This is a unique bread to serve at Christmas.
½ cup (1 stick) butter or margarine, softened
1 cup granulated sugar
2 eggs
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 teaspoon baking soda
½ teaspoon salt
1 cup ripe mashed bananas (about 2 medium)
1 (11-ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup chocolate chips
½ cup plus 3 tablespoons sliced almonds
½ cup maraschino cherries
½ cup chopped dates or raisins
Preheat the oven to 350° degrees. In a large mixing bowl cream the butter and sugar. Beat in the eggs and vanilla. Add the flour, baking soda, and salt alternately with the bananas. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, ½ cup almonds, cherries, and dates or raisins.
Pour into two greased loaf pans. Sprinkle the remaining 3 tablespoons almonds on top of the bread. Bake for 45 to 50 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean. After removing from the oven, cool for 10 minutes before removing the loaves from the pans to a wire rack to cool completely.
YIELD: 2 LOAVES
Vivian Beasley
Monroe, Georgia
When bread is baking, a small dish of water in the oven will help keep the crust from hardening.
