Grandma Stern's Banana Nut Bread

1/2 cup butter flavored shortening

1 1/2 cup sugar

2 eggs

1/2 tsp. salt

1 tsp. baking powder

3/4 tsp. baking soda

2 cups flour

1/2 cup buttermilk or reg. milk with 1/2 tbsp. white vinegar

1 1/4 tsp vanilla extract

2 cups or 4-5 ripe bananas, mashed

1 cup crushed walnuts, pecans or macadamias

This recipes makes 2 loaves.

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Cream together shortening, sugar and eggs. Add salt, baking powder, baking soda, flour, buttermilk, vanilla, bananas and nuts.

Grease and flour bread pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 35-45 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in middle comes out clean.

Cool in pan for about 15 minutes. Remove and enjoy.

**Optional oat topping or peanut butter topping

Peanut butter topping

1/4 cup flour

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar

2 tbsp. creamy peanut butter

1 1/2 tsp. butter

Blend and sprinkle on top of loaf.

Oat topping

Mix and set aside.

1/4 cup butter

1/2 cup flour

1 tsp. cinnamon

1/4 cup brown sugar, packed

1/2 cup oats

Sprinkle on top of loaf.