COOK'S ILLUSTRATED BANANA BREAD

Steps:

• 1. Adjust oven rack to middle position and heat oven to 350. Spray 8.5 X 4.5 loaf pan with nonstick spray. Whisk flour, baking soda and salt together in large bowl. 2. Place 5 bananas in microwave safe bowl; cover with plastic wrap and cut several steam vents in plastic with paring knife. Microwave on high until bananas are soft and have released liquid, about 5 minutes. Transfer bananas to fine mesh strainer placed over medium bowl and allow to drain, stirring occasionally, 15 minutes. 3. Transfer liquid to medium saucepan and cook over medium high heat until reduced to 1/4 cup, about 5 minutes. Remove pan from heat, stir reduced liquid into bananas and mash with potato masher until fairly smooth. Whisk in butter, eggs, brown sugar and vanilla. 4. Pour banana mixture into flour mixture and stir until just combined with some streaks of flour remaining. Gently fold in walnuts, if using. Scrape batter into prepared pan. Slice remaining banana diagonally into 1/4" thick slices. Shingle banana slice on top of either side of loaf, leaving 1 1/2" space down center. Sprinkle sugar over loaf. 5. Bake until toothpick in center of loaf comes out clean, 55-75 minutes. Cool bread in pan on wire rack 15 minutes. Remove from pan and continue to cool on wire rack.