Butter a 9″ by 5″ bread baking dish. I prefer non-stick, but glass, or even disposable work well.
In a large bowl combine flour, baking soda, and salt. Mix well to get rid of lumps.
Peel 5 bananas and mash them well and set them aside.
In a large measuring cup combine melted butter, eggs, sugar, and vanilla.
Mix well. Combine dry and wet ingredients, but do not over mix.
Fold in mashed bananas.
If adding chocolate chips and/or nuts, mix with a reserved tablespoon of flour first to avoid chocolate from sinking to the bottom.
Fold it into the mixture and combine.
Pour mixture into prepared baking dish.
Cut the remaining 2 bananas into thin slices (no more than 1/4 inch thick) and cover the top of the batter with banana slices.
Sprinkle the sugar in the raw on the banana slices.
Bake in a 350 degree preheated oven for 45-55 minutes until a toothpick comes out clean.