mmmmm, mondays: grandma's banana bread

i love the fall. for some reason, it spurs me on to be more domestic. i will occasionally even cook breakfast items for my family to enjoy. granted, they usually get the breakfast items for dinner but that seems to be fine with them. so, over the next few weeks, we'll post some of our favorite breakfast ideas. these work for a meal any time of the day...don't let the "breakfast" word scare you.

this is one of my all time favorite recipes. i think i love it so much because of its origins. this one came from my amazing grandmother. she doesn't remember me or even know what banana bread is anymore but before she got sick, this was one of her specialties. when it is baking, the smell brings back memories of her and i can't get enough of it. i hope you love it as much as i do and that it creates some loving memories of your own.

grandma's banana bread

2 1/4 cups flour

2 1/2 teaspoons baking powder

1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 teaspoon baking soda

2/3 cup butter - softened

1 1/4 cup granulated sugar

1 1/2 cup mashed ripe bananas (three large bananas usually works)

1 1/2 teaspoon vanilla

2 eggs (unbeaten)

1 cup chopped walnuts - optional - i leave these out...kids don't like the nuts

cream the butter and sugar. add the eggs and beat at high speed for three minutes. add mashed bananas and vanilla and beat. sift dry ingredients together and add to the creamed mixture until well blended. add nuts. put into a well greased bread pan. bake at 350 degrees for one hour or until bread does not stick to a knife when inserted. enjoy!