Banana Bread

We love this recipe not only because it is a way to use bananas that are almost ready for the trash, but literally everyone loves it.  It also makes a great breakfast for a crowd of kids after a sleepover-one dish that feels special and fills the house with delicious smells.

Ingredients

·      1 stick butter

·      1 ¾ c flour

·      ½ teaspoon ground cinnamon

·      1 teaspoon baking soda

·      ½ teaspoon salt

·      3 overly ripe bananas

·      1 teaspoon lemon juice

·      ½ c white sugar

·      ½ c brown sugar

·      ½ teaspoon vanilla and if you want to get fancy, scrape in some vanilla beans

·      2 large eggs

·      ¼ c buttermilk

·      optional: chopped walnuts and/or chocolate chips

Directions

Preheat the oven to 350F and grease and flour a bread pan.

Mash the bananas in a bowl and stir with the lemon juice so it doesn’t brown.

Cream the butter and the sugars then add the vanilla and the eggs, one at a time.  Thoroughly beat.  Add the dry ingredients and the buttermilk, 1/3 of each, alternating.  Add the bananas and optional nuts or chips and stir together.  Do not overmix.

Bake for 60-70 minutes or until a fork comes out clean.  Let cool in the pan for 30 minutes, then turn out and let cool a bit more.

Note- this bread also makes great French toast!