Sunny Orange Bread

Part of the fun of bread making is the the immense diversity of breads in and of themselves.  There are leavened (quick, yeast) breads and unleavened breads.  Breads range in flavours from sweet to savory to aromatic to plain white breads.  With a little practice there is absolutely no reason to eat a plain white bread again unless of course you want to.

As with all cooking I Iike substituting a liquid with flavour for water.  Orange juice is a great flavour booster but one that is not often thought of when baking bread.  However, orange juice makes a wonderful base flavour for a breakfast bread spread thickly with cream cheese and/or orange marmalade.

I made sunny orange bread a couple of days ago.  This bread has a lovely delightful flavour.  The orange juice gives the bread a golden tint yet does not overpower the flavour.  The sunflower seeds add a nice texture.  This bread is sure to become a family favourite!

Sunny Orange Bread

½ c orange juice
¾ c water
1 tbsp butter
2 tbsp honey
1 tsp sea salt
3¼ c unbleached flour
2 tbsp sunflower seeds
1 tsp orange zest (optional)
1½tsp instant yeast

Warm the water then mix in butter and honey.  Place the dry ingredients in stand mixer bowl.  Mix well on setting 1.  Continue mixing while pouring in water, butter and honey mix then pour in the orange juice.  When dough cleans sides of the mixer bowl turn mixer to setting 3 and knead until smooth and elastic.  Remove from mixer bowl.  Form into a loaf and place in buttered loaf pan.  Lightly brush butter over the loaf.  Cover with moist T-towel.  Let rise until double.  Bake at 200ºC (400ºF) until golden brown and loaf sounds hollow when tapped.  Remove from oven.  Slice with a serrated knife.