1 (10-ounce) jar maraschino cherries
1/3 cup butter or margarine, softened
2/3 cup firmly packed brown sugar
2 eggs
2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 cup mashed ripe bananas
1/2 cup chopped macadamia nuts or walnuts
1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour


Drain maraschino cherries, reserving 2 tablespoons juice. Coarsely chop cherries; set aside. Put butter, brown sugar, eggs and reserved cherry juice in a large mixing bowl.
Mix with an electric mixer on medium speed 3 to 4 minutes, or until well mixed. Combine flour, baking powder and salt; add to butter mixture alternately with mashed bananas, beginning and ending with flour mixture. Stir in cherries and nuts.
Lightly spray a 9x5x3-inch baking pan with non-stick cooking spray. Spread batter evenly in pan. Bake in a preheated 350-degree oven 1 hour, or until golden brown and wooden pick inserted near center comes out clean.
Remove from pan; let cool on wire rack. Wrap in plastic wrap or store in a tightly covered container.