Banana Bread

1/2 cup unsalted butter, room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
4 really ripe bananas, mashed leaving some small chunks
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 cup milk
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 tsp. nutmeg
1/4 tsp. ginger
1 tsp. banana extract
1 cup finely chopped nuts either pecans or walnuts

Preheat oven to 350 F.

Grease and flour 9x5" loaf pan (you can also line the pan with parchment paper).

In a large bowl using an electric mixer, cream butter and sugar - add the eggs and beat until fluffy. Add mashed bananas, beat until just combined then add the banana extract.

Add the remaining ingredients and stir with a spoon to just combine everything completely.

Pour into prepared pan and bake for about 1 hour or until a pick inserted into the center of the bread comes out clean.

Remove from the oven and cool for 10 minutes the turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.

Makes 1 loaf.

Notes: Sprinkle some chopped nuts in the bottom of the pan before adding the dough if desired.

Self rising flour can be used with good results. Just omit the salt and baking powder.

The original recipe calls for:

banana extract, I use vanilla extract instead.

And the zest and juice from 1 orange OR 1/2 cup regular orange juice and no zest if you don't have any fresh oranges. I use milk instead.