Irish Soda Bread for the breadmaker

1 1/3 c buttermilk
3 TBL butter or margarine
2 1/2 TBL sugar
1 tsp salt
1/2 baking soda
1 TBL caraway seeds
3 1/2 c bread flour
2 1/2 tsp yeast

1/2 raisins to be added after the first kneading

Combine ingredients into your bread maker in the above order.
This is a delicious bread that my family is just crazy about. If you like rye bread at all...this recipe is for you. The raisins add a touch of sweetness and really works well with the caraway seeds.

Apple Fritters

1 c milk
1 egg, beaten
4 TBL margarine
1/4 c sugar
1/2 tsp salt
1 orange, rind and juice
1 c apples, chopped (skin can be left on)
3 c flour
2 tsp baking powder
1 tsp vanilla

Beat egg. In a mixing bowl, combine the milk, egg and melted margarine. Add the orange juice, rind, chopped apples and vanilla. Sift together the flour, salt and baking powder. Stir into milk mixture with a spoon until blended. Do not overmix. Preheat oil in a skillet to 350 degrees. Drop off end of tablespoons into hot oil. Fry to a golden brown. turn so they brown evenly. Allow to cool. Optional: sprinkle with 10 x sugar. Serve with apple butter.

This is another amazing recipe from The Apple Barn. These are so good and they really don't take much time to make. You could have these for breakfast, lunch or as a side to dinner. These are a must try! :)

The Best Banana Bread

3 1/2 c flour
2/3 c sugar
4 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
2 beaten eggs
1 c milk
1/2 c cooking oil
1 1/2 c mashed banana
1 c nuts, pecans or walnuts
1 c shredded coconut
Streusel topping, optional

Streusel Topping

3/4 c flour
3/4 c brown sugar
2 tsp cinnamon
1 stick of butter

Mix flour, brown sugar and cinnamon together and then cut in butter until mixture resembles coarse crumbs.



1. Grease your loaf pans; set aside.

2. In a medium bowl combine flour, sugar, baking powder and salt. make a well in center of flour mixture; set aside.

3. In another bowl combine eggs, milk and oil. Add egg mixture, coconut, banana and nuts all at once to flour mixture. Stir just until moistened (batter should be lumpy).

4. Pour batter into prepared loaf pans. Sprinkle streusel topping over batter. Bake at 400 degrees for 30-35 minutes or until toothpick comes out of center clean.


This is one of the best recipes I've come up with for banana bread. The Streusel topping really takes it over the edge in a wonderful way!

Challah Bread

2/3 c water
2 eggs
2 TBL vegetable oil
2 TBL sugar
1 tsp salt
3-3 1/4 c bread flour
1 1/2 tsp yeast
1 egg, beaten for glaze
poppy seeds, optional

Using the dough cycle on your bread machine, put the above ingredients in the order they appear above. Start your dough cycle. When dough cycle is complete, remove dough from your machine and divide into 3 pieces. Roll each piece into a rope about 14 inches long and braid on a greased baking sheet. Cover and let rise for about 45 minutes. Brush top with egg glaze and sprinkle with poppy seeds, if you desire. Bake in a preheated 350 degrees oven for 45 minutes. Serve warm and enjoy!

*Challah is a very light and wonderful tasting bread. The dough is somewhat moist and you should add only enough flour to prevent sticking, either while in machine or after the dough has been removed.*

Zucchini Bread

1 1/2 c all purpose flour or whole wheat flour
1 tsp ground cinnamon
1/2 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
1/4 tsp baking powder
1/4 tsp nutmeg
1 beaten egg or 1/4 c Eggbeaters
1 c sugar or 1 1/4 c brown rice syrup
1 c shredded zucchini
1/4 c cooking oil or 1/4 c applesauce
1/2 c chopped walnuts or pecans, optional


1. Grease a 8x4x2 inch loaf pan. In a bowl, combine flour, cinnamon, baking soda, salt, baking powder and nutmeg.
2. In another bowl, combine egg, sugar, zucchini and oil. Add zucchini mixture to flour mixture. Stir until moistened. Stir in nuts, if desired.
3. Bake at 350 degrees for 45-50 minutes. Cool 10 minutes, if you can wait that long. Remove from pan, slice and enjoy.

*You can also substitute 1 1/2 c shredded, peeled apple for the zucchini.

My fondest memories of zucchini bread were at my Aunt Ruth's home. I remember her letting Stephanie and I help her make things in the kitchen. I always loved her zucchini bread and still to this day when I make it...it reminds me of all the good times I spent at my Uncle Don and Aunt Ruth's home! :) I'll never forget how hard she would work in the church, home and kitchen for visiting preachers, missionaries, unexpected guests and her family. She has always been an inspiration to me in so many areas of my life. I never saw her do any of these things with the expectation of getting something in return. How amazing is that!