Apricot-Orange Bread - cooking recipe

Ingredients

1 (6 ounce) package dried apricots, cut into small pieces
2 cups water
2 tablespoons margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg, slightly beaten
2 tablespoons freshly grated orange peel
3 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup nonfat dry milk powder
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 cup orange juice
1/2 cup chopped pecans

Preparation

Preheat oven to 350\u00b0 F. Lightly oil two 9x5-inch loaf pan.
Cook apricots in water in a covered medium-size saucepan for 10-15 minutes or until tender but not mushy. Drain; reserve 3/4 cup liquid. Set apricots aside to cool.
Cream together margarine and sugar. By hand, beat in egg and orange peel.
Sift together flour, dry milk, baking powder, soda, and salt. Add to creamed mixture alternately with reserved apricot liquid and orange juice.
Stir apricot pieces and pecans into batter.
Turn batter into prepared pans.
Bake for 40-45 minutes or until bread springs back when lightly touched in center.
Cool 5 minutes in pan. Remove from pan and completely cool on wire rack before slicing.