Irish Banana Muffins

1 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 tsp pumpkin pie mix
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/4 tsp salt

1/2 cup unsalted butter or margarine, room temperature *
3/4 cup white sugar
1/3 cup brown sugar
1/3 cup milk
2 eggs

2 – 3 ripe bananas, depending upon size
1/2 tsp vanilla

Preheat oven to 375.
Mix dry ingredients.
Cream butter and sugars, and then add milk and eggs.
Mash bananas and add vanilla, then a small amount of water if it needs it to become smooth consistency.
Add dry ingredients into butter mixture, mix until smooth
Mix in banana mash.

Optional ingredients:  cut up dates, chopped dried apricots, pecans, or toasted walnuts.  Each change the final muffin significantly so it’s better to be familiar with the “vanilla” version first.

* I like to bake with margarine but I know that a lot of die hard bakers will only use unsalted butter.   I’ve never tried this recipe with unsalted butter.