Favorite Banana Bread

I love this bread!  It's moist and full of flavor and quick to put together.  I also like it with blueberries added to it for a change.

1 1/4 c sugar

1/2 c butter, softened

2 large eggs

3 medium ripe bananas, mashed

1/2 c buttermilk

1 t vanilla

2 1/2 c flour

1 t baking soda

1 t salt

1 c chopped nuts (optional)

Preheat oven to 350.  Grease bottom of 9x5x3 loaf pan with shortening.  Mix sugar and butter.  Stir in eggs until well blended.  Add bananas, buttermilk and vanilla and beat until creamy.  Stir in flour, baking soda and salt just until moistened.  Stir in nuts (or 1 cup of blueberries if you prefer).  Pour batter in pan.  Bake 1 hour, 15 minutes.  Remove from pan and cool completely before slicing.