Banana Nut Bread

2 ½ cups all purpose flour

1 ½ tsp baking soda

½ tsp salt

¾ cup salted butter, softened

1 ½ cups light brown sugar, packed

2 large eggs

3 cups ripe bananas (about 7 medium), mashed

1 tsp vanilla

1 cup (4 oz) chopped walnuts

Chocolate chips (as requested by my hubby)

Preheat oven to 325 degrees. Grease two 9 by 5 inch loaf pans.

In a medium bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt with a wire whisk. Set aside.

In a large bowl cream butter and sugar. Add eggs, bananas and vanilla and beat at medium speed until thick. Scrape down sides of bowl.

Add the combined flour mixture, walnuts, and chocolate chips, then blend at low speed just until combined. Do not overmix.

Pour batter into prepared pans. Bake on center rack of oven for 60-70 minutes. A toothpick inserted in the center should come out clean and bread should pull away from sides of pan.

Cool to room temp before removing and slicing.

Yield: 30 ½ inch slices (15 slices per loaf)

Source: Mrs. Fields Cookie Book