Banana Walnut Bread

Topping:

1/4 cup firmly packed brown sugar
1/4 cup chopped walnuts
2 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened

Bread:
6 tablespoons butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cups granulated sugar
2 eggs
3 ripe medium bananas, peeled and mashed
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/2 (4 ounces) cup chopped walnuts

Preheat oven to 350*F. Lightly spray pan with vegetable pan spray. In small bowl, combine topping ingredients; mix until resembles coarse crumbs. Set aside.

In large bowl, cream butter and sugar with electric mixer until light and fluffy. Add eggs, bananas and vanilla; mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and salt. Add to butter mixture; mix just until blended. (do not over mix). gently stir in walnuts. Pour into prepared pan. Sprinkle topping evenly over batter. Bake 50-60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Cool in pan on cooling rack 15 minutes; remove from pan and cool completely.

Makes 8-10 servings.