Lemon Loaf

I'm not a crazy fan of lemon.  Sure, it's alright, but I prefer not to squeeze it in my tea or over my seafood. This loaf has the taste of lemon without it being too lemony. For me, it's perfect.

1 1/2 C flour
2 eggs
3/4 C milk
1 tsp baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 stick butter
1 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
the juice of one lemon and the zest of one lemon


In a large bowl, cream the sugar, butter, and vanilla.  Add an egg one at a time making sure the mixture is well blended before adding the other egg.  Stir in lemon zest, lemon juice, and milk.  Blend well.  Add dry ingredients and beat until well blended.  If it seems a little dry, add a splash of milk.  Pour into a greased loaf pan and bake at 350 degrees for about an hour.

Banana Bread

I've made this recipe three times in two weeks.  It is really moist and not too sweet.  I love it!

2 C flour
3 ripe bananas

1 C sugar
1 tsp vanilla
1 tsp baking powder
1 tsp baking soda
1/2 tsp salt
2 eggs
1 stick butter -- room temperature
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1/4 tsp ground allspice
1/4 C walnuts (optional)

In a large bowl, cream the sugar and butter until light and fluffy. Add the vanilla and eggs and continue to beat until completely mixed. Add mashed bananas and incorporate into the egg and butter mixture. In a smaller bowl, mix the flour, baking soda, baking powder, salt, and allspice and cinnamon.  Gradually add the dry ingredients into the wet until fully combined.  Don't over beat though.  Stir in the chopped walnuts.  Pour into a loaf pan and bake for an hour in a 350 degree oven. 

I always set the timer on for an hour, but my loaf usually bakes for an hour and twenty minutes.  You know it's done when an inserted toothpick comes out clean.

It would taste amazing with a basic sugar glaze or cream cheese frosting!

Blueberry Bread

I love blueberries!!  I never had made a bread from them, though.  I'm trying to have ready made (or almost) breakfast foods available to quickly grab as we leave for work.  Last week I made a banana bread that was delicious!  This week, I tried something different.  Earlier this week, I made the homemade version of a sausage McMuffin.  They were good and healthy, but not the most cost effective!  So I made the blueberry bread to supplement the sandwiches.

2 C of all purpose flour
3 Tbls of vegetable oil
2 1/2 tsp of baking powder
1/2 tsp salt
1 egg
1 C milk
1 tsp vanilla
1/2 tsp lemon extract (or zest)
1/2 tsp ground cinnamon
1 C sugar
2 cups of blueberries

In a large bowl, whisk the egg, milk, oil, vanilla, and lemon extract.  In another bowl, mix together the flour, sugar, baking powder, and salt.  Combine the dry ingredients into the wet in small increments.  Once all the ingredients are all combined (Stir only until combined), gently fold in the blueberries. I used frozen blueberries, but I thawed and rinsed them so the whole bread didn't turn blue.  Once everything is combined, pour the batter in a greased loaf pan.  Bake at 350 degrees for one hour.

The bread is light and moist and, believe it or not, not too sweet.