Orange Cinnamon Raisin Bread

Make it step by step

1. Small Loaf: 1/2 C orange juice, 1 T butter or margarine, 1 t cinnamon, 1/2 t grated orange peel, 1/3 t salt, 1 t sugar, 1 1/2 C bread flour, 1 t active dry yeast, 1/4 C raisins
2. I microwave the OJ and margarine for 1 minute, to warm it.
3. * We have the Hitachi machine that makes a loaf of a little less than 1-1/2 pounds. It handles 3 cups of flour very well, but seems to have a harder time forming a dough ball with greater amounts of flour. One thing that I noticed with the recipes in this cookbook is that frequently the "Large" recipe calls for a total of more than 3 cups of flour/oatmeal/wheat germ. The Hitachi has difficulty in dealing with this. (If I am around when I start the bread, I can help it get started; however, most often I bake bread on the timer, so that it is ready for breakfast.) The "Medium" recipe, however, often produces a short loaf that lasts for about 10 minutes around here. What I have found is that a larger loaf is produced by using the proportions of liquid to flour that the Hitachi cookbook suggests: use 1-1/8 cup of liquid to 3 cups of fl
4. ** I have also found that there is absolutely no difference in volume of the bread or how well it rises if I use 1-1/2 teaspoons of yeast rather than 2-1/2 teaspoons. The most critical element to producing a good loaf seems to relate to the temperature of the ingredients.
5. If you keep your yeast in the refrig, allow it to warm up for about 1/2 hour before making the bread.