When your counter is looking a little, gross...

My roommates and I eat a LOT of bananas. I mean we're talking about upwards of 12 to 15 bananas a week most of the time. So you can imagine we buy a lot of them at a time, and there are times when they ripen a little faster than we can eat them. So what's our solution?

Yep, into the freezer they go! We have learned though that the best way to do this is to peel them first and then put them into a freezer bag. Viola! So without further ado,

Banana Bread

• 1/2 cup butter (room temp, of course)
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 cup flour
• 1/2 tsp salt 
• 3 ripe bananas (you'll want to thaw them if you follow our method)
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 cup chopped pecans (optional, but my Mom would argue that it is under no circumstances optional)

Preheat your oven to 325 degrees, then grease and flour your favorite loaf or bundt pan. (My mom actually lines the pan with parchment paper and it works marvelously, but I am not that patient, and I've never had a problem.)

The first thing is smash the bananas in a small bowl and to let them sit as you are working on the batter. In another large bowl cream the butter, and then add in the sugar and cream the two together. Add in the eggs one at a time and power up your mixer. Once the sugar is creamed add in the vanilla. Now slowly mix in the flour, making sure not to let it explode all over you and your kitchen

Next in the bowl with the bananas mix in the baking soda and make sure that it is mixed well. (Side note: fruit is acidic. When a banana is ripe it has a pH of 5, so mixing in the baking soda will start a chemical reaction, similar to vinegar and baking soda, but on a much smaller scale.) Pour the banana mixture into the batter and mix by hand. Make sure that the banana is fully incorporated because otherwise it will leave your bread with a swirl effect. (Though that's not completely terrible.) Pour into the prepared pan.

Bake at 325 degrees for 45 minutes. Depending on the pan you may want to check earlier. You're looking for a toothpick to come out clean.

Manja! I love my banana bread with a little cream cheese, but everyone else in my family likes butter. Either way, or just by itself, its amazing, with a super moist texture! Definitely a family favorite.