Recipe: Banana Bread

My neighbor, S, wanted to make some goodies for another neighbor across the street who just had a premie soon after they moved in. I just happened to have some bananas hanging out (the remnants of a forgotten craving), so it worked out perfectly.

1 1/4 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 large eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 cup unsalted butter, softened
1 cup sugar
3 ripe bananas, mashed
3/4 cup crushed walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 and prepare a standard loaf pan with cooking spray.

Combine flour, baking soda, and salt in a bowl and set aside.

Beat eggs and vanilla together in a small bowl and set aside.

Use a mixer to cream the butter and sugar together until light and fluffy. Slowly pour the egg mixture into the butter while mixing until incorporated. Add the bananas.

Mix in the flour mixture with a wooden spoon until just moistened. Fold in the nuts and transfer the batter to the prepared pan. Bake for 55 minutes to an hour. Cool in the pan for an hour, then flip out and cool on a wire rack or serving platter.