Christmas Banana Bread

This is one of my favorite banana breads. I love bananas, but the ones available in the US are not as tasty as the Brazilians, so banana bread is my way of enjoying this fruit. I am not criticizing, it is just that bananas grow all over Brazil, from North to South, so it is just obvious we have better ones there! ;-)

• Ready In: 1 hr
• Serves: 8
• Yields: 1 loaf

Ingredients

• 1⁄2 cup butter or 1⁄2 cup margarine, softened
• 1  cup sugar
• 2  eggs
• 2  cups all-purpose flour
• 1  teaspoon baking soda
• 1  teaspoon baking powder
• 1⁄4 teaspoon salt
• 1 1⁄4 cups  ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 medium)
• 1⁄2 cup walnuts, chopped
• 1⁄2 cup  semi-sweet chocolate chips
• 1⁄4 cup maraschino cherry, cut in half (or dried apricots, cranberries, pineapple, etc.)

Directions

1. Cream butter and sugar in large mixing bowl.
2. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition.
3. Sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Gradually addo to creamed butter.
4. MIx in bananas; fold in walnuts, chocolate and cherries.
5. Pour into greased 9" x 5" x 3" loaf pan. Bake at 350 F for 60 minutes, until toothpick inserted in center of loaf comes out clean.
6. Cool 10 minutes before removing from pan to wire rack.