Glazed Lemon Loaf

I was overjoyed to find that this recipe for lemon loaf from Better Homes and Gardens did not call for butter because we were out of butter and we were snowed in! Our kitchen was filled with the clean and refreshing scent of lemon zest for the rest of the afternoon and the loaf baked up rich and flavourful.

The Recipe

• 1 3/4 cup flour
• 3/4 cup granulated sugar*
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 1/4 tsp salt*
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 cup milk
• 1/4 cup cooking oil*
• 2 tbsp lemon peel, finely grated
• 1 1/2 tbsp lemon juice

In a medium bowl, combine the flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. In a second bowl, combine the egg, milk, cooking oil, lemon peel and lemon juice. Make a well in the centre of the dry ingredients and add the egg mixture all at once to the centre and stir until just combined. (It will still be a bit lumpy, but that's A-okay!) Pour the batter into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 for 50-55 mins. You'll know it's done when you insert a toothpick into the centre of the loaf and it comes out clean. Pour or brush glaze over the loaf once it's had a chance to cool a bit. You can poke holes in the top of the loaf before you do this to ensure that the loaf has a chance to absorb some of the glaze.

The Glaze

• 3 tbsp lemon juice
• 1 1/2 cups powdered sugar or granulated sugar*
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tbsp lemon curd (optional)

In a sauce pan combine all ingredients and whisk together constantly over low heat until sugar dissolves into a thin glaze. For a stickier glaze, use granulated sugar and for a glaze that will harden, use powdered sugar. We used powdered sugar this time because we like the hardened glaze.

Special Note* You can substitute granulated sugar for raw cane sugar and use sea salt instead of regular salt to keep things au natural. We also used grape seed oil instead of other kinds of cooking oil because grape seed oil has a naturally high smoking point and can be used safely with temperatures up to 421F (making it great for sauteing, deep frying etc). It also contains antioxidants.

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Photo to Come.

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The Critique

Critique to Come.