method

Position oven rack in bottom third of oven (2nd from bottom) and preheat oven to 350° F . Lightly grease a 9x5 inch loaf pan.

In a large bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, salt,cinnamon and nutmeg. In a separate bowl, cream together the butter and brown sugar. Stir in eggs, vanilla and mashed bananas until well blended. Stir banana mixture into flour mixture and stir just until moistened. Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan.

Bake in preheated oven until a toothpick inserted into center of the loaf comes out "almost" clean, about 55-65 minutes (Check often, as this is better a little undercooked that overcooked, for the moistest loaf).

Let bread cool in pan for 10 minutes and then turn out onto a wire rack to cool completely.

Optional Crumb Topping:

While loaf is baking, combine 1/4 cup all-purpose flour and 1/4 cup brown sugar in a bowl. Cut in 1 Tbsp. butter with a pastry cutter or two knives until it becomes like a coarse cornmeal.

When loaf has baked for 45 minutes, carefully remove from oven and sprinkle crumb on top. Put back in the oven for the final 15-25 minutes cooking time, until loaf is done as tested with toothpick.

Prep time: 20 min
Cook time: 60 min
Total time: 1 hours 20 min
Yield: 1 loaf