Apricot-Banana Quick Bread

Ingredients:

• 1/4 cup butter, softened
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 2 eggs
• 1 cup mashed ripe bananas
• 1-2/3 cups all-purpose flour
• 2/3 cup toasted wheat germ
• 2 teaspoons baking powder
• 1/4 teaspoon salt
• 1/4 teaspoon baking soda
• 1 cup finely chopped dried apricots
• 2 teaspoons grated lemon peel

(optional: handful of dried blueberries and/or dried cranberries

Directions:

In a large mixing bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly, about 2 minutes. Add eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition. Beat in bananas. Combine the flour, wheat germ, baking powder, salt and baking soda; gradually beat into the banana mixture. Stir in apricots and lemon peel.
Transfer to a 9-in. x 5-in. loaf pan coated with cooking spray.
Bake at 350° for 60-70 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pan to a wire rack. Yield: 1 loaf (16 slices).