Beautiful Bread for Holiday Gift-Giving & Cookbook Giveaway!

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When You Want To Be Courageous

Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the Lord our God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.  Deuteronomy 31:6

Be strong and courageous, because you will lead these people to inherit the land I swore to their forefathers to give them. Joshua 1:6

It’s time for our Third cookbook giveaway!  Just head to the comment section and leave any comment to be automatically entered!  What is your “must have” recipe for the holidays?  Please comment and share with us that one tasty something you won’t go through the holidays without.  Mine … Peppermint ice cream!  What is yours? Drawing to be held Monday, December 19 at 7:00 p.m. central time.

Cinnamon Mocha Bread

I love giving the gift of bread.  There is something about the aroma of fresh homemade bread that just brings everything into perspective for me.   If you are still wanting to do something special for a neighbor or friend, giving the gift of a quick bread may be just the thing!  If you don’t have the time or inclination to make yeast bread, quick breads can be sweet or savory loaves.  The convenience of quick breads comes from the fact that they are leavened with baking powder and/or baking soda, not yeast.  So you can mix, bake and enjoy these baked goods in less time than traditional yeast breads.  Quick breads also make for a fantastic addition to Christmas morning breakfast, Christmas eve soup supper, or Christmas dinner!  Click HERE for some timely information about baking soda and baking powder!  Be sure and check for freshness in your baking powder and baking soda.  When I did, my baking powder actually has lost its leavening ability although it isn’t expired.  My baking soda expired in 2005, but hasn’t lost its ability to leaven.  Check this FACT SHEET to see how you can test your soda and powder.

Cinnamon Mocha Bread

I recently adapted a cinnamon raisin bread recipe to come up with this absolutely fantastic Cinnamon Mocha Bread.  My two culinary consultants agree with me that cinnamon, cocoa and coffee flavors are a big hit when combined in this sweet bread.  As a matter of fact, it is so good you will think you are eating cake!  (Recipe posted below)

Date Pecan Tea Bread

The second quick bread I made was this Date Pecan Tea Bread.  I add some Craisins (exchanged for 1/2 cup of dates) to give the bread a little coloring.  This dense bread recipe comes with a cream cheese spread, although we found it delicious with no added butter or spread. (Recipe posted below).

Zucchini Walnut Bread

My last of the quick bread recipes for today is one of the best known of quick breads – and one of everyone’s favorite – Zucchini Bread!
One of the best gifts anyone receives during the Christmas holidays has got to be “something lovin’ coming from the oven!”  Zucchini bread can be made in small loaves for gift gifting or the larger loaf pictured in this post.  This bread was a gift to us from my sister-in-law, Donna.  We enjoyed it to the last drop!  Thank you Donna!

Don’t forget to leave a comment to be included in today’s drawing for the 2011 Southern Living Christmas Cookbook!

Many Blessings and Happy Cooking!
Cinnamon Mocha Bread
 
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Swirls of cinnamon add eye-catching appeal to the delicious flavors blended by the coffee and cocoa. The combined mocha and cinnamon make for a bread so rich you'll think you are eating cake!
Author:
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 4 cup All-purpose Flour
  • 2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 3 teaspoon Instant Coffee Granules
  • 1 tablespoon Cocoa
  • 2 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 2 eggs
  • 2 cup buttermilk
  • ½ cup Canola Oil
  • ½ cup raisin
  • 3 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
Instructions
  1. In a bowl, combine the flour, 1½ cups sugar, coffee granules, cocoa, baking soda, and salt. In a small bowl, whisk the eggs, buttermilk and oil. Stir into the dry ingredients just until moistened. (Optional -- fold in raisins)
  2. Transfer a fourth of the batter into each of two greased 8"x4" loaf pans. Combine cinnamon and remaining sugar; sprinkle half over batter in each loaf pan. Repeat layers.
  3. Cut through batter with a knife to swirl.
  4. Bake at 350 degrees for 55 to 60 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool in pans for 10 minutes; remove from pans to wire racks to cool completely.
Notes
(1) Grease and flour pans well so the bread will not stick.

(2)  Raisins are optional.  In the picture raisins were not used.

Date Pecan Tea Bread
 
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This moist, nicely sweet bread is excellent on its own and even better topped with the chunky cream cheese spread.
Author:
Serves: 12-16
Ingredients
  • 2½ cup Dates. Chopped
  • 1½ cup Boiling Water
  • 1¾ cup All-purpose Flour
  • 1½ teaspoon Baking Soda
  • ¼ teaspoon ground cloves
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • ¼ teaspoon Ground Ginger
  • ¼ teaspoon Nutmeg
  • 2 tablespoon butter, softened
  • 1¼ cup Granulated Sugar
  • 1 egg, slightly beaten
  • 2 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 1½ cup Chopped Pecans
Spread
  • 3 oz cream cheese, softened
  • 2 tablespoon dates, chopped
spread
  • 2 tablespoon Pecans, chopped
  • 1 tablespoon milk
Instructions
  1. Place dates in a bowl, pour boiling water over dates. In a small bowl, combine the flour, baking soda, cloves, cinnamon, ginger, and nutmeg, set aside.
  2. In a large bowl, beat butter and sugar until crumbly. Beat in egg and vanilla. Add flour mixture alternately with date mixture. Stir in pecans.
  3. Transfer to a greased and floured 9"x5" loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 65 to 75 minutes or until a toothpick inserted near the center comes out clean. Cool for 10 minutes; remove from pan to wire rack to cool.
  4. In a small bowl, combine spread ingredients. Cover and refrigerate for 1 hour. Serve with bread.
Notes
(1) Be sure and grease and flour the pan well.  This bread is a little on the heavy side and will stick to the pan if not prepared well.

(2)  Can substitute some of the dates for dried cranberries for a little red coloring for the holidays!

Holiday Zucchini Bread
 
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Nutty and moist Zucchini bread that gets eaten as quickly as it is made!
Serves: 24
Ingredients
  • 3 cup All-purpose Flour
  • 1 teaspoon salt
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Powder
  • 1 teaspoon Baking Soda
  • 2 teaspoon Ground Cinnamon
  • 3 Eggs
  • 1 cup Canola Oil
  • 2 cup Granulated Sugar
  • 3 teaspoon Vanilla Extract
  • 2 cup Zucchini, grated
  • 1 cup Walnuts, fnely chopped
Instructions
  1. Grease and flour two 8 x 4 inch pans. Preheat oven to 325 degrees F.
  2. Sift flour, salt, baking powder, soda, and cinnamon together in a bowl.
  3. Beat eggs, oil, vanilla, and sugar together in a large bowl. Add sifted ingredients to the creamed mixture, and beat well. Stir in zucchini and nuts until well combined. Pour batter into prepared pans.
  4. Bake for 50 to 60 minutes, or until tester inserted in the center comes out clean. Cool in pan on rack for 10 minutes. Remove bread from pan, and completely cool.
  5. Serve warm or room temperature, with or without butter!
Notes
(1)  Sometimes I add ½ cup raisins or Craisins.

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18 thoughts on “Beautiful Bread for Holiday Gift-Giving & Cookbook Giveaway!”

  1. These all look so yummy. I plan to some as gifts this Christmas. As to the one food I must have for Christmas, it’s my mother’s cornbread dressing.

    Reply
  2. My favorite Christmas treat is Gumdrop Cookies. They are an old family recipe on my mom’s side. I love the combination of coconut and oatmeal and gumdrops. I need to get moving and make some before Christmas gets here. Thanks for the fact sheet on baking powder and baking soda. I need to test mine and make sure they are not expired and are ready for more holiday treats! Have a blessed Christmas, Cathi!

    Reply
  3. I was tempted yesterday at WalMart with the peppermint ice cream — but I RESISTED!! Still sounds yummy though!
    My Christmas “must have” is my mom’s date nut bread — she mails it every year, and every Christmas morning that’s what we have for breakfast. Brings back wonderful childhood memories!

    Reply
  4. Your Blog is Amazing.. Love reading it everyday… also love the way u shoe us how to make ur recipes and the pictures of everything is wonderful to follow, makes it so much eaiser… I tryed ur christmas cookie recipe and it was a big hit… thank-u.. and for sharing with us…

    Reply
  5. Your blog is amazing to read and ur recipes I love.. they all look so good and I like how u show us in detail how to make everything…and love the pictures of everything u make..
    I did try the christmas cookies and everyone loved them.. so fast and easy.. thanks for sharing …

    Reply
  6. I made the Rolover Turtles and they’ve been a big hit. My must have for Christmas is poppyseed bread (which I haven’t made yet). Merry Christmas to everyone!!

    Reply
  7. The cinnamon cocoa bread is delicious – I was blessed with a loaf for my birthday (thanks again)! Also, this cookbook will certainly be wonderful to the lucky recipient – I’ve enjoyed just reading and looking at the pictures.

    Reply

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