Easy Banana Bread

I loooove banana bread!  So when I got a craving for it yesterday, I basically ran to the store to get some bananas.  I know the banana flavor is better and more pronounced with almost-gone-bad bananas, but let's face it... I couldn't wait another few days for my bananas to go bad... and the store did not have any bad bananas (which I guess isn't such a bad thing).

The recipe I used was out of my fantastic Better Homes and Gardens Cook Book.  Yes, very American of me... but I'm telling you this cook book has it all...

In case you've misplaced your copy... here is the recipe:

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 1/2 tsp baking powder

1/2 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1/4 tsp cinnamon

1/8 tsp nutmeg

2 eggs, beaten

1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (5 medium)

1 cup sugar

1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter or margarine

1/4 cup chopped walnuts (I left these out, but for those nut lovers... add whichever you'd like!)

Preheat over to 350 F or 180 C.  Grease bottom and 1/2 inch up the sides of one 9x5x3-inch loaf pan (or whichever loaf pan you have at home i.e. my wonderful little heart pan.  Don't forget that the baking time changes when the size does!). In a large bowl sift together the flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and nutmeg.  Make a well in center of flour mixture set aside.

In a medium bowl combine eggs, bananas, sugar, and oil.  Add egg mixture all at once to flour mixture.  Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy... see picture: bottom left).  Fold in walnuts.  Spoon batter into prepared pan(s).  

Bake for 55-60 minutes, or until a wooden toothpick inserted near center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes... aaaaand enjoy!

Banana Bread