Banana Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour
¾ cup sugar
¾ tsp. baking soda
½ tsp. salt
1 ¼ cups toasted walnuts, chopped course (about 1 cup)
3 very ripe, darkly speckled large bananas, mashed well (about 1 ½ cups)
¼ cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs, beaten lightly
6 tablespoons butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla extract


1.) Adjust oven rack to lower-middle position and heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottom only of regular loaf pan, or grease and flour bottom of and sides of nonstick loaf pan; set aside.

2.) Whisk flour, sugar baking soda, salt, and walnuts together in large bowl; set aside.

3.) Mix mashed bananas, yogurt, eggs butter, and vanilla with wooden spoon in medium bowl. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan; bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes to 1 hour and 5 minutes.

4.) Cool in pan for 5 minutes and then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature. Makes one 9-inch loaf.