Gift Of The Magi Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 10 mins Preparation Time: 15 mins Cook Time: 55 mins

Ingredients

• 1/2 cup butter, 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 banana (about 2 medium)
• 1 (11 ounce) can mandarin oranges, drained
• 1 cup flaked coconut
• 1 cup semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 2/3 cup sliced almonds, divided
• 1/2 cup maraschino cherry, chopped
• 1/2 cup dates, chopped

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy.
• 2 beat in eggs and vanilla.
• 3 combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture alternately with bananas.
• 4 stir in the oranges, coconut, chocolate chips, 1/2 cup almonds, cherries and dates.
• 5 pour into two greased 8-in. x 4-in. x 2-in. loaf pans.
• 6 sprinkle with remaining almonds.
• 7 bake at 350 for 50-55 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean.
• 8 cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. yield: 2 loaves.