Exiting onto the turnpike was always a relief. It meant the long car journey was almost over. We were on the final stretch to our destination. Giant billboards are lined up one after another on both sides of the road. Each one is selling the message of fun in the sun: "Stay Here", "Play Here", "Eat Here", and so on. Then an occasional orange grove appears between the signs. When conditions are just right, you catch a lovely scent of orange drifting through the air. That scent is what I remembered when baking Citrus Pecan Quick Bread.
Our vacations in Orlando were many years ago. It was probably a cross between getting older and seeking new adventures that ended our trips there. Or it could be because my love of wine and visiting California wine country instead. These days I go back to Orlando for a very special event, the Food and Wine Conference. It is the ultimate combination of food, wine, foodies, blogging, learning, and fun. I'm a proud organizer and speaker too. I'm speaking in two sessions; one is about WordPress with fellow panelist Judi Knight and the other is about beef cutting, cooking, and photography with The Beef Checkoff (I'll be the photographer on that panel).
What ties this bread, the conference, and summer together? The theme for July Twelve Loaves is Summer Fun. I'll be having fun at the conference with Lora, creator of Twelve Loaves. We will be in Orlando where the scent of citrus greets road travelers as they are nearing the city. I could not think of a better bread to bake for the theme.
Citrus Pecan Quick Bread is great for breakfast. Slather it with butter, drizzle it with honey, or pair it with a glass of juice and you are starting your day in a mighty tasty way. It has orange, lemon and lime juice in the mix. That combination is one I've used before with my Refreshing Citrus Cocktail. Pecans give a little extra flavor and a slight crunch. The bread's texture is dense and the loaf feels heavy for its size.
What bread means summer to you? I think of ones with fruit or sourdough because of my trips to Florida, San Francisco, and wine country. Scroll down to see a list of recipes by talented bakers. Join me in visiting each one and see more about their delightful breads.
Citrus Pecan Quick Bread
Ingredients
- ¾ cup granulated sugar
- 2 teaspoons grated orange zest
- 1 teaspoon grated lemon zest
- ½ teaspoon grated lime zest
- 2 cups all-purpose flour
- ½ teaspoon baking soda
- ½ teaspoon salt
- ½ cup chopped pecans
- ⅔ cup orange juice
- 2 tablespoons lemon juice
- 1 tablespoon lime juice
- 1 egg
- 2 tablespoons vegetable or canola oil
Instructions
- Preheat oven to 350 degrees F. Grease and flour an 8- X 4-inch or 9- X 5-inch loaf pan.
- Put sugar and zests in a small bowl. Use your fingers to rub zest into sugar (it will begin to look like wet sand).
- Whisk together flour, baking soda, and salt in a large bowl. Add the citrus sugar and pecans and whisk to combine.
- Whisk together juices, egg, and oil in a medium bowl.
- Add wet ingredients to dry ingredients and stir until just combined.
- Spoon mixture into prepared pan and spread evenly in the pan.
- Bake for 45 to 55 minutes or until a toothpick or cake tester inserted in the center comes out clean.
- Cool bread in the pan for 10 minutes on a wire rack. Remove bread from pan and cool completely on a wire rack.
Notes
Don't let summer go by without baking bread! Check out these wonderful recipes for the season:
- Blueberry and Japanese Yuzu Citrus Muffins from Kim at NinjaBaking.com
- Citrus Pecan Quick Bread from Renee at Magnolia Days
- Courgette, Feta, Honey and Sesame Seeds Pull-apart Bread from Luisa at Rise of the Sourdough Preacher
- Crusty Caprese Loaf from Stacy at Food Lust People Love
- Fruit and Veggie Quick Bread from Felice at All That's Left Are the Crumbs
- Gluten Free Berry Bread from Sherron at Simply Gourmet
- Grilled Indian Naan Flat Bread from Reneé at Kudos Kitchen by Reneé
- Skillet Pizza by Karen from Karen's Kitchen Stories
- Upside Down Banana Bread from Holly at A Baker's House
#TwelveLoaves July: Summer Fun. The month of June was filled with lovely cherries! We have chosen Summer Fun as our theme for July. Let's share flat breads, rolls, buns, grilled breads - whatever sweet or savory version you'd like and whatever you feel reflects summer flavors! Whatever you bake, (yeasted, quick bread, crackers, muffins, braids, flatbreads, etc) have fun and let's have a delicious month of bread for summer fun! Let's get baking!
Do you want to add your bread to the collection with the linky tool this month? Here is what you need to do:
- When you post your Twelve Loaves bread on your blog, make sure that you mention the Twelve Loaves challenge in your blog post. This helps us to get more members as well as share everyone's posts. Please make sure your bread is inspired by the theme.
- Please link your post to the linky tool at the bottom of my blog. It must be bread baked to the Twelve Loaves theme.
- Have your Twelve Loaves bread that you baked this July, 2014, and posted on your blog by July 31, 2014.
Twelve Loaves is a monthly bread baking party created by Lora from Cake Duchess and runs smoothly with the help of our friends. Thank you to Stacy from Food Lust People Love for hosting this month's event!
I can smell the oranges, lemons and limes now, Renee. What a beautiful summery loaf! How I wish I could attend the Food and Wine Conference, if only to meet all of my special blogger friends, like you. I know it will be amazing. Some day!
Yes some day for sure!
This is a gorgeous bread Renee, as usual! You girls are going to have so.much.fun!!!
Thanks Paula and you know I wish you could be at the conference too.
This bread sounds fantastic. I love stuff like that. And have fun and good luck at the conference. I know you'll be great!
Thank you so much Anita
Renee your loaf must be heavenly.
Who can resist citrus and pecan nuts?
Monica Bhide is a speaker a the same Festival, have you ever met her?
I did in London and she really struck me, she's very generous, positive and friendly.
Have a great time!
Lou
I have not met Monica Bhide except in email exchanges in regard to the conference. I can't wait to meet her in person.
Enjoy your time at the conference, I am sure it will be a wonderful time!
I know those road signs well as each year when I was a kid we would drive from PA to FL for spring break to visit family in Jacksonville. Thanks for bringing back some memories!
Thanks Holly and glad I helped to bring back good memories for you.
Summer means seeing the fabulously talented Renee Dobbs at the Food & Wine Conference! Hope you are speaking on Saturday. (Due to budget and travel times to my 91 year old Dad's place, I leave early Sunday.) Anyway, the photos of your bread are creating rumbles in my stomach =) Your photo is pinned - of course!
And I can't wait to see you at the conference again. I will be speaking on Saturday and Sunday.
That bread would be delicious warm with lots of butter! Hope you have a great time at the conference!
Oh yes! I toasted a slice ever so slightly just to warm it a little and then loaded it up with butter. It was so good.
This is a truly beautiful loaf of bread! Good luck to you in your travels
Thank you very much Mary Frances
Looks lovely Renee. We are headed to Orlando in September to take the Littles for their first time. It should be fun.
I'm sure they will have a blast. It is so much to take in and a whole bunch of fun to be had by kids of all ages.
This sounds so good. Congrats on your role in Orlando!! Have fun with Lora! Jealous =)
Thank you Karen and I wish you could be at the conference too.
Ooh. This is the perfect brunch side! Can't wait to try it!
Thanks Chrissy
The citrus flavor must really come out in this bread with all the juice and zest.
I don't like long car trips (or plane trips for that matter) but we frequently drove from the Detroit area to Cincinnati. When I knew we were getting close, it was a weight off my shoulders.
Yes, it really does have a nice citrus flavor. And it is so great when those long car rides are almost over.
I just love this citrus pecan bread, Renee. How wonderful to see you again this past wkend at the conference. You do such an amazing job organizing every thing and I really enjoyed your session!! Thanks for every thing!!
It was wonderful to see you again too Lora. I only wish we had more time to chat there. So much going on. And thank you also for your kind words on my session. Glad you enjoyed it.