Cherry Banana Bread

Cherry Banana Bread

1 (10 oz.) jar maraschino cherries, drained except for 2 tablespoons juice held in reserve.
1 3/4 cup all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 1/2 teaspoon Baking Powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened to room temperature
2/3 cup brown sugar
2 eggs
1 cup mashed, ripe bananas
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts

Preheat oven to 350 degrees F.
Spray a 9x5 inch loaf pan with nonstick cooking spray; set aside.
Cut cherries into quarters; set aside. In a large bowl combine flour, salt, baking powder and baking soda. In a medium bowl combine butter, brown sugar, eggs and reserved cherry juice.
Mix with electric mixer on medium speed until combined.
Add mashed bananas and flour mixture alternately, beginning and ending with flour mixture.
 Stir in cherries and nuts.
Pour batter into prepared pan and bake at 350 degrees F. for about 1 hour, or until tests done. (A toothpick inserted into center of loaf comes out clean.)
Cool in pan on wire rack, then remove from pan and place bread on wire rack until completely cooled.
Do Not Slice Before Bread is Cooled Completely

Recipe source: ALIA Cooking Corner yahoo group, submitted by Jackie Austin.