Banana Black Walnut Cake with Caramel Frosting

Description
This recipe came from an estate sale. I obtained it when I purchased the family collection from the Pryor Estate in Grapevine, Texas in 1996.
 * Contributed by Catsrecipes Y-Group

Ingredients

 * 2 cups all purpose flour
 * ½ teaspoon baking soda
 * ½ cup solid vegetable shortening
 * 1½ cups sugar
 * 2 eggs
 * 2 ripe bananas mashed
 * ¼ cup buttermilk
 * 1 teaspoon pure vanilla extract
 * 1 cup chopped black walnuts

Frosting

 * ½ cup butter softened
 * 1 cup dark brown sugar packed
 * ⅓ cup heavy cream
 * 1 tablespoon pure vanilla extract
 * 16 ounce box confectioners' sugar
 * 2 cups finely chopped black walnuts

Directions

 * 1) Preheat oven to 350°F.
 * 2) Grease and flour 2 cake pans.
 * 3) In a medium bowl stir together flour and baking soda then set aside.
 * 4) Using an electric mixer cream together shortening and sugar until light and fluffy.
 * 5) Add eggs 1 at a time mixing well after each addition.
 * 6) Mix in mashed bananas, buttermilk and vanilla.
 * 7) Add flour mixture and mix until just combined.
 * 8) Stir in black walnuts then pour into prepared pans and bake 35 minutes.
 * 9) Cool in pans on a cooling rack for 10 minutes then remove from pans and cool.

Frosting

 * 1) Melt butter in small saucepan then add brown sugar and cream.
 * 2) Cook over medium low heat until sugar is dissolved.
 * 3) Remove from heat and add vanilla then transfer to a large bowl.
 * 4) Using an electric mixer beat in confectioners' sugar a little at a time until smooth.
 * 5) Sandwich 2 layers of cake with frosting then frost the outside.
 * 6) Press chopped black walnuts over top and down sides of cake.