Banana Oatmeal Bread

Ingredients

    * 1/2 cup dried apricots (3 oz.)
    * 1/4 cup orange juice
    * 4 oz. unsalted butter, room temperature
    * 3/4 cup sugar
    * 2 eggs
    * 1 lb. ripe bananas, mashed (about 3 medium bananas)
    * 1 zest from one orange
    * 1 1/2 cups sifted flour
    * 1 teaspoon baking powder
    * 1 teaspoon baking soda
    * 1/2 teaspoon salt
    * 1 cup oatmeal
    * 2/3 cup pecan pieces (3 oz.)
    * 1/2 cup golden raisins
    * 2 teaspoon vanilla

Instructions

Chop the apricots into small pieces. Macerate the apricot pieces and raisins in the orange juice for at least 10 minutes.
Butter the Braided Loaf Pan and place in refrigerator or freezer to firm butter.
Adjust oven rack to the lower third of the oven. Preheat oven to 350 degrees.
Cream together the butter and sugar. Add the eggs and vanilla and beat until smooth. Stir in mashed bananas and orange zest.
Sift the flour, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into the butter mixture. Stir in oatmeal, stirring just until blended. Add pecan pieces, apricots, raisins, and orange juice. Stir until blended.
Turn batter into prepared Braided Loaf Pan and smooth top with a spatula. Bake in the lower third of the oven for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in the center comes out clean.
Cool bread in pan for 15 minutes, then turn out to cool completely on a rack.
Serves 18-20