Very interesting history - I'm going to have to try some of these recipes, though we're not really into banana bread in this house (but zucchini bread is another thing altogether!). I'm wondering though if you have any idea on the origins or age of a banana oatmeal (with or without chocolate chips) cookie recipe? My grandmother always made those, and I've tweaked it to be a bit healthier, but she always said it was a very old (possibly 19th century, if you leave out the chocolate chips) recipe. Now I'm wondering if it was just something that started in the 1930's like the banana bread recipe? I didn't think bananas were too common in the mid- or even late 19th century, and I know chocolate chips weren't on the market until after Tool House cookies became very popular - probably around the time my grandparents were married!

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