Banana Nut Cake

1 Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease and flour two 9 inch round cake pans.

2 Separate the eggs and set aside.

3 Stir the baking soda into the buttermilk. Cream 1/2 cup of the butter or margarine with the white sugar. Add the egg yolks, and vanilla, beating well. Add flour alternately with the mashed bananas. Stir in the buttermilk mixture.

4 Beat the egg whites until stiff. Stir the pecans into the cake batter then fold in the egg whites. Pour batter into prepared pans.

5 Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 25 minutes or until cakes test done. Let cakes cool in pans than ice and top with pecan halves if desired.

6 To Make Icing: Cream 3 tablespoons butter or margarine with the confectioners' sugar. Stir in the heavy cream until well blended. Spread icing on to cooled cake layers.