Banana Bread

Oh the wonderful aroma of banana bread baking in your kitchen! This wonderful smell fills up the whole house and it is easy to make! Most of the ingredients are things usually kept on hand. And what a great way to use up those old bananas! The recipe used here was adapted from Tyler Florence's Banana Bread with Pecans (walnuts were used with this adaptation, as well as a couple of other changes). For the original version, please follow this link: http://www.foodnetwork.com/recipes/tyler-florence/banana-bread-with-pecans-recipe/index.html

INGREDIENTS

2 cups of all purpose flour

1 ½ teaspoons baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

5 bananas (overly ripened)

1 cup sugar

3/4 cup of melted, unsalted butter

2 large eggs

1/2 teaspoon of pure vanilla extract

1/2 teaspoon of pure almond extract

1/2 cup of finally chopped walnuts

DIRECTIONS

*Prepare a 9”x5” loaf pan by lightly greasing

*Preheat oven to 350 degrees

*Mix the flour, baking soda and salt in a medium bowl

*Using an electric mixer with a whisk attachment, blend the bananas and sugar until smooth and creamy

*Combine the butter, eggs, vanilla and almond extracts with the banana mixture and continue to blend

*Slowly add in the flour mixture

*Once fully blended, use a wooden spoon or a spatula to gently mix in the walnuts

*Pour mixture into the prepared loaf pan

*Place pan in oven on top rack

*Bake for an hour and 10 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean

*Remove from oven and let stand a few minutes before removing bread from pan

*Let bread finish cooling on wire rack

*Slice and enjoy!

*Excellent alone or try spreading slices with cream cheese