts and pineapple to the flour mixture and stir only until well blended.

Butter a 22 x 12cm loaf pan, spread the batter evenly in the pan, and sprinkle the top with the candied peel, some extra pineapple and walnut halves.

Bake in a preheated 180°C oven 45 minutes or until golden on top and a toothpick tester comes out clean.