banana bread

i can’t believe i have never shared this one before. and now i have bananas on the brain for some reason.

½ cup butter
1 cup brown sugar*
2 extra large eggs
1 cup mashed bananas (over-ripe)
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

preheat oven to 350°F and grease (or butter) loaf pan. cream butter and sugar. add eggs, bananas, and vanilla. fold in sifted dry ingredients. add nuts. bake in loaf pan for 1¼ hours or tests done (by inserting a toothpick into the center and having it come out clean). let cool in pan for 10 minutes. turn out and let cool completely.

* i often substitute ¾ cup white sugar and ¼ cup molasses for the brown sugar.