Pumpkin Spice Bread

This recipe is so tasty that you had better only make it when no one else is home.

Ingredients

2 cups whole wheat pastry flour
2 teaspoons baking powder
1 teaspoons baking soda
1 teaspoons ground cinnamon
1/2 teaspoons ground ginger
1/4 teaspoons ground allspice
1/8 teaspoons ground cloves
2 cups canned pumpkin
1/2 cup pure maple syrup
1/4 cup apple butter
1 tablespoon canola oil
1 teaspoon vanilla
1 cup cranberries

Instructions

Sift together flour, baking powder, baking soda, cinnamon, ginger, allspice, and cloves. In another bowl, combine pumpkin, maple syrup, apple butter, canola oil, and vanilla. Pour the wet ingredients into the dry ingredients and stir until combined. The batter will be stiff. Add cranberries. Pour batter into a greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pan. Bake at 350 degrees for 50 minutes.

Lemon Loaf

This is a nice lightly flavored loaf.

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1/2 cup milk
1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon salt
Grated rind and juice of 1 lemon
1/4 cup sugar

Instructions

In a large bowl, cream together margarine, sugar, and 1 egg. Beat in second egg. Blend in milk. In a second bowl, thoroughly stir flour, baking powder, salt, and lemon rind. Pour into creamed margarine mixture and stir to moisten. Spoon into greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes. Cool in loaf pan for 10 minutes before removing. Heat lemon juice and sugar in a saucepan, stirring, until sugar is dissolved. Pour over loaf.

Zucchini Loaf

Another old favorite, this is a nice, moist loaf.

Ingredients

2 cups sugar
1 cup oil
3 eggs
2 teaspoons vanilla
3 cups flour
3 teaspoons cinnamon
1 teaspoon salt
1/2 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
3 cups grated zucchini
1 cup raisins
1/2 cup chopped walnuts

Instructions

Cream together sugar, oil, eggs, and vanilla. Set aside. Mix together flour, cinnamon, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add gradually to creamed mixture, blending well. Set aside about 1/2 cup of flour mixture. Add zucchini, raisins, and walnuts to batter and pour reserved flour over top. Mix lightly. Pour into greased loaf pans. Bake at 300 degrees for about 90 minutes.

Cinnamon Loaf

Another family favorite.

Ingredients

1/4 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
2 teaspoon vanilla
2 cups flour
1/2 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking powder
1/2 teaspoon baking soda
1 cup milk with 1 teaspoon vinegar
3 tablespoons brown sugar
1 tablespoon cinnamon

Instructions

Cream together margarine and sugar. Add eggs and beat until well mixed. In another bowl, mix together flour, salt, baking powder, and baking soda. Add to margarine mixture alternately with milk. Pour about a third of the batter into a greased loaf pan. Mix together brown sugar and cinnamon. Sprinkle half of the brown sugar mixture on the loaf batter. Pour remaining batter into pan and sprinkle with remaining brown sugar mixture. Bake at 350 degrees for 60 minutes.

Pumpkin Raisin Loaf

This is definitely one of my favorites.

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups flour
1 teaspoon baking powder
1 teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
2 teaspoons cinnamon
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
3/4 cup canned pumpkin
3/4 cup oil
3/4 cup raisins

Instructions

Place flour, baking powder, baking soda, salt, cinnamon, and sugar in a large bowl. Add eggs, pumpkin, and oil. Stir until mixed. Add raisins and stir. Bake in a greased loaf pan for 75 minutes.

Nutmeg Bread

This is an old standby.

Ingredients

1/2 cup margarine
1 cup sugar
1 egg, beaten
1 cup milk plus 1 teaspoon vinegar
1 cup raisins
2 cups flour
1 teaspoon salt
1 teaspoon baking soda
1 1/2 teaspoons nutmeg

Instructions

Cream together margarine and sugar. Add egg. In another bowl, sift together flour, baking soda, salt, and nutmeg. Add to butter mixture alternately with milk. Stir in raisins. Pour into greased 9 by 5-inch loaf pans. Bake at 350 degrees for 60-75 minutes.

Banana Loaf

This recipe works well with old or bruised fruit. Banana loaf freezes very well.

Ingredients

1 3/4 cups flour, sifted
2 teaspoons baking powder
1/4teaspoon baking soda
1/2 teaspoon salt
1/4 cup shortening
2/3 cup sugar
2 eggs, lightly beaten
1 cup ripe mashed bananas
1 teaspoon lemon juice

Instructions

Sift together dry ingredients. In a large bowl, cream together shortening and sugar. Add beaten eggs. Blend in bananas and lemon juice. Add the dry ingredients slowly to the banana mixture, combining thoroughly. Bake in a 9 by 5-inch loaf pan for about 75 minutes at 350 degrees. Cool in pan for 15 minutes before removing.

Loaf Month

This doesn't sound as tasty as, say cake month or cookie month, but I make a lot of loaves. They are easy to make, freeze really well, and are good to have on hand for unexpected company.