July 1st is the first day of the most popular month for picnicking, especially the July 4th weekend! Why not take advantage of the many destinations in Connecticut for leisure-time activities, and bring along a picnic basket filled with your favorite foods.

One of my favorite places to picnic at this time of year is the pond at Gillette Castle State Park. Surrounded by picnic tables, the pond is covered with pink, white and fuchsia water lilies. If you are lucky, you may even see a frog jumping from one lily pad to another.

Here is a recipe from my book, Cruising Connecticut with a Picnic Basket.

Best Ever Banana Nut Bread

My Aunt Madeline's recipe dates back more than 80 years. If you like your bread sweet and moist, you will agree that this really is the best.

 3/4 cup butter

1 1/2 cups sugar
2 eggs
1/4 cup sour cream
1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour
3/4 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 cup mashed bananas
2 teaspoons vanilla
1 cup chopped walnuts

*  preheat over to 350 degrees

* Cream butter and sugar. Add eggs and sour cream, mixing well. In another bowl, combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Add this mix to creamed mixture alternately with the bananas. Stir in vanilla and nuts.

*  Pour into greased and floured 9X5-inch loan pan.

*  Bake for 1 hour or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean and bread breaks away slightly from the edge of pan. Cool in pan on wire rack for 15 minutes; remove from pan and finish cooling on rack.

 Enjoy the recipe and the season!