Thursday Recipe - Cranberry Orange Bread

This is another good recipe from Betty Crocker. This book comes before the days of all recipes are based on a mix or convenience item. If you want to learn to cook from scratch, get your hands on an older cookbook, pre-1985 if possible. They've got the best recipes.

Fall is in the air. It's time for apple cider and doughnuts and spice cakes and holidays. This recipe has a great flavor and is a fun way to use cranberries.

Cranberry Orange Bread

2 c. flour
1/2 c. sugar
1 1/2 t. baking powder
1/2 t. salt
1/2 t. baking soda
1/4 c. butter, softened
1 T. grated orange peel
3/4 c. orange juice
1 egg
1 c. fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped up
1/2 c. chopped nuts (optional)

Mix flour, sugar, baking powder, salt, and baking soda in a large mixing bowl. Cut in butter until it resembles crumbs. Add orange peel, orange juice, egg and cranberries (and nuts). Stir just until mixed.
Scoop into well-greased loaf pan (regular bread loaf size). Bake at 350° until a toothpick inserted in the middle comes out clean, about 60-70 minutes. Cool 5 minutes. Loosen sides of the loaf with a spatula, then remove loaf from pan. Cool on a wire rack.