Shelly's Recipe

ORANGE POPPY SEED BREAD

Category: Quick Breads

3 cups flour
2 1/4 cups sugar
2 tbsp poppy seeds, toasted*
1 1/2 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
3 eggs
1 1/2 cups milk
1 cup vegetable oil
3 tbsp grated orange zest
1 tsp vanilla extract
1/2 tsp almond extract

Orange Glaze
3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
1/4 cup freshly squeezed orange juice
1/2 tsp vanilla and almond extracts

* Toasting Poppy Seeds - Toast poppy seeds in a 350 or in a dry frying pan over medium heat. Stir occasionally, toasting only until seeds begins to brown.

Preheat oven to 350. Grease two loaf pans. In a large bowl, combine flour, sugar, poppy seeds, baking powder, and salt. Add eggs, milk, vegetable oil, orange zest, vanilla extract, and almond extract; stir until dry ingredients are moistened.

Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Bake 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from oven and place on wire racks.

While still hot, using a long-tined fork, poke holes in the top of baked loaves. Pour Orange Glaze over loaves. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove from pans. Cool completely before slicing. Makes 2 loaves

ORANGE GLAZE: In a medium bowl, combine powdered sugar, orange juice, vanilla extract, and almond extract; stir until well blended.