Many people think of baking bread as a cozy winter activity, perfuming the house with those hard-to-resist smells. Just because spring is quickly approaching you don’t need to stash that bread machine in the closet. There are loads of delicious sweet breads, tea breads and dough for rolls that you can make for spring tea parties and luncheons. Better Homes and Gardens (Des Moines, IA) published More Bread Machine Bounty in 1994 but the recipes are every bit as timely in 2009. The following recipes are adapted from the chapter titled “Fruit, Nut & Spice Breads” They will make a one and one-half pound loaf in any bread machine. Almond Bread
One and one-quarter cups milk Two teaspoons shortening, such as Crisco® Two cups bread flour One cup whole wheat flour One-third cup sliced almonds One tablespoon sugar Three-quarters teaspoon salt One teaspoon active dry yeast OR bread machine yeast Select loaf size if your machine has this option and add ingredients to the bread machine pan in the order indicated by the manufacturer’s instructions. Select the basic white bread setting on the machine. Chunky Apple Bread
One and one-quarter cups apple juice Three-quarters cup finely chopped peeled apple Two tablespoons butter or margarine (not spread) Two cups bread flour One and one-half cups whole wheat flour One and one-half cups regular rolled oats One tablespoon sugar Three-quarters teaspoon salt One-half teaspoon ground cinnamon One teaspoon active dry yeast OR bread machine yeast One-third cup chopped walnuts One-third cup dark raisins Select loaf size and basic white bread setting. Add all ingredients except nuts and raisins, according to manufacturer’s instructions. When the machine beeps to signal additional ingredients may be added, put in the nuts and raisins. If your machine does not have this feature, add the final ingredients about 25 minutes into the kneading cycle.
Date Granola Bread
One and one-quarter cups buttermilk One tablespoon butter or margarine (not spread) Two cups bread flour One and one-half cups whole wheat flour Two-thirds cup granola, your favorite kind Two tablespoons honey Three-quarters teaspoon salt One teaspoon active dry yeast OR bread machine yeast One-third cup chopped pecans One-third cup chopped dates Select loaf size and use the light or sweet bread setting. Add all ingredients except nuts and dates to the bread machine according to manufacturer’s instructions. When the beep occurs signaling final ingredients (or 25 minutes into the second kneading cycle) add nuts and dates.
Double Chocolate Bread
One cup milk One and one-half teaspoons vanilla One egg One tablespoon butter or margarine (not spread) Three cups bread flour Three tablespoons brown sugar Four teaspoons unsweetened cocoa powder Three-quarters teaspoon salt One teaspoon active dry yeast OR bread machine yeast Two-thirds cup semi-sweet chocolate chips Select loaf size and sweet bread setting. Add ingredients except for chocolate chips to the bread machine pan according to manufacturer’s instructions. Add the chocolate chips when the machine beeps or 25 minutes into the kneading cycle.
The reason for adding nuts or fruits after the dough has been kneaded for a while is to prevent them from being chopped up very finely and distributed into the dough. By adding them later in the cycle, you will have larger pieces of fruit or nuts or chocolate chips in the finished loaf. Bread is such a comfort food no matter what the season. Spread these slices with real butter or cream cheese and enjoy spring’s friendlier weather.
And...that’s all she wrote. Sandy Olson can be reached via email at sandyo@myclearwave.net
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