Strawberry Orange Bread

I have been on a total bread kick lately. I have had a bunch of dehydrated strawberries that just needed to be turned into something. So this was my answer. You don't need to use dehydrated strawberries, fresh is fine as well. 

Strawberry Orange Bread

Ingredients

Bread

• 3 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 1/2 teaspoons salt
• 1 1/2 teaspoons baking powder
• 2 1/2 cups white sugar
• 1 1/8 cups vegetable oil
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cups milk
• 1 1/2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 1 1/2 cup chopped strawberries
• 1/4 cup orange juice

Optional Icing Mixture

• 3/4 cup confectioners sugar
• 1/4 cup lemon juice

Directions

1. Preheat oven to 350 degrees F (175 degrees C). Grease three 8x4 inch bread pans.
2. In a large mixing bowl, stir together the flour, salt, baking powder, poppy seeds and 2 1/2 cups white sugar. Add the eggs, milk, oil, orange juice, vanilla and lemon extract; mix until smooth, about 1 minute. Pour batter evenly into the prepared pans.
3. Bake at 350 degrees F (175 degrees C) for 50 to 55 minutes, or until a toothpick inserted into the center of the loaves comes out clean. Cool loaves in the pans for 10 minutes before removing to a wire rack.
4. If you want an icing mixture, combine lemon juice with confectioners sugar a tablespoon at a time and stir well. Pour this mixture over the loaf while it is still hot. Allow loaf to cool completely before serving.