1/2 cup (1 stick) butter or vegetable oil
1 to 1 1/2 cups brown sugar, white sugar or combination
2 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 cup buttermilk, yogurt, sour milk or dairy sour cream
2 1/2 to 3 cups whole-wheat or all-purpose flour
1/2 tsp. salt (optional)
2 to 3 ripe bananas
1/2 cup raisins (optional)
1/2 to 3/4 cups chopped walnuts or pecans (optional)

Cream butter, sugar and add eggs. Beat well. Combine baking soda with sour or cultured milk and set aside.

Add flour and salt to egg mixture; make stiff batter. Add baking soda mixture to above and mashed bananas and blend well. Add raisins and/or nuts if desired.

Put into a greased loaf pan or muffin tin. Bake 1 hour at 325°F for bread or 25 minutes at 350°F for muffins.

Submitted by: Ellen Hill