Food for Thought – December 2, 2014

When you read this, dear readers, I will be residing in Findlay, OH. The address is 8590 Township Rd. 237, Findlay, OH 45840.

Christmas will soon be here, and this bread recipe from the Mott Co. should go over well at that time.

Spiced Apple-Cinnamon Bread

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Mist an 8 -1/2” x 5’ loaf pan with cooking spray and dust with flour, then sprinkle bottom with 1 Tbsp. packed light brown sugar. In large bowl, whisk together 1 cup unsweetened applesauce, 1 cup packed light brown sugar, 4 Tbsp. melted unsalted  butter, 2 large eggs and 1 tsp. vanilla. In separate medium bowl, whisk together 1 cup all-purpose flour, 1 tsp. baking soda, 1/2 tsp. baking powder, 2 tsp. cinnamon, 1/2 tsp. nutmeg and salt; stir into applesauce mix until just combined. Fold in peeled, cored and chopped apple and 1/2 cup raisins. Pour batter into prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted in center comes out clean, about 1 hour and 15 minutes. Cool 30 minutes on wire rack.

Per serving: 200 calories.

Dates and walnuts always remind me of Christmas. Here is a bread with both.

Date-Nut Bread

1-1/2 cups all-purpose flour

2 tsp. baking powder

1/4 tsp. salt

1/2 cup sugar

1/2 cup chopped walnuts

1/2 cup chopped dates

1 egg, beaten

2/3 cup milk

1/4 cup butter or margarine, melted

Combine first four ingredients, stirring lightly to coat. Make a well in center of mixture. Combine egg, milk and butter; add to dry ingredients, stirring just until moistened.

Spoon into 2 greased and floured 16 oz. vegetable cans. Bake at 350 degrees for 40 minutes, or until toothpick comes out clean. Lets cans cool 10 minutes; remove bread to wire rack to cool completely. Slice crosswise.

Yield: 2 small loaves.

This was one of my husband’s favorites.

Old-Fashioned Shortbread

1 cup butter, softened

3/4 cup sifted powdered sugar

1/4 cup cornstarch

1-3/4 cups all-purpose flour

Beat butter at medium speed with electric mixer; gradually add powdered sugar and cornstarch, beat till light and fluffy. Stir in flour.

Firmly press dough into lightly greased and floured 9-inch round cake pan. Bake at 325 degrees for 35 minutes until golden.

Invert and cool on wire rack.

Yield: (1) 9-inch cookie

Sirach 6:15 gives us this last thought:

A faithful friend is beyond price, no sum can balance his worth.

Please send your recipes and recipe requests to: The Vista, 5413 Peavine Road, Crossville, TN 38571 or email to: [email protected].

Until next time, Ellie