BANANA BREAD

2 cups flour
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
3 ripe bananas, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)
6 Tablespoons unsalted butter (3/4 of a stick) melted and cooled*
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
1/4 cup sour cream or plain yogurt
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped walnuts (if desired)

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Grease a 9" x 5" loaf pan with cooking spray.  Whisk the flour, sugar, baking soda and salt together in a large bowl.  In a separate bowl, whisk the mashed bananas, melted butter, eggs, sour cream (or yogurt) and vanilla together.  Add the banana mixture to the dry ingredients and mix gently until just combined.  If using nuts, fold those in now.  Put batter into prepared pan, using a knife to smooth the top.  Bake about 55 - 60 minutes until lightly brown and a toothpick inserted into center comes out clean.  Cool in pan about 10 minutes then turn out onto a wire rack to finish cooling.  After cooling for an hour, wrap tightly in plastic wrap to keep bread moist.

* If using margarine instead of butter reduce salt to 1/4 teaspoon.

BLUENANA BREAD:
After combining banana and flour mixtures, gently fold in 1 cup of fresh blueberries.

CHOCOLATE CHIP BANANA BREAD:
After combining banana and flour mixtures, stir in 1 cup of chocolate chips.