QUICK BREADS - BANANA BREAD

Makes 1 loaf'

2 large eggs

1 cup (7 ounces) sugar

1/3 cup (2 3/8 ounces) vegetable oil

1 cup mashed banana (2 to 3 very ripe, large bananas, 7 to 9 ounces)

2 teaspoons vanilla extract

1 teaspoon baking soda

1 teaspoon baking powder

1 teaspoon salt

1 teaspoon cinnamon

½ teaspoon nutmeg

2 2/3 cups (11 3/8 ouces) unbleached all-purpose flour

1 cup (8 ounces) yogurt, buttermilk, or sour cream

1 cup (4 ounces) chopped walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350F.

In a medium-sized bowl, beat together the eggs, sugar, and oil.  Blend in the mashed banana and vanilla.  Whisk together and then sift the baking soda, baking powder, salt, cinnamon, nutmeg, and flour.  Add all at once to the banana mixture.  Mix quickly but thoroughly, then stir in the yogurt, mixing until just combined.

Pour the batter into a greased and floured 9 x 5-inch loaf pan.  Bake the bread for about 1 hour, until a cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.  If the bread begins to brown too quickly, tent it with aluminum foil after 40 minutes in the oven. 

From The King Arthur Flour Baker’s Companion.