1 cup butter
1 2/3 cups (scant) sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp. almond extract
1 cup sour cream
3 1/2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped almonds (optional)

Combine first 5 ingredients. Mix dry ingredients together. Alternately add dry ingredients to first mixture, beginning and ending with dry ingredients. Grease or spray with non-stick spray 3 loaf pans. Put dough into pans evenly, as you would a cake.

Bake at 350°F for 45 minutes. Remove from pans to cool.

When cool, cut into slices 1/2 inch thick.

Place on cookie sheets Bake for 15 minutes at 300°F. Turn off oven and let toast dry out. Store in an airtight container.