Banana Nut Bread

My grandma used to make this recipe for banana nut bread all the time when I was younger. She doesn't make it as often now, which is okay because I have the recipe!

Banana Nut Bread
What you need:
2/3 cup butter
2 1/2 cups sifted flour
1 2/3 cups sugar
1/2 cup buttermilk
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. salt
1 1/4 cups mashed bananas (about 3 bananas) very ripe bananas work best!
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
1 cup chopped pecans (optional)

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees. I like to use three different bowls in order to mix efficiently. I'm weird like that.

In the first bowl I have the buttermilk and soda mixed together with a fork. In the second bowl I have the flour and salt sifted together. In the last bowl I have sugar and in about 5 seconds there will be butter. Cream the butter and the sugar together.

Once combined, add the eggs and mix until smooth and light.

Next, take half of the buttermilk/soda mixture and pour it into the batter. Mix a few seconds.

Now take the flour/salt mixture and dump about half of it into the batter. Mix for a few seconds.

Now, do it again. Take the rest of the buttermilk mixture and pour it into the batter. Mix until combined.

Now, dump the rest of the flour mixture into the batter.

At this point, the batter is pretty thick. Almost done though. Add the mashed bananas into the batter. I mash mine really good with a fork, so at this point you're done with the mixer.

Blend the bananas into the batter with a rubber spatula.

Next, if you are adding pecans...now's the time to do it! Dump them in and fold into the batter.

This batter makes two small loaves of bread, or you can throw it in a Bundt pan. Cooking times will vary depending on that. Just keep an eye on it after about 45 minutes. It's done when a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean.

Enjoy! I like mine warm with a glass of cold milk.