Quick breads are easy, delicious and perfect for holiday hostess gifts, before dinner treats or after school snacks. They can be double wrapped with foil and frozen for two months also. The following recipes are some of our family favorites.

Milk and Honey Bread

1/2 cup honey
1 cup milk
3 tablespoons melted butter
1 1/2 cups flour
1/2 cup sugar
3 tsp. baking powder
1 tsp. salt
3/4 cup chopped pecans
1 egg, beaten

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Butter loaf pan. In medium saucepan, combine 1/2 cup honey and milk, Stir over medium heat until honey dissolves. Stir in melted butter. Set aside to cool. Sift flour, sugar, baking powder and salt into large mixer bowl. Add pecans and toss to coat. Set aside. Whisk egg into cooled milk mixture. Add to flour mixture. Beat at medium speed just until blended. Pour into pan and smooth top. Bake for 65-75 minutes until toothpick comes clean from center. Cool on rack 10 minutes, Remove and cool again on rack.


Applesauce Date-nut Bread

3/4 cup chopped walnuts
1 cup chopped dates or raisins
1 1/2 tsp. baking soda
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup applesauce
3 tablespoons oil
1 1/2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
2 eggs
1 tsp. vanilla

In large bowl, mix nuts, dates, baking soda, salt, applesauce and oil, and let stand 20 minutes. Add the flour, sugar, eggs and vanilla and mix well after it rests. Pour batter into sprayed 9x5 loaf pan, and bake 1 hour or until knife comes clean. Cool 10 minutes and remove. Make 1 loaf. 7 grams fat, 17 milligrams cholesterol.


Poppy Seed Bread

1 1/2 cups sugar
1 cup butter or margarine
3 eggs
1 1/2 tsp. almond extract
1 1/2 tsp. vanilla
3 cups flour
1 1/2 cups milk
1 tablespoon poppy seeds
1 1/2 tsp. baking powder
1 1/2 tsp. salt

Preheat 350 degree oven. Combine sugar, butter, eggs, and extracts. Mix on medium speed, scrape bowl often until light and fluffy, 2-3 minutes. Add remaining ingredients. Beat 1-2 minutes more until mixed. Pour into bundt or tube pan. Bake 50-65 minutes until done. Cool 10 minutes.


Cinnamon Bread with Apple Spread

2 cups flour
1 cup sugar
4 tsps. baking powder
1 1/2 tsps. cinnamon
1/2 tsp. salt
1 cup buttermilk
1/3 cup oil
2 tsps. vanilla
2 eggs
Streusel:
2 tbls. sugar
1 tsp. cinnamon
2 tsp. margarine

Preheat oven to 350 degrees. Grease and flour bottom of 9x5 or 8x4 loaf pan. In large bowl combine all ingredients; beat 3 minutes at medium speed. Pour into pan. Combine streusel items until crumbly. Sprinkle over batter and swirl with knife to marble. Bake 45-55 minutes until toothpick comes out clean. Cool 15 minutes. Remove. Serve with spread below.


Apple Spread

8 ounce package cream cheese
2/3 cup apple, peeled and finely diced
1 tablespoon powdered sugar
1 tablespoon milk
1/4 tsp. cinnamon

Combine all ingredients in food processor or blender. Process until mixed, scraping down sides. Makes 1 1/2 cups.

About the Author
Brenda Hyde is a freelance writer, editor and Mom to three. For more back to school recipes, crafts and inspiration visit her at Seeds of Knowledge.com

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