SPECIAL BANANA NUTBREAD

3/4 cup butter

1 package (8 oz) cream cheese, softened

2 cups sugar

2 eggs

1-1/2 cups mashed ripe bananas (about 4)

1/2 tsp. vanilla

3 cups flour

1/2 tsp. baking powder

1/2 tsp. baking soda

1/2 tsp. salt

2 cups chopped pecans, divided

ORANGE GLAZE

1 cup confection sugar

3 Tablespoons orange juice

1 tsp. orange peel

In a large mixing bowl, cream the butter, cream cheese and sugar until light and fluffy. Add eggs one at a time, beating well after each addition. Add bananas and vanilla. Mix well. Combine flour, baking powder and baking soda and salt. Add to creamed mixture. Fold in one cup pecans. Transfer to two greased loaf pans. Sprinkle with remaining nuts on top. Bake at 350 degrees for 1 to 1-1/4 hours or until toothpick inserted near the center is clean.

In a small bowl, whisk the glaze; drizzle over loaves. Cool for 10 minutes before removing from pans to wire racks.