Sweet Olive Oil Quick Bread

Quick Bread:
Bread that is quick to make because it doesn't require kneading or rising time. That's because the LEAVENER in such a bread is usually baking powder or baking soda, which, when combined with moisture, starts the rising process immediately. In the case of double-acting baking powder, oven heat causes a second burst of rising power. Eggs can also be used to leaven quick breads. This genre includes most BISCUITS, MUFFINS, POPOVERS and a wide variety of sweet and savory loaf breads.

This month's Daring Baker's Challenge was Quick Breads. I chose to make a Sweet Olive Oil Quick Bread. There are just a few ingredients in quick breads. The ingredients in the bread I made included lemon zest, extra virgin olive oil, sultana raisins (golden raisins), sugar, flour, eggs, milk, and pine nuts. The recipe called for baking powder as the leavener.

Combine the dry ingredients, combine the wet ingredients; combine wet into dry, mix well. 

Add lemon zest and raisins, mix well. Pour into a buttered loaf pan. Sprinkle the top with pine nuts. If you lightly toast the pine nuts before placing them on top of the batter, you will add a toasted nut element to the flavor. I would also recommend pressing the pine nuts ever so slightly into the batter. If you do, the pine nuts will stay on the bread. I kept losing pine nuts when slicing the bread.

I wasn't quiet sure what the flavor and texture would be once baked and completely cooled. I was pleasantly surprised. The bread was moist and tender. It wasn't sweet or savory. It was both!

This bread took 10 minutes to mix, 60 minutes to bake. It is a light, tasty treat anytime of day.

Baking on a Snowy Day

We've only had one snow storm this winter and I took full advantage of the snowy Saturday in January to bake sugar cookies. I have been trying to find a recipe that I would use again and again. I was never completely happy with the end result of the recipes I would try. That is until now......I finally have that sugar cookie recipe that I will use again and again.

Sugar cookies are simple to make and can be made for just about any occasion. Cream the butter and sugar, add the liquid, mix until completely combined. Slowly add the dry ingredients. Be gentle with the dough; this will keep too much gluten from forming, resulting in a "tough" cookie. You can cut sugar cookies into any shape you would like. Sprinkle with colored sugar before baking or frost them once they are completely cooled. Use your imagination; find something that inspires you and go from there.

Snowflake sugar cookies for a snowy Saturday!

Oh yes the recipe.......Basic Sugar Cookie Recipe.   You can thank our friend Martha Stewart for this wonderful sugar cookie recipe. Why I didn't think of checking out Martha's website for a sugar cookie recipe when I began my quest for the perfect sugar cookie recipe is beyond me. I am just glad I finally did!