Leta's Orange Nut Bread

I am about to make several loaves of this wonderful nut bread, a holday favorite for our family and nice to give away too. The recipe is one that my mother made for years. The smell is fabulous and the flavor is even better. Try it sliced with butter and orange marmalade or cream cheese spread on. It makes terriffic toast to pair with your morning coffee or tea.

Ingredients:

1/2 cup water
2 Tbs. butter or margarine
2 cups sifted flour (sift before you measure)
1 tsp. baking soda
1 tsp. baking powder
1/2 tsp. salt
2 Tbs. grated orange rind
1/3 cup orange juice
1 slightly beaten egg
2 tsps. vanilla extract
1 cup sugar
1/2 chopped pecans

What to Do:

Melt butter in boiling water. Set aside. In large mixing bowl, combine flour, baking soda, baking powder and salt. Add nuts. Combine orange juice and rind, egg, vanilla, and sugar. Add water and melted butter. Mix liquid and dry ingredeints just till flour is moistened. The batter will be lumpy.

Pour into greased and floured loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees farenheit. Check after 45 minutes. Inserted toothpick should come out clean and top should be a nice golden brown. Cool in pan on wire rack. The bread is better if you wrap and save it for the next day.