[Kitchen Witch]

BANANA WALNUT BUTTERMILK BREAD

1 ½ c. sugar
½ c. unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
4 very ripe banana, mashed
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking soda
1/3 c. buttermilk
1 ½ c. flour
1 c. finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350* F. Cream sugar and butter; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in mashed bananas and vanilla and continue beating until mixture is smooth. In measuring cup, stir baking soda into buttermilk and add to banana mixture until it is just combined. Pour batter into greased and floured 9 X 5-inch loaf pan. Bake for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake tests done. Transfer to bread rack and let it cool in the pan 10 minutes before removing from pan and cooling completely on wire rack.