Election day loaf

 
                             ELECTION DAY LOAF
 
 Recipe By     : 
 Serving Size  : 1    Preparation Time :0:00
 Categories    : Breads
 
   Amount  Measure       Ingredient -- Preparation Method
 --------  ------------  --------------------------------
    2       pk           Dry yeast
    1 1/2   c            Warm water
    2       ts           Sugar
    6       c            Unbleached flour, divided
    1       t            Salt
    1 1/2   ts           Cinnamon
      1/4   ts           Ground cloves
      1/2   ts           Nutmeg
      3/4   c            Butter, at room temperature
    1       c            Sugar
    2                    Eggs, at room temperature
    1 1/2   c            Raisins
      3/4   c            Chopped walnuts or pecans
      1/2   c            Chopped citron
    1       tb           Flour
                         ICING:
    1       c            Confectioner's sugar
    1 1/2   tb           Orange juice
      1/2   ts           Vanilla
    1       pn           Of salt
 
   Mew England legend decrees that votes were bought in
   exchange for this loaf. You may not win an election,
   but you will get an overwhelming vote of confidence if
   you serve this bread to the poll watchers gathered in
   your home on election night.
   
   In a large bowl, dissolve the yeast in warm water.
   Add 2 tsp sugar and 1 1/2 cups flour.  beat well,
   about 150 strokes.  Cover the bowl tightly and set in
   a warm, draft-free place for 30 minutes.  Meanwhile,
   sift the remaining flour with the salt, cinnamon,
   cloves, and nutmeg on a piece of wax paper.  In a
   small bowl, cream the butter and sugar.  When the
   yeast batter has only 5 more minutes to rise, add the
   eggs to the creamed butter.
   
   Beat well.  Stir down the yeast batter.  Spoon in the
   butter mixture and blend well.  Add the sifted dry
   ingredients a spoonful at a time, beating after each
   one until the mixture is smooth. Dredge the raisins,
   nuts and citron in the tbsp of flour and stir into the
   batter.  Pour the batter into a greased 10 inch tube
   pan.  Make it level by using a spoon dipped in cold
   water.  Cover the pan with wax paper and place in a
   warm, draft-free spot for about 1-1/2 hours, or until
   a wooden tooth-pick inserted in the center comes out
   clean.  Check halfway through baking time; if the top
   gets too brown, cover loosely with foil or brown
   paper.  Remove from oven and let cool for 10 minutes
   before turning the bread onto a wire rack to cool.
   
   Spread on the icing while the bread is still warm.
   Makes 1 loaf.
   
   Origin:  Hearth and Home Companion Shared by: Sharon
   Stevens.
  
 
 
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