Holiday Bread

This bread is similar to a stollen.  We are having this for breakfast on Christmas morning.  I made it today, and it took little time to prepare.  

2 1/3 cups flour
1/2 cups sugar
 1 1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1/4 teaspoon salt (I left this out)
1 stick of cold butter or margarine
1 cup part-skim ricotta cheese
1 cup dried tart cherries or other dried fruit (coarsely chopped)  I used Craisins
1/3 cup toasted and chopped pecans
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1/2 teaspoon freshly grated lemon peel
2 large eggs
Confectioner' sugar (optional)

• Preheat oven to 325.  Grease large cookie sheet
• In large bowl, stir together flour, sugar, baking powder and 1/4 teaspoon salt
• With a pastry blender or using two knives scissors-fashion, cut in butter until mixture resembles fine crumbs
• Stir in ricotta, dried fruit, pecans, vanilla, lemon peel and eggs until well mixed
• Turn dough onto lightly floured surface.  With floured hands, gently knead dough two or three times to blend
• With floured rolling pin, roll dough into 10" by 8" oval
• Fold oval lengthwise, bringing top half over so that bottom of dough extends by about 1 inch
• Place stollen on prepared cookie sheet.  Bake 55 - 60 minutes or until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean
• Transfer stollen to wire rack; cool completely
• Sprinkle with confectioner's sugar to coat just before serving if you would like

-Queenie Cuisine