Today is National Banana Bread, the best way to use up those over-ripe bananas you bought earlier this week.  I have several recipes but this is one of the better ones.

Preheat your oven to 350 degrees, grease and flour only the bottom of a 9 inch loaf pan.

Combine the following in a large bowl:
2 cups flour, sifted
3/4 cup sugar
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/4 cups toasted walnuts, coarsely chopped

In a separate bowl combine:
3 large bananas, very ripe, mashed
1/4 cup plain yogurt
2 large eggs, lightly beaten
6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled
1 teaspoon vanilla

Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients with a rubber spatula until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky.  Scrape batter into prepared loaf pan.

Bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.  Cool in pan for 5 minutes and transfer to wire rack.  Serve warm or at room temperature.

As always you can find more at http://www.walterthinnes.com and on Twitter @walterthinnes

NEXT WEEK: Spring training is underway and more reviews!