Mom's Banana Bread (aka Betty Crocker)

1 ¼ C sugar
½ C butter or margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 ½ C mashed ripe bananas (3-4 medium)
½ C buttermilk
1 teaspoon vanilla
2 ½ C gold medal all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1 C chopped nuts (optional)

1. Heat oven to 350° F. Grease bottoms only of 2 loaf pans.


2. Mix sugar and butter in large bowl. Stir in eggs until well blended. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened. Stir in nuts. Pour into pans.


3. Bake loaves about 1 hour - until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean.