Banana Bread

This is the best version of banana bread I've ever had. I got it out of the Alpha-Bakery Children's Cookbook by Betty Crocker. It is a great ABC cookbook for kids, although I was introduced to it in college. You can order it here. My kids love making this bread--especially mashing the bananas. We usually make this when we have too-ripe bananas to get rid of.

3/4 cup sugar
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (3 large bananas)
3/4 cup vegetable oil
2 eggs
2 cups flour
1 tsp. baking soda
2 tsp. vanilla
1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
1/2 cup chopped nuts, optional

Heat oven to 325 degrees. Grease a loaf pan. Mix sugar, bananas, oil, and eggs in a large bowl with a wooden spoon. Stir in remaining ingredients. Pour into pan. Bake until a wooden pick inserted in the center comes out clean, about 60-70 minutes. Let cool in pan 10 minutes, then loosen sides of loaf from pan and remove from pan. Let cool completely before slicing.