1 1/2 c. sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 large eggs
4 very ripe bananas
1 tsp. vanilla
1 tbsp. baking soda
1/3 c. buttermilk
1 1/2 c. flour
1 c. chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350°F. Cream sugar and butter; add eggs one at a time, beating well after each. Beat mashed bananas and vanilla and continue beating until smooth. In a measuring cup, stir baking soda into the buttermilk and add to banana mixture along with flour and chopped nuts. Stir the batter until it is just combined. Pour batter into greased and floured 9 x 5 loaf pan.

Bake 1 hour. Transfer bread to rack and let cool for 10 minutes. Then turn bread out of pan and let cool completely on rack.

From the kitchen of Dotty Cary.