4 cups all-purpose, unbleached flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 tsp. salt
3 tbs. butter
1 6 oz. packet Sun Maid Sun Ripened Dried Fruit Bits
Equal amount chopped pecans
1 1/2 cup egg nog
1 pkg. dry yeast, in 1/2 cup warm water
Warm everything to room temperature. Pitch yeast in warm water, with a pinch of sugar. Mix flour, sugar, and salt; cut in softened butter. Mix in fruit and nuts. When yeast is good and frothy, mix in egg nog and yeast mixture and knead, adding flour as necessary. Let rise about an hour, punch down dough, form into a ball, and let rise again; preheat oven to 350o.
Bake approximately 30-45 minutes until done.
A festive, sweet, and light-colored bread, celebrating the return of the Sun, and the promise of next season’s harvest.