Banana Walnut Bread

I found this in the newspaper, which said it was from "The Bon Appetit Cookbook". This recipe usually makes 2 loaves.

• Ready In: 1 hr 15 mins
• Yields: 2 loaves

Ingredients

• 3 1⁄2 cups flour
• 2  teaspoons baking soda
• 1⁄2 teaspoon salt
• 3  cups sugar
• 1  cup vegetable shortening, at room temperature
• 1  tablespoon vanilla extract
• 4  large eggs
• 1⁄2 cup buttermilk
• 3  cups  mashed very ripe bananas (about 6)
• 1  cup  chopped walnuts

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350°F; butter and flour two 9x5x3-inch metal loaf pans.
2. Sift flour, baking soda, and salt twice into medium bowl; set aside. Using electric mixer, beat sugar, shortening, and vanilla in large bowl until well blended.
3. Add eggs 1 at a time, beating well after each addition. Mix in flour mixture alternately with buttermilk, in 2 additions each.
4. Stir in mashed bananas and nuts. Divide batter between prepared pans.
5. Bake bread until tester inserted into center comes out clean, about 1 hour. Cool loaves completely in pans on rack.
6. Wrap loaves tightly in aluminum foil. Store at room temperature at least 2 day and up to 3 days.