Wednesday Recipes...Orange-Nut-Glazed Raisin Bread...Perfect for Gift-giving

My neighbors on either side of us (and us) exchange baked goods or other food-stuffs along with our Christmas cards. I have a mini-loaf pan that is perfect for giving! Now, I include a picture of regular-sized loaves because that's what I took to church fellowship, but feel free to give away--if you can--so delicious! Merry Christmas!

Orange-Nut-Glazed Raisin Bread

Ingredients:

1 cup milk

1 1/2 teaspoon salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup soft butter or shortening (sometimes, I split the difference--gives me flavor and structure--a hint for chocolate chip cookies, too)

2 packages active dry yeast

1/4 cup warm water (110 to 115 degrees F)

5 1/4 to 5 3/4 cups sifted all-purpose flour

2 eggs

1 teaspoon grated orange peel

1 teaspoon ginger

1 1/2 cups raisings

Orange-Nut glaze (see below)

Directions:

1. Scald milk. Pour over salt, sugar, and butter in large bowl. Blend and cool to lukewarm/

2. Sprinkle yeast on warm water; stir to dissolve. Add to milk mixture with 2 1/2 cup flour. Beat 2 minutes with electric mixer at medium speed, scraping bowl occasionally. Or beat with spoon until smooth, about 100 strokes.

3. Beat in eggs, orange peel, ginger, raisings, and 1/2 cup flour. Then mix in enough remaining flour, a little at a time, first with spoon and then with hands, to make a soft dough that leaves the sides of bowl.

4. Turn onto lightly floured board. Knead just until smooth, about 50 strokes. Round up in a ball. Place in a lightly greased bowl; turn dough over to grease top. Cover and let rise in warm place until doubled, 1 to 1 1/2 hours.

5. Punch down and let rest for 15 minutes. Divide in half. Shape into loaves and place in 2 greased 8 1/2 x 4 1/2 / 2 1/2 or 9x5x3 loaf pans. Make 3 diagonal slashes 1/4 inch deep across top of each load.

6. Cover and let rise in warm place only until doubles, about 1 hour.

7. Bake in moderate (375 degrees) oven 40 to 50 minutes. Cover with sheet of foil after first 20 minutes of baking if loaves are browning too fast. Remove loaves from pans; place on wire racks. Spread Orange-nut glaze on tops, then cool. Makes 2 loaves.

Orange-Nut Glaze:

Ingredients:

1 cups sifted confectioner's sugar

2 teaspoon softened butter

1/2 cup finely chopped walnuts (I kept these separate and added to one loaf and not the other--just in case anyone has a nut allergy)

2 to 4 tablespoons orange juice

Directions:

1. Mix all ingredients except nuts--adding 2 tablespoons orange juice, then stirring to see if you need more.

2. 2. Sprinkle nuts on top of one loaf and not the other.