Gift of the Magi Bread

1/2 cup butter
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla
2 cups all-purpose flour
1 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas (about 2 medium )
1--11 oz. can mandarin oranges, drained
1 cup flaked coconut
1 cup semisweet chocolate chips
2/3 cup sliced almonds, divided
1/2 cup chopped maraschino cherries
1/2 cup chopped dates

In a large mixing bowl, cream butter and sugar until light and fluffy. Add vanilla. Combine the flour, baking soda and salt; add to the creamed mixture along with bananas. Stir in the oranges, coconut, chips, and 1/2 cup almonds, cherries, and dates. pour into two greased 8 in. by 4 in. loaf pans. Sprinkle with remaining almonds. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 - 55 minutes or until toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks to cool completely. Yield: 2 loaves