Streusel-Nut Banana Bread

2 cups all-purpose flour
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/4 tsp. ground cinnamon
1/8 tsp. ground nutmeg
1/4 tsp. salt
2 beaten eggs
1 1/2 cups mashed bananas (5 med. ripe)
1 cup sugar
1/2 cup cooking oil or melted butter
1/4 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)

Streusel-Not Topping
1/4 cup brown sugar, packed
3 Tbsp. all-purpose flour
2 Tbsp. butter
1/3 cup chopped nuts (pecans, walnuts, etc.)
In a small bowl mix sugar and flour.  Using a pastry blender, cut in butter until mixtures resembles coarse crumbs.  Stir in nuts.


Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Spray 2 7 1/2 x 3 1/2 x 2 loaf pans or one 9 x 5 x 3 loaf pan, with non-stick spray.  In a large bowl combine flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, nutmeg and salt.  In a medium bowl combine eggs, bananas, sugar and oil.  Add to dry mixture all at once stirring just until moistened.  Fold in nuts.  Pour into pans.  Sprinkle Streusel-Nut Topping over batter.  Bake 55 - 60 minut4es for the 9 x 5 x 3 pan or 40 to 45 minutes for the 2 smaller pans, or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.  Cool in pans on a wire rack for 10 minutes before removing form the pan.


Comments:  I love banana bread but this has to be one of the best recipes I've ever tried.  The Streusel topping gives it an added texture and taste.  It's the perfect solution for using up those over ripe bananas.  I used pecans in mine but I'm sure it's just as good with walnuts.  I also want to give this recipe a try using black walnuts.  I think the combination of the 2 will make for a really delicious bread.  Of course due to the strong flavor of the black walnuts, I'll cut their amount down to about 1/2 what is called for with the walnuts and pecans.