A Baking Goddess

The Professor looked so handsome in a suit coat and tie as he went to church this morning.  On the way home we stopped by Mom's.  Princess Jujubead had a belated birthday day for him.  Juju went to New Orleans with her hubby Vice Nutter.  Vice Nutter had company business there.  She bought a present for Professor there and left it with Mom.  Here is the present and SO fitting.  There is also a mini bottle of Heinz ketchup included with the Tee that I am pouring on his head.  Prof was absolutely delighted with his gifts.

So we are back home and he is running around trying to set the house on fire lighting candles.  I had to give him a candle lesson, what a tea candle goes into, what a votive candle goes into, what a Glade oil candle goes into and how to use the Scentsy crocks.  I have never met a man so interested in all that is domestic!

Oh the house smells good from the Amish Sweet Bread that I baked.  It should have been 2 loaves but I was able to stretch it into 3.  The recipe follows!

Amish Sweet Bread

1 cup oil
1 1/2 cup sugar
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla extract
3 large eggs
1/2 tsp. salt
2 tsp. cinnamon
2 1/2 cup flour
1/2 tsp. baking soda
3.5 oz. box vanilla instant pudding
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
3/4 - 1 cup walnuts, chopped
1 1/4 cup milk

Sugar/Cinnamon Mix
1/3 cup sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon

Preheat oven to 325°F. Grease two loaf pans.

Mix oil and sugar, add eggs and vanilla; beat. In separate bowl, mix together all the dry ingredients, including walnuts. Add dry mix alternately with milk until well blended.

Mix 1/3 cup sugar and 1 tsp. cinnamon together in small bowl. In two greased loaf pans, sprinkle mix on the sides and bottoms of the pans. Save some to sprinkle on top of loaves.

Pour batter into prepared pans, sprinkle top of loaves with the sugar/cinnamon mix. Optional, sprinkle chopped walnuts on top. Bake for one hour or until tested done. Cool in pans for 10 minutes. May be served with whipped cream or vanilla ice cream.

Freezes well; tightly wrap cooled loaves in plastic wrap, then in foil before freezing.

Note: I have read that you can substitute 1/2 cup of unsweetened applesauce for 1/2 cup of the oil. I have not tried this.

As you can see it looks as wonderful as it tastes and it really is as moist and sweet as the Amish Friendship Bread that begins with starter, but you don't have to deal with all the feedings and mess.  Make this!!!! 

I have stew in the crock pot and it is smelling good!  I bought one of those stew seasoning packets with country beef ribs, cut into bite size pieces.  There are potatoes, onions, peas, celery, carrots and I will add some meaty fresh mushroom slices about an hour before serving.  I thickened it up a bit with flour and water.  I can't wait for a big warm bowl of stew!

This day has gone by so quickly.  It is just about 6pm.  I wish my work weeks flew by as quickly as my weekends.  I think I will go read a bit.  I am on Book 5 of the Left Behind series.  I have read the series 5 or 6 times before but I really enjoy reading them again every couple of years.

I am sending out good thoughts to all of my gentle readers and until I bore you again...stay blessed.