Banana bread

Ingredients

• 1 3/4 c (8 3/4 oz)unbleached all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp table salt
• 6 large very ripe bananas (about 2 1/4 lbs), peeled (see note)
• 8 Tbsp (1 stick) unsalted butter, melted and cooled slightly
• 2 Large eggs
• 3/4 c (5 1/4 oz) packed light brown sugar
• 1 tsp vanilla extract
• 1/2 c walnuts, toasted and coarsely chopped (optional)
• 2 tsp granulated sugar

Instructions

1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350 deg. Spray 8 1/2 by 4 1/2-in loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray. Whisk flour, baking soda, and salt together in a bowl.

2. Place 5 bananas in microwave-safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with pairing knife. Microwave on high power until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 min. Transfer bananas to fine-mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 min (you should have 1/2-3/4 c liquid).

3. Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium-high heat until reduced to 1\4 c, about 5 min. Remove from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas, and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.

4. Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into 1/4-in-thick slices Shingle banana slices on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1 1/2-in-wide space down center to ensure even rise. Sprinkle granulated sugar evenly over loaf.

5. Bake until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean, 55-75 min. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 min, then remove loaf from pan and continue to cool on wire rack. Serve warm or room temp.

• Don't even consider using anything but very ripe bananas (except the top could be slightly less very ripe but still rather ripe) banana should be almost all spots, more the merrier. Based on [[1]] only go middle two, preferably third to the left.