Banana Bread (Melodie Smith, AAA magazine)

BANANA-NUT BREAD

Ingredients

• ½ cup unsalted butter
• 1 cup granulated white sugar
• 1 egg
• ½ cup sour cream. (Alternately, ¼ cup buttermilk could be used.)
• 1 teaspoon vanilla or lemon extract
• 1 ½ cup flour
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• ½ teaspoon salt
• 1 cup mashed bananas (takes about 2 large bananas). Add a teaspoon of fresh lemon juice (optional) to keep them from browning.
• ½ cup chopped walnuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Coat one loaf pan with butter or nonstick cooking spray. Cream the butter and sugar. Add egg, beat well. Add sour cream or buttermilk and flavoring extract, and beat until mixed.

In a separate bowl, sift flour, baking soda, and salt together.

Stir mashed bananas and nuts (if desired) into the wet ingredients.

Add dry ingredients to wet ingredients, and stir together well.

Bake in a loaf pan for about 30 minutes. Test with a toothpick: Place in center of bread, and if it comes out clean, then it’s done.

Newbie tip: Double the recipe and freeze the second loaf for later.