Banana Cake

2 cups cake flour
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1 tsp salt
1 1/4 cups brown sugar
1/3 cup shortening or butter
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour milk
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1 tsp vanilla
1 egg

Grease and flour a 9x13" pan or 2 8" round cake pans; sift flour, baking powder, baking soda and salt into a large bowl; add brown sugar and stir with a fork; add shortening, milk, banana and vanilla; beat 2 minutes with electric beater; add egg and beat 2 minutes more; bake at 350 for 30 - 35 minutes or until top springs back when lightly touched.

Caramel Icing: 1/3 cup butter; 2/3 cup brown sugar; 3 tbp milk; 1 tsp vanilla; 1 cup sifting icing sugar

Melt butter in heavy sauce pan; add sugar; simmer and stir over low heat for 2 minutes; slowly add milk; bring to a boil stirring constantly; remove from heat and cool slightly; beat in vanilla and icing sugar; until it's spreading consistency; It's recommended 1 1/2 x the recipe for a flat cake and double for a layer cake.