1 1/3 cups butter
2 cups sugar
4 eggs
1/2 cup buttermilk or sour cream thinned with milk
3 cups all-purpose flour
2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. salt
2 cups mashed bananas
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 cup nuts (optional)

Cream butter; add sugar. Add eggs one at a time. Beat well. Add dry ingredients alternately with buttermilk. Stir in bananas and vanilla.

Bake in greased tube pan at 350°F for 1 hour or until done.