Creating Southern Banana Nut Bread is straightforward if you follow these steps:

1. Preheat the Oven: Preheat your oven to 350°F (175°C). Prepare a 9×5-inch loaf pan by greasing it with butter.
2. Prepare Bananas: In a mixing bowl, mash the ripe bananas with a fork until smooth.
3. Mix in Butter: Add the melted butter to the mashed bananas and stir until well combined.
4. Add Baking Soda and Salt: Sprinkle the baking soda and salt over the mixture and stir to mix evenly.
5. Incorporate Sugar: Stir in the sugar until fully combined.
6. Combine the Egg and Vanilla: Add the beaten egg and vanilla extract to the mix, stirring until just incorporated.
7. Gently Fold in Flour: Add the all-purpose flour, stirring just until the flour is no longer visible. Do not overmix.
8. Add Nuts: Fold in the chopped walnuts or pecans for added crunch.
9. Pour into Pan: Pour the batter into the prepared loaf pan, smoothing the top.
10. Bake: Place in the oven and bake for 60-70 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center comes out clean.
11. Cool: Once done, remove from the oven and let it cool in the pan for about 10 minutes before transferring to a wire rack to cool completely.

These simple steps ensure that your Southern Banana Nut Bread will turn out incredible every time.