Ingredients

  • 1/2 cup butter or 1/2 cup margarine, softened
  • 1 cup granulated sugar
  • 2 eggs
  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
  • 1 1/2 cups all-purpose flour
  • 1 teaspoon baking powder
  • 1/2 cup milk
  • 1/2 cup chopped pecans
  • 1/4 cup granulated sugar
  • 3 tablespoons lemon juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded lemon peel
  • 1 (8 ounce) package cream cheese, softened
  • 1/4 cup sifted powdered sugar
  • 1 tablespoon orange juice
  • 1 teaspoon finely shredded orange rind

Method

  • To make the bread: Preheat the oven to 350°. Grease and flour bottom and halfway up the sides of an 8x4x2inch loaf pan; set aside.
  • In a large mixing bowl, cream the softened butter or margarine and the 1 cup granulated sugar together with an electric mixer until fluffy.
  • Add the eggs and the 1 teaspoon lemon peel. Beat the mixture well.
  • Stir together the flour and baking powder. Add the flour-baking powder mixture to the sugar mixture alternately with the milk, beating well after each addition.
  • Stir in the chopped pecans.
  • Spread the batter in the prepared loaf pan and bake in the 350° oven for 55 to 60 minutes or until a wooden toothpick inserted near the center of the bread comes out clean.
  • If necessary, cover the bread with aluminum foil for the last 15 minutes of baking to prevent overbrowning.
  • Meanwhile, to make the Lemon Glaze: Stir together the 1/4 cup granulated sugar, the lemon juice and the 1 teaspoon lemon peel. Spoon the Lemon Glaze over the hot bread. Cool in the pan for 10 minutes.
  • A very nice bread!Remove the bread from the pan and cool on a wire rack.
  • To make the Orange Cream Cheese: In a small bowl, stir together the cream cheese, powdered sugar, orange juice and orange peel until the mixture is well blended. Serve the Orange Cream Cheese with the Lemon Tea Bread.