Well Bread, But a Little Fruity

Easy Applesauce Muffins

• 1/2 cup butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 egg
• 1 tsp cloves
• 1 tsp allspice
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1/2 tsp vanilla extract
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1/2 cup applesauce

Cream together butter and sugar. Add egg, vanilla extract, and spices; mix well. Sift in flour and baking soda, and mix. Fold in applesauce. Spoon into muffin cups, and bake at 400 F for 15 to 18 minutes; makes 12 muffins.

Pumpkin Bread

• 2/3 cup shortening
• 2 2/3 cups sugar
• 4 eggs
• 16 oz canned pumpkin
• 2/3 cup water
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp cloves
• 2/3 cup chopped pecans
• 2/3 cup raisins

Preheat oven to 350 F, and grease two loaf pans. In a large mixing bowl, cream together shortening and sugar until fluffy. Add eggs, pumpkin and water, and blend well. Sift in remaining ingredients, transfer to pans, and bake for about an hour and ten minutes, until a toothpick through the center comes out clean.

More Pumpkin Bread

• 4 eggs, beaten
• 3 cups sugar
• 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp ground cloves
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2 tsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp nutmeg
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 2/3 cup water
• 1 cup vegetable oil
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 15 oz canned pumpkin

Mix all ingredients together in listed order, and pour into two greased loaf pans. Bake at 350 F for one hour and ten minutes, until a toothpick in the center comes out clean.

Still More Pumpkin Bread

• 3 cups sugar
• 1 cup oil
• 4 beaten eggs
• 1 can pumpkin
• 3 1/2 cups flour
• 2 tsp salt
• 1 tsp cloves
• 2 tsp nutmeg
• 2 tsp allspice
• 1 tbsp cinnamon
• 1 tsp baking powder
• 2 tsp baking soda
• 2/3 cup water

Combine sugar and oil, and fold in eggs and pumpkin. In a separate container, sift together flour, salt, baking powder, baking soda, and spices. Add water and pumpkin mixture into flour mixture, and combine. Transfer to two greased loaf pans, and bake at 350 F for one hour, until done in the middle.

Poppy Seed Bread

Bread:

• 3 cups flour
• 1 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 1/2 cup oil
• 1 1/2 tbsp poppy seeds
• 1 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 1 1/2 tsp almond flavoring
• 1 1/2 tsp butter flavoring
• 3 eggs
• 1 1/2 cup milk
• 2 1/2 cup sugar

Glaze:

• 1/2 tsp butter flavoring
• 1/2 tsp almond flavoring
• 1/2 tsp vanilla
• 3/4 cup sugar
• 1/4 cup orange juice

Mix together all bread ingredients and beat for two minutes. Grease two loaf pans, transfer dough into them, and bake at 350 F for one hour or until done in the center. Remove from oven, and poke several small holes in the top with meat fork or skewer. Combine all glaze ingredients, and pour over bread while still in the pans. Allow to cool completely before removing from pans.

Apricot Bread

• 1 cup dried apricots, thinly sliced or diced
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 1/2 tbsp butter
• 1/2 cup orange juice
• 2 tsp baking powder
• 2 cups flour
• 1/4 tsp baking soda
• 1/2 tsp salt
• 1 egg

Soak the apricot bits in 3/4 cup of water, and allow to sit while other ingredients are mixed. Cream together butter, sugar, orange juice, and egg. In a separate container, sift together flour, baking soda, baking powder, and salt; then combine this by parts into the sugar mixture. Fold in apricots without draining. Pour into greased bread pan and allow to rise for 20 minutes. Bake at 350 F for one hour. Cool completely before slicing. Keeps well in the freezer.

Strawberry Bread

• 3 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 3 tsp cinnamon
• 2 cups sugar
• 20 oz frozen strawberries, thawed but not drained
• 4 eggs, beaten
• 1 1/4 cup vegetable oil

In a large bowl, sift together flour, sugar, baking soda, salt, and cinnamon. Stir in oil, eggs, and strawberries, mixing just enough to combine well. Pour into two loaf pans, and bake in preheated 350 F oven for an hour, until done in the center. Cool in pans. Freezes well.

Grandmother's Famous Cranberry Bread

• 2 cups all-purpose flour
• 1 cup sugar
• 1 1/2 tsp baking powder
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 tsp baking soda
• 1/4 cup butter
• 1 egg, beaten
• 1 tsp grated orange peel
• 3/4 cup orange juice
• 1 1/2 cups fresh or frozen cranberries, chopped
• 1 1/2 cups light raisins (optionally, substitute with additional cranberries)

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt into a large bowl. Cut in butter until mixture is crumbly. Add all at once the eggs, orange peel, and orange juice, and stir only until mixture is evenly sticky. Fold in raisins and cranberries. Spoon into a loaf pan, and bake at 350 F for one hour and ten minutes, or until a toothpick in the center comes out clean. Remove from pan and cool on a wire rack.

Banana Bread

• 2 cups flour
• 1 tsp baking soda
• 1 tsp salt
• 1/2 softened butter
• 1 cup sugar
• 2 eggs, beaten
• 3 ripe bananas, mashed
• Optionally, 1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Sift together flour, salt, and baking soda, and set aside. Cream together in order butter, sugar, eggs, and bananas. Add flour mixture by parts, and blend well. Fold in walnuts, and bake in a well greased pan at 350 F for an hour, or until cooked through in the center. Can also be made into muffins.