Banana Walnut Bread

This is a Starbucks recipe that I snagged on one of my rare and desperate visits in need of coffee (you know it's bad when I settle for Starbucks).  I made this yesterday for the first time for an early morning meeting at work and my co-workers raved about it.  And since Starbucks was kind enough to share it with me, I will gladly share it with all of you!

Prep time: 15 mins

Cook time: 45-60 mins

Makes: 1 loaf

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups flour

1 tsp baking soda

1/4 tsp salt

1 egg

1 1/8 cups sugar

1/2 cup vegetable oil

2 tbsp buttermilk

1/2 tsp vanilla extract

3 large ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/3 cup chopped walnuts for topping

DIRECTIONS:

Preheat the oven to 325F.  Grease a 9x5x3 loaf pan and dust with flour.

Blend together the flour, baking soda and salt and set aside.  Mix together the egg, sugar and vegetable oil until combined.  Add the flour mixture and when blended add the buttermilk, vanilla and mashed bananas and mix until combined.  Fold in 1/2 cup chopped walnuts and pour batter into prepared loaf pan.  Top batter with remaining 1/3 cup chopped walnuts.  

Bake for 45-60 minutes until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.  Cool for 10 minutes on a wire rack before removing from the pan.  Cool for another 30 minutes before slicing the bread.