Easter Recipes..part 1

Mix and Match Bread

I've got this recipe out of the Food Network magazine.. it is pretty cool because you can swap ingredients in and out. I'll post the recipe the way it is printed then show you some pictures on some ways I have made these!

Step 1: Choose a Flavor- Prepare 1 cup fruit or vegetables (one kind)

Pear, shredded and squeezed dry

Apple, shredded and squeezed dry

Banana, mashed

Carrot, shredded

Zucchini, shredded and squeezed dry

Step 2: Pick your Mix-Ins- Choose up to 1 3/4 cups total of the following ingredients (use no more than 3/4 cup nuts) Toast and chop any nuts; chop any large dried fruit

walnuts, pecans, almonds, hazelnuts, pistachios, dried cherries, dried cranberries, dried currants, raisins, dried figs, dried apricots, pitted dried dates, rolled oats, chocolate chips, sweetened shredded coconuts

Step 3: Prepare the Pan- Preheat the oven to 350. Lightly butter one 9 by 5 loaf pan or three 6 by 3 inch mini pans. (I have made 6 dozen mini cupcakes also)

Step 4: Make the Batter: Mix 1 1/4 cups flour, 3/4 cup sugar, 1 teaspoon each baking soda, cinnamon, and nutmeg in a large bowl; add your dry mix-ins (from step 2). In a medium bowl, whisk 2 eggs, 1/2 c cooled melted butter or vegetable oil, 1/2 c plain yogurt or sour cream, 1 t vanilla extrac and 1 t citrus zest (optional). Stir your fruit or vegetables (from step 1) into the egg mixture, then fold into dry mixture until combined.

 Step 5: Bake the Loaf: Spread the batter in the prepared pan. Bake until toothpick inserted into the center come out clean. About 55 minutes for standard loaf, 35-40 minutes for mini loaves. Let cool 30 minutes.

Step 6: Make a Glaze- Pour glaze on the cooled bread and let set, 15-20 minutes.

Chocolate- whisk 1 c confectioners' sugar, 2 T cocoa powder, 2 T milk, 1/4 t vanilla, pinch of salt

Vanilla Bean- whisk 1 c confectioners' sugar, 1 T milk, and the seeds from 1 vanilla bean

Brown Butter- brown 3 T butter over low heat, cool slightly. Whisk 1/2 c confectioners' sugar and 1 T milk. Use immediately

Citrus- Whisk 1 c confectioners' sugar, 1 T each milk and citrus juice, and 1 t citrus zest.

Cream Cheese- Whisk 1 c confectioners' sugar, 3 T softened cream cheese, 2 T milk, 1/4 t vanilla.

Whew.. sorry that was so long!! I want to be adventurous and try some crazy ones.. but I'm really not that adventurous. So if any of you try to make these let me know of your successes with combinations! Okay here are some pictures of the ones I've made before and the mini cupcakes I'm bringing to Easter dinner- not mediterranean themed, but delicisous so it's okay.

The loaf on the left is carrot with coconut, dried cherries and pecans.

The loaf on the right is banana with pecans and chocolate chips- I may have added coconut, but I can't remember

Ingredients for the glaze

Chocolate glaze

Cream cheese glaze

These were both really good!

By request I have made the carrot ones again for Easter- carrot with coconut, pecans, and dried cherries with cream cheese glaze. The batter made about 6 dozen mini cupcakes.