Banana Bread

Ingredients:
1 1/3 cups unbleached all-purpose flour
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp table salt
6 large heavily speckled bananas
1 stick of butter (melted and cooled slightly)
2 large eggs
1/2 cup packed light brown sugar
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 cup walnuts coarsley chopped and toasted (optional)
2 tsp granulated sugar

Directions: 1.Preheat oven to 350 degrees and spray a 8.5 by 4.5 pan with cooking spray.  Mix flour baking soda and salt together in large bowl.
2. Place 5 bananas in a microave safe bowl.  Cover with plastic wrap and cut several vents in the wrap.  Microwave on high power until the bananas are soft and release liquid (5 min).  Transfer bananas to a fine mesh strainer over a medium bowl and allow to drain ,stir occasionally for 15 minutes.  You should have 1/2-3/4 cup liquid.
3.Transfer liquid to saucepan and cook over medium-high heat for about 5 min when you have about a 1/4 cup of liquid.  Remove pan from heat and stir the liquid into the bananas.  Mash until fairly smooth.  Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar, and vanilla.
4. Pour the wet ingredients into the flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining .  If you are using walnuts, fold it in.  Slice the remaining banana diagonally into 1/4 thick slices.  Shingle slices on either side, leaving a space in between to let the bread rise.  Sprinkle the granulated sugar evenly over the loaf.
5. Bake until the toothpick inserted in the middle of the loaf comes out clean, 55-75 min.  Cool on wire rack for 15 min.  Serve warm.

I made this for my Dad's birthday and he seemed to have liked it.  I hope you do too.  Adapted from cooks illustrated.