Buttermilk Banana Bread

INGREDIENTS:

2 cups unbleached all-purpose flour

3/4 cup granulated sugar

3/4 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon table salt

3 very ripe bananas, soft, darkly speckled, mashed well (about 1 1/2 cups)

1/4 cup buttermilk

2 large eggs, beaten lightly

6 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted and cooled

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1/2 cup chocolate chips

DIRECTIONS:

Heat oven to 350 degrees. Grease bottom only of regular loaf pan, or grease and flour bottom and sides of nonstick 9-by-5-by-3-inch loaf pan; set aside.

In a large bowl, whisk together the flour, sugar, baking soda, and salt; set aside.

In a medium bowl, mix together mashed bananas, buttermilk, eggs, butter, and vanilla. Lightly fold banana mixture into dry ingredients until just combined and batter looks thick and chunky. Fold in chocolate chips. Scrape batter into prepared pan; bake until loaf is golden brown and toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 55 minutes.

Cool in pan for 5 minutes, then transfer to wire rack. Serve warm or at room temperature.