Heat oven to 350 degrees.

Blend together:

• 1 c. sugar ( a little less if you are using the syrup from the rinds)
• 2T. butter, melted.

Then add

• 2 eggs and mix well.

Stir in

• 3 ¼ c. flour
• 3 t. baking powder
• ½ t. salt
• 1 c. chopped pecans (or more)
• 2c candied orange peels (recipe follows, but can chop up candied mandarin oranges from Trader Joe's, or candied orange peel meant for baking)

Mix well then add

• 1 c. milk, or milk and syrup to measure 1 c. (no more than half syrup - If the syrup has become solid, put the jar, uncovered, into the microwave for 30 second intervals until thin. Let cool some before adding to milk.)
• 1 t. vanilla

Grease and flour 3 small loaf pans. Spoon batter into pans and bake on center rack. Check for doneness after about 30 minutes.

This recipe doubles well.

Freeze the bread after it cools. We like it sliced and spread with butter and toasted in the oven.

Candied Orange Peel

For a quick shortcut, we bought candied orange peel meant for baking. It worked fine, but the dough itself ended up with less "orangy" flavor (due to the lack of orange syrup). We will try to just do a simple syrup using boiled orange rinds from making juice to see what comes of that (we will also see if we can simply use the rinds with less prep work)

To candy the orange peel: (4 med. to large naval oranges)

Using vegetable peeler, remove a thin layer of rind. Boil 5 minutes in 1 c. water with 1 tsp. Baking soda.

Rinse and drain. Using the dull edge of knife, scrape the white pith off and then cut the rind into thin strips.

Bring 2/3 c. water and 1 c. sugar to a boil. Add orange rind strips and cool until syrup thickens.

Drain (save the syrup and use in bread as part of the milk). Spread on a sugar sprinkled waxed paper and sprinkle with additional sugar. Dry.

When dry, chop the strips into pieces (not too small) At this point you can put the pieces in a jar or tightly closed container and refrigerate until you are ready to make the bread. Beware of orange rind raiders.

See also this Bon Appetit recipe for candying grapefruit peel.

2017 notes using different prepared orange rinds:

2x 1½ cup rind
1¾ cup sugar
syrup
2x1 cup pecans