Candied Orange Rind Bread

Candied Orange Rind Bread

Ingredients:
4 medium oranges
1 cup water
1 cup sugar
4 cups unbleached flour
6 teaspoons baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup butter or margarine
1/2 cup sugar
2 large eggs
2 cups milk

Directions:
Thinly peel the oranges using a vegetable peeler. Cut the orange rind into thin slivers. Combine the orange rind and 1 cup of water in a 2-quart saucepan and bring to a boil, then remove from heat, cover, and simmer for 15 minutes or until the rind is tender. Add the 1 cup of sugar and continue cooking, uncovered, until the mixture is syrupy, about 15 minutes. Cool to room temperature. Meanwhile, sift the flour, baking powder, and salt together in a bowl and set aside. Cream the butter and 1/2 cup of sugar together until light and fluffy using an electric mixer set on medium. Add the eggs and mix well. Combine with the cooled orange rind mixture. Add the dry ingredients alternately with the milk to the creamed mixture, beating well after each addition. Pour the batter into 2 greased 9x5x3-inch loaf pans. Bake in a preheated 350