1 1/2 c. white sugar
1/2 c. butter, softened
2 eggs, beaten
1 tsp. baking soda
5 tbsp. buttermilk
3 to 4 bananas (ripe), mashed
1 c. walnuts or pecans (optional)
1 tsp. vanilla extract
2 c. sifted flour
1/4 tsp. salt, sifted with flour

Cream sugar and butter in mixer. Add beaten eggs. Dissolve baking soda in sour milk and add to first mixture. Add bananas, nuts, vanilla and salt in flour. Pour into a greased and floured loaf pan.

Bake at 350°F for 1 hour then cover it with foil and bake another 20 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. Let cool 10 to 15 minutes before shaking pan gently to loosen loaf from pan edges. Leave in pan another 10 to 15 minutes before removing and cooling on a wire rack.