Banana Bread

1 1/4 cups sugar
1/2 cup butter/margarine, softened
2 eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup buttermilk
1 t vanilla
2 1/2 cups all purpose flour
1 t baking soda
1 t salt
1 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Heat oven to 350. Grease bottoms of two 8" loaf pans or one 9" loaf pan.

Mix sugar, butter and eggs together. Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla. Beat until smooth. Stir in flour, baking soda and salt until moistened. Stir in nuts, if desired. Pour equally into pans.

Bake 8" loaves for 35-40 minutes, checking after 30 minutes. The bread if done when a toothpick stuck in the middle of the loaf comes out clen.
Bake 9" loaf for 45-50 minutes.