Mini Fruit and Sunflower Loaves
from Judith Choate, Cooking Light, November 2005

This savory quick bread is made from cornmeal and flour, with a little maple syrup and honey added to the dough for just the right amount of sweetness. Dried mixed fruit, sunflower seed kernels, and grated orange rind enhance the recipe's flavor by adding brightness and a surprise crunch. These mini loaves made perfect homemade holiday gifts! Good for breakfast or with coffee or tea in the afternoon. Mini loaves are nice for gifts, but you can also bake the batter in a full-sized loaf pan. Just increase the cooking time.

2 cups all-purpose flour (about 9 ounces)
1 cup yellow cornmeal
2 teaspoons baking soda
1/4 teaspoon salt
2 cups vanilla fat-free yogurt
1/2 cup canola oil
1/2 cup maple syrup
1/2 cup honey
1 teaspoon vanilla extract
1 cup chopped dried mixed fruit
1/2 cup sunflower seed kernels
1 teaspoon grated orange rind
Cooking spray

Preheat oven to 350°.

Lightly spoon flour into dry measuring cups, and level with a knife. Combine flour and the next 3 ingredients (through 1/4 teaspoon salt) in a large bowl. Combine yogurt, oil, syrup, honey, and vanilla. Add yogurt mixture to flour mixture, stirring just until moist. Fold in fruit, sunflower seeds, and rind.

Spoon batter into 4 (6-inch) loaf pans coated with cooking spray. Bake at 350° for 35 minutes or until a wooden pick inserted in center comes out clean. Remove from pans; cool completely on wire rack.

4 loaves, 8 servings per loaf