This is my quickbread version of the
Lembas recipe above. It does not have the keeping quality of
elf bread, but, o my goodness, is it ever tasty.
LEMBAS QUICKBREAD
Preheat oven to 350 F. Grease or spray an 8" by 8" square cake pan.
Mix the dry ingredients together:
2 cups all-purpose or unbleached flour
1/4 cup sliced almonds (you will need another 1/4 cup later)
1 Tbs. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 tsp. baking soda
zest from half an orange, or to taste
In a separate bowl, mix the liquid ingredients together:
1 and 1/4 cups orange juice
2 to 4 Tbs. honey, to taste
1/2 tsp. almond extract
When the oven reaches temperature, pour the liquid into the dry ingredients. Mix quickly - don't overmix. Pour into prepared pan. Bake 25 to 30 minutes -- toothpick test for doneness. Remove from oven. While bread is still hot, drizzle with 2 Tbs. warmed honey; spread with a
knife to cover top of bread. Sprinkle with reserved almonds; press lightly into the honey so they will stick. Let cool for 10 min. in pan. Then remove carefully to a rack to finish cooling. DON'T EVEN THINK ABOUT CUTTING INTO THIS UNTIL IT IS COMPLETELY COOL!
(The recipe has no eggs or oil; this is as it should be)