Christmas Bread

Ingredients:

5 cups flour
2-1/2 cups sugar
4 teaspoons baking powder
1 ½ teaspoons baking soda
1 ¼ teaspoons salt
4 large eggs
1 ½ cups milk
10 tablespoons unsalted butter, melted
4 teaspoons grated orange zest, or to taste
1 package fresh cranberries (12 oz.) about 3 ½ cups
2 cups coarsely chopped walnuts or other nuts

Directions:

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Butter two  9” loaf or decorative style pans

Sift together flour, sugar, baking powder, baking soda, and salt.

In another bowl, beat eggs, milk, butter and orange zest together.

Add the liquid ingredients to the dry, stirring until dry ingredients are moist. Do not over mix.  Fold in cranberries and walnuts.

Pour batter evenly into the two pans.  Bake for 50 to 60 minutes or until a knife or inserted into the center comes out clean.  Let bread cool in pan on wire racks for several minutes.  Flip over onto wire racks to cool completely.

Better Living Batter Bread

This bread is simple and very quick.  It requires no kneading and only about 30 minutes to rise.

Ingredients:

1 package active dry yeast

1 ¼ cups warm water

2 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Sugar

2 tbl vegetable oil

2/3 cups flour (all purpose)

melted butter

Directions:

Dissolve yeast in warm water.  Add oil, salt and sugar.  Blend.  Add in about two cups of flour and beat with a mixer on medium speed.  Make sure all flour is well blended.  Sprinkle in remaining flour and beat till the texture is smooth.

Scrape Batter from sides and form into a neat ball at the bottom of the bowl. Cover with a clean cloth and allow to rise in a warm spot.   On top of the refrigerator is a good area.

Uncover and stir dough down with a wooden spoon.  Pat gently into a greased 9X 5X 3 inch bread pan.  Cover again and allow to rise for about 40 minutes or until double in size.

Bake about 45 minutes at 375 degrees.  Brush top with melted butter while still hot.

Beer Bread

Ingredients:

3 cups self-rising flour

1/3 cup sugar

1 twelve oz. can beer

2 tbl. light margarine

Directions:

This recipe couldn't be easier. Combine all ingredients. Don't overblend. Pour into a greased and floured 9x5x3 baking pan and bake in a preheated 350-degree oven for 50 minutes.

Holiday Loaves

This moist fruity bread gets its flavor from baby food.

Ingredients:

1 1/3 cups sugar

2 2/3 cups all-purpose flour

1 tablespoon baking powder

teaspoons pumpkin pie spice

1 teaspoon salt

2 large eggs

1 cup vegetable oil

1 cup strained plums (baby food works great)

1 cup chopped pecans

Directions: 

Preheat oven to 350 degrees.  Combine sugar, flour, baking powder, pumpkin pie spice and salt in a large bowl; set aside.  In a separate bowl, combine eggs, oil and baby food.  

Stir liquid ingredients into dry ingredients; mix until moistened.  Divide batter between loaf pans.  Bake 45 to 55 minutes

Easy Sour Cream Rolls

Ingredients:

2 pkg. dry yeast

¾cup warm water

¾cup sour cream

¾c up buttermilk or dry butter milk equivalent

½cup vegetable oil

2 tsp. Salt

2 tsp. Baking Powder

2 tablespoons sugar

5 ½ cups all-purpose flour

Directions: 

In a large bowl, dissolve yeast in water.  Add all ingredients and half the flour.  Blend on low speed with a mixer until all ingredients are well mixed.  Then increase mixer speed to medium for about two minutes.  The dough should be well blended and a little sticky.  Sprinkle in the remaining flour and mix. 

Place dough on a floured surface and knead for about five minutes. Form dough into rolls immediately. Cut “X’s” on top with scissors.  Place rolls in a greased pan and let sit for 30 minutes.

Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown  at 375 degrees.  Brush top with melted butter while still hot.

Shaped Cranberry Butter

Ingredients:

1/2 cup butter  (1 stick)

2 Tablespoons chopped dried cranberries

1/4  teaspoon pumpkin pie spice

1/8 teaspoon grated orange zest

Directions:

Mix all ingredients together and press into cookie cutters.  Chill for at least 3 hours.  Remove from cutters before serving.   (The firmer the butter, the easier it is to remove.  Try freezing shapes if refrigerator is not cold enough.)

Gourmet Bread Sticks

Ingredients:

1 unsliced loaf of white bread

butter

garlic salt

parmesan cheese

sesame seeds

Directions:

Melt a ½ cup butter in an oblong baking pan.  Take a 1 pound unsliced loaf of white bread, do not remove the crust and cut two one and a ¼ inch slices from the loaf.  Cut each slice into six one-inch strips.  Roll each slice in melted butter, until coated.  Sprinkle with garlic salt, Parmesan cheese and sesame seeds.  Bake 20 minutes or until golden brown, turning half way through.