Classic Banana Bread

Ingredients:

• 0.5 cups (120 g) melted butter or vegetable oil, plus oil for greasing the pan
• 1.75 cups premium wheat flour
• 1 cup toasted pecans or walnuts, chopped
• 0.5 cup granulated sugar
• 1 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 teaspoon ground cinnamon
• 0.25 tsp grated nutmeg
• 2 large eggs, lightly beaten
• 0.25 cups kefir, sour cream or yogurt
• 0.5 cup brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 4 soft, overripe medium bananas, mashed (about 1 1/2 cups)

Preparation:

1. Preheat oven to 180°C. Grease a baking dish.
2. In a large bowl, combine the flour, pecans, granulated sugar, baking soda, cinnamon, 1/2 teaspoon salt, and nutmeg. Whisk the eggs, melted butter, kefir, brown sugar, and vanilla in a medium bowl; add the mashed bananas and mix well. Add the banana mixture to the flour mixture and mix well (it's okay if there are lumps).
3. Pour the batter into a greased pan and spread it evenly over the entire surface. Bake for approximately 1 hour, until the bread is golden brown and a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean. Let the bread cool in the pan for 10 minutes, then invert it onto a tray and cool completely.
   
   

   Chef's advice

   
   Are your bananas overripe? Place them in a zip-lock plastic bag and freeze. (They'll keep for up to a month.) When you have enough bananas, use them to bake this easy banana bread. Simply defrost them to room temperature, peel, and mash. The banana bread will be even better the next day.
   
   If you want to make this bread without nuts, simply omit them and follow the recipe.