Orange Carrot Bread

My apartment smells amazing right now.  I've just pulled my orange carrot quick bread from the oven, scented with orange zest, cinammon, and vanilla.  It was born out of a bag of baby carrots, a sale on oranges during a trip to get garam masala, and a desire to experiment with baking.  This is the first time that I have taken a baking recipe and completely changed it based on what I know about baking and not reading a million recipes on the internet.  BIG step, guys!  It is a play on my family's Zucchini Bread, replacing the oil with yogurt, the zucchini with carrot, and some of the cinnamon with orange zest.  I topped it with an orange and sour cream drizzle to echo the flavors of the bread.

Special thanks goes to my upstairs neighbors, who loaned me a cup of flour.  Yet another example of how I am not a baker, I forgot to check that I had everything before I started!  Luckily, I got my flour and found someone to give my extra bread.  That's what I call a keep Sarah skinny win!

This would be a perfect weekend breakfast, either with the sour cream drizzle or a smear of cream cheese!

Orange Carrot Bread

2 1/2 cups carrots, shredded
3 eggs
1 cup greek yogurt (0% fat)
2 cups sugar
2 teaspoon vanilla extract
2 teaspoon orange zest
3 cups flour
1 teaspoon cinammon
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/4 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon salt

First, grate enough carrots to make 2 1/2 cups.  I used my food processor with a grater attachment, but a box grater is just fine.

Wet ingredients:  First beat the eggs until lighter in color.  Add the sugar, yogurt, vanilla, and orange zest, combine.  Then add the grated carrots.

Dry Ingredients:  Either sift or whisk the flour, baking soda, baking powder, cinnamon, and salt.  Add to the wet ingredients in 3 batches.

Prepare the bread for the oven preheated to 325 F.  Butter and lightly flour 2 loaf pans.  Divide the batter into the two pans, filling about halfway.

Bake for about 50 minutes, until a knife pulls out clean.

Breakfast quick bread?  Outstanding!  Spread with cream cheese or . . .

Orange Sour Cream Drizzle
2 oranges, juiced
1/2 cup sour cream
1/4 cup greek yogurt (0% fat)
1/2 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/4 teaspoon cinnamon

Whisk together all of the ingredients and drizzle over the bread.  Tangy, citrusy, and the perfect compliment!

I'm starting to become a baker!  Now you get to it!