This will yield a 9 x 5 loaf pan, or a small bundt pan (my preference)

3 tb fresh poppy seeds
½ cup of milk
5 tb sweet cream butter (unsalted), at room temperature
1 cup granulated sugar
2 large eggs
1 ½ cups unbleached, all purpose flour (I use King Arthur)
1 tsp baking powder
grated zest of 2 oranges
1 ½ cups whole cranberries
1 ½ tsp almond extract
¼ cup sliced almonds
¼ tsp salt

Let the poppy seeds soak in the milk for an hour.

Cream the butter and sugar with your electric mixer. Add the eggs, one at a time, beating well after each addition.

Sift the flour, salt and baking powder together in a small bowl, along with the orange zest. Add these dry ingredients to the creamed mixture in three equal portions, alternating with the poppy seed milk. Beat until just smooth, and then fold in the whole cranberries.

Grease the baking vessel (loaf pan or bundt pan) and pour the batter into it. Sprinkle the sliced almonds along the top of the batter and lightly press them into it. Bake in the center of a 325 degree oven until it is golden brown and a wooden skewer inserted into the center of the loaf comes out clean. This will be about 55 to 65 minutes. Allow the loaf to cool in the pan on a cooling rack after removing from the oven.

Dust lightly with confectioner’s sugar and serve (with a fresh pot of Irish breakfast tea, if you’re like me).

    This type of loaf is referred to as a “quick bread.” It relies on the baking powder for its light and fluffy texture, rather than yeast or fermented starters. If your “quick loaves” have a soggy texture with a sunken middle, it’s a sign of: too much liquid in proportion to the dry ingredients (you may have mis-measured); too little total leavening or your baking powder has lost its potency; or, you left the batter too long after mixing before putting it in the oven.

    This is a very tasty and easy to make treat. We had a few slices left over after our seminar, and I can tell you from my own experience that it toasts very nicely the next day and with a little butter makes another great accompaniment to a hot cup of tea.