Gift of the Magi Bread-Tasty

[wilderness]

Gift of the Magi Bread-Tasty


1/2 cup butter or margarine, softened

1 cup sugar

2 eggs

1 teaspoon vanilla extract

2 cups all-purpose flour

1 teaspoon baking soda

1/2 teaspoon salt

1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium)

1 can (11 ounces) mandarin oranges, drained

1 cup flaked coconut

1 cup (6 ounces) semisweet chocolate chips

2/3 cup sliced almonds, divided

1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup chopped dates

In a mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar. Beat in eggs and vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with bananas. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, cherries and dates.

Pour into 2 greased 8 x 4 x 2 pans. Sprinkle with the remaining almonds. Bake at 350F for 50 - 55 minutes or until a toothpick comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from the pans to wire racks to cool completely.