Marmalade Nut Bread

3 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
1 Tbsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs, beaten
1 cup milk
1 cup pecans or walnuts, chopped
1/2 cup shortening; melted
1/2 cup orange marmalade
1 Tbsp grated orange rind
Cream cheese, softened (optional)

Sift together dry ingredients. Stir in remaining ingredients, except cream cheese, just until dry ingredients are moistened. Spoon mix into a greased 9 x 5-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees F. for 1 hour. Cool in pan 10 minutes. Remove from pan and cool completely on wire rack. Serve with cream cheese, if desired.

Raisins are a good substitute for the nuts.

Plump raisins in hot water before adding to the batter, and bake as described.

Yield: 1 loaf