Banana Bread

I love this banana bread recipe from Betty Crocker's cookbook. It always turns out so good!

Ingredients:

• 1 cup sugar
• 1/3 cup margarine or butter, softened
• 2 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (3 to 4 medium)
• 1/3 cup water
• 1 2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/4 tsp baking powder
• 1/2 cup chopped nuts (optional)

Preparation:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom of loaf pan, 81/2x41/2x21/2 or 9x5x3. Mix sugar and margarine in 2 1/2-quart bowl. Stir in eggs until blended. Add bananas and water; beat 30 seconds. Stir in remaining ingredients except nuts just until moistened; stir in nuts. Pour into pan. Bake until wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean, 8-inch loaf 1 1/4 hours, 9-inch loaf 55-60 minutes, cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of loaf from pan; remove from pan. Cool completely before slicing. 1 loaf (24 slices); 120 calories per slice.