" MAD HATTERS MUFFINS "

2 cups all-propose flour

2 teaspoon baking powder

1/4 teaspoon salt

1/4 teaspoons cinnamon

1/2 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 eggs

1 - 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas

1 teaspoon vanilla

1/2 cup buttermilk

1 cup semisweet chocolate chips

1 cup pecan pieces

2 tablespoons sugar plus 1/2 teaspoons cinnamon for topping

Preheat oven to 400 F.

Butter twelve 3 by 1 - 1/2 inch muffin cups.

In a large bowl stir together flour, baking powder, salt and cinnamon.

In a separate bowl cream together butter and brown sugar until lightly and fluffy.

Beat in eggs, one at a time. Add bananas and vanilla. Stir in flour mixture to butter mixture alternately with buttermilk, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Fold in chocolate chips and pecans. Spoons mixture into prepared muffin cups.

Sprinkle the cinnamon/sugar mixture evenly over muffins.

Bake for 20 to 25 minutes, or until a cake tester inserted in center of one muffin comes out clean.

Yields: 12 large muffins