Sunflower Seed And Orange Bread

Total Time: 1 hr 5 mins Preparation Time: 30 mins Cook Time: 35 mins

Ingredients

• 3 1/2-4 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 (1/4 ounce) package active dry yeast
• 1/2 cup milk
• 3 tablespoons sugar
• 2 tablespoons margarine or 2 tablespoons butter
• 1/2 teaspoon salt
• 1 egg
• 1 tablespoon finely shredded orange peel (set aside)
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2/3 cup shelled sunflower seeds
• melted margarine (optional) or butter (optional)
• honey (optional)

Recipe

• 1 in a large mixing bowl combine 1-1/2 cups of the flour and the yeast.
• 2 in a small saucepan heat and stir milk, sugar, the 2 tablespoons margarine or butter, and the salt just until warm (120 degree f to 130 degree f) and margarine almost melts.
• 3 add to dry mixture in mixing bowl and add egg and orange juice.
• 4 beat with an electric mixer on low speed for 30 seconds, scraping side of bowl constantly.
• 5 beat on high speed for 3 minutes.
• 6 using a wooden spoon, stir in sunflower seeds, orange peel, and as much of the remaining flour as you can.
• 7 turn the dough out onto a lightly floured surface.
• 8 knead in enough of the remaining flour to make a moderately stiff dough that is smooth and elastic (6 to 8 minutes total).
• 9 shape into a ball.
• 10 place in a lightly greased bowl, turning once to grease the surface of dough.
• 11 cover; let rise in warm place until double in size (1-1/4 to 1-1/2 hours).
• 12 punch dough down.
• 13 cover; let rest 10 minutes.
• 14 meanwhile, grease an 8x4x2-inch or 9x5x2-inch loaf pan.
• 15 shape dough into loaf; place in prepared pan.
• 16 cover; let rise in warm place until double in size (30 to 45 minutes).
• 17 if desired, brush top with melted margarine or butter.
• 18 bake in a 375 degree f oven for 35 to 40 minutes or until bread sounds hollow when lightly tapped.
• 19 if necessary, cover with foil the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent over.
• 20 browning. immediately remove from pan.
• 21 cool on wire rack. if desired, serve with honey. makes 1 loaf (16 servings).