Recipe: Honey Bread (quick bread, makes 3 loaves, Belgian)

HONEY BREAD

"Honey bread is a Christmas tradition in Belgium, one my family still honors." - Contributed by Barb Van Wallegham

3 eggs, beaten
2 cups white sugar
2 cups honey
2 cups lukewarm water
1/2 teaspoon anise oil
6 cups flour
2 teaspoons baking soda
2 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons baking powder

Combine eggs, sugar, honey, water and anise oil in bowl. Mix well.

In separate bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cinnamon, and salt. Mix well. Pour the dry ingredients into the wet. Add baking powder and mix well.

Grease 3 loaf pans and pour the batter into pans.

Bake at 325 degrees for 1 1/2 hours.

Tester's Comments:
"This bread is to die for! (just our humble opinions) It is heavy like a loaf, and mouth watering good, especially smothered with butter or margarine. We're not big fans of licorice, but the anise flavoring is very light, not overpowering at all. (We didn't realize to find anise oil we needed to shop at the pharmacy, so we used anise flavoring.) We'll definitely make this one again, and we won't be waiting for Christmas!" - Diane Finlayson and Shelley Kitching

Makes 3 loaves
Source: Canada's Heritage Through Food and Wine by Diane Finlayson and Shelley Kitching