Orange-Pecan Loaf

Ingredients:

2/3 cup sugar 
1/4 cup butter 
2 large eggs 
2 cups all-purpose flour 
1 tablespoon baking powder 
Dash of nutmeg 
1 cup pineapple-orange juice 
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract 
2/3 cup chopped pecans 

Glaze
1-2 tablespoons orange juice 
1 cup powdered sugar 

8 pecan halves 

Directions:

Preheat oven 350F. Grease 9x5x3 inch loaf pan. 

In a large bowl use your electric mixer, at medium speed, beat sugar with butter and eggs until smooth, set aside. On wax paper, combine the flour, baking powder, nutmeg and 1/2 teaspoon salt, set aside. In a small glass combine the juice and the extract, set aside. Alternatively add the flour mixture to the sugar mixture to the juice mixture and beat well after each addition. Stir in nuts.

Pour batter into prepared pan and bake 1 hour or until a toothpick is inserted in the center and comes out clean. Remove loaf from pan, place right side up on a rack and cool completely. 

In a small bowl make the glaze by combining the juice and the powdered sugar together to make a thick but pliable consistency. With glaze in a pastry bag fitted with a #1 tip, drizzle glaze over loaf. While glaze is still wet arrange the pecan halves over top. Makes 1 loaf Total Time: 1 hour 10 minutes. Yum Yum!