Walnut Banana Bread

This is a favorite of the boys' to use up over-ripe bananas.

Walnut Banana Bread

2-3 bananas, mashed
1 c. sugar
½ c. vegetable oil
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla extract
juice of half a lemon
1¾ c. all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
½ tsp. baking soda
¾ c. chopped walnuts, lightly toasted (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease 9x5 loaf pan.  In a large bowl, whisk together first 6 ingredients.  In a separate bowl, blend next four dry ingredients.  Stir into wet ingredients just until combined.  Stir in walnuts.  Pour batter into loaf pan.  Bake for 1 hour or until toothpick in center comes out clean and the top is golden brown.

Cool in pan for 10 minutes.  Turn out onto wire rack and let cool completely, if you can wait that long.

Source:  Paula Deen's Southern Cooking Bible