Banana Meringue Cake

Melanie asked, and Thor told me to share the recipe for his birthday cake with everyone. He hasn't decided whether he liked this or his applesauce meringue cake from last year better, because he thinks it's just wonderful to have any cake at all!

BANANA MERINGUE CAKE

2-1/4 cup flour
2-1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup sugar
4 mashed bananas
1/2 cup vegetable oil
1/2 cup sour milk (1 tbsp lemon juice and balance milk)
1 tsp vanilla
4 egg yolks
1/2 cup chopped walnuts
4 egg whites
1/4 cup sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/4 cup warm (110F) water
1 envelope unflavored gelatin

Sift together the dry ingredients and set aside. Combine the bananas (which I mash using my mixer) with the oil, milk, vanilla and egg yolks. At low speed, beat in the dry ingredients; beat at medium speed for 2 minutes. Stir in the walnuts. Pour into a 13"x9" baking pan, and bake at 350F for 30 minutes.

Meanwhile, sprinkle the gelatin over the 1/4 cup warm water and set aside. Beat the egg whites until fluffy, and beat in the sugar and vanilla. Beat until the mixture forms soft peaks, and add the gelatin/water mixture. Beat at high speed until stiff. When the cake has cooked for 30 minutes, remove it from the oven, spread the meringue over the top, and return to the oven for 12 minutes. Let the cake cool before serving.

And, please, unless you're trying to drive everyone else out of the room so you can have all of the cake, don't eat it like this.