BANANA WALNUT BUTTERMILK BREAD

1 ½ c. sugar
½ c. unsalted butter, softened
2 large eggs
4 very ripe banana, mashed
1 t. vanilla
1 t. baking soda
1/3 c. buttermilk
1 ½ c. flour
1 c. finely chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350* F. Grease and flour 9 X 5-inch loaf pan; set aside.

In bowl of mixer, cream sugar and butter; add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in mashed bananas and vanilla; continue beating until smooth.

Using a measuring cup, stir baking soda into buttermilk and add to banana mixture alternately with flour until it is just combined. Stir in walnuts.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pan. Bake in preheated oven for 1 hour and 15 minutes or until cake tests done.

Transfer to bread rack and allow to cool in pan 10 minutes before removing from pan and cooling completely on wire rack.