Banana Walnut Bread

I never realized how I take banana bread for granted. I mean, it is so easy and quick to make, that I almost forget how much I love it.

Then one day, I was with a friend in a coffee shop. She reached for a slice of banana bread, pre-cut and wrapped in cellophane. And she said... "I want a piece of banana bread... I love banana bread and I haven't had it in so long!" She then proceeded to buy it for $3.00! Can you believe it? $3.00 for a slice! 

So I asked her why she didn't just make banana bread at home. After all, she is a pretty good baker. 

And her response? "I have never made banana bread." WHAT?!?!?! Never made banana bread? How could this be possible?

What about Zuchinni Bread? or Carrot Cake. No, no, no. She hadn't made any of them before.

Why? I asked.

The answer? She didn't think it would be so easy. Well, here is a recipe that proves her wrong....

Banana Walnut Bread

Makes 1 loaf

1/4 cup Butter

1 tsp Vanilla

1/2 cup Sugar

2 Eggs
1/4 cup Unsweetened Apple Sauce
1 cup Mashed Ripe Bananas, about 2 large ripe bananas 

1 1/4 cups Flour

1 cup Whole Wheat Flour

2 1/2 tsp Baking Powder

1/2 tsp Baking Soda

1/2 tsp Salt

1/4 cup Buttermilk

1/2 cup Chopped Walnuts

Preheat the oven to 350 degrees. Grease a loaf tin and set aside.

Cream together butter and vanilla. Beat in sugar until light and fluffy. Then beat in the eggs.

Stir in the apple sauce and the banana

Sift together the dry ingredients. Stir into wet ingredients until just combined. Stir in the buttermilk and the walnuts.

Bake for about 45 minutes, or until done. Cool on a wire rack.