Apple Banana Bread

Apples:
2 tablespoons butter
3 tablespoons packed brown sugar
2 Granny Smith apples, peeled, cored and cut into cubes (I used 1 1/2 apples and ate the other half, it seemed like a lot of apple) ;)
1/2 teaspoon ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

Bread:
2 cups all-purpose flour
1/2 teaspoon cinnamon
1/4 teaspoon ground cloves
1/4 teaspoon ground nutmeg
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt

1 stick butter (8 TBS)
1 cup sugar

2 large eggs

1/4 cup orange juice
1 teaspoon vanilla extract

1 1/4 ripe mashed bananas (2-3) *I used 3*

Instructions:
Preheat oven to 350F. Butter and flour a 1 1/2 - quart loaf pan.

Apples:

Heat medium skillet over medium-heat. Add the butter and brown sugar. Heat until bubbly. Add the apples and cinnamon and sauté until tender - about 4 minutes. Add vanilla. Remove from heat to cool.

Bread:

In a medium bowl - whisk flour, cinnamon, cloves, nutmeg, baking soda and salt. Set aside

In standing mixer cream together butter and sugar until light and fluffy, 1-2 minutes. Add the eggs, one at a time, mixing well after each.

In a bowl, combine orange juice and vanilla. Set aside.

Add the flour mixture to the butter mixture gradually, alternating between the orange juice mixture and flour. Mixing well between each addition.

Add in mashed bananas and mix

Add in set aside apples and mix - there was quite a bit of liquid in with the apples, I sifted out the apples and left most of the liquid.

Pour the batter into the loaf pan. *I did not put all of the batter into the 1 1/2 quart pan, there seemed to be a lot, and I was afraid it would spill over, so I made a smaller loaf*

I added chopped walnuts!! Nuts make everything better :)

Bake for 55 to 60 minutes or until wooden toothpick inserted comes out clean.

Move to a wire wrack to cool for about 20 minutes before removing bread to cool on wire wrack.

Once cooled, eat!! *I love having mine still warm from the oven*

Yum!!